Executive Director, Oncology Global Programme Management (TDR DDR Epigenetics)

Executive Director Oncology Global Programme Management (TDR / DDR / Epigenetics)

Preferred Location: Cambridge UK

Cambridge is the preferred location for this role however applicants from Gaithersburg Boston Barcelona and Mississauga will also be considered.

About GPPM Oncology

GPPM Oncology is embarking on an exciting transformation journey to become trusted partners in portfolio and project strategy and execution. The continued success of the Oncology pipeline requires a team of highly skilled leaders to guide the creation of comprehensive programme strategies that integrate clinical scientific and commercial insights to shape portfolio decisions and delivery.

About the role

We are looking for strategic thinkers and scientific experts with an accomplished background in programme delivery to join GPPM Oncology. You will become a trusted partner and voice in key decision-making forums such as Tumour Councils TALT ESPC and LSPC. You will expertly influence across the full breadth of the organisation connecting Discovery Early Late and Commercial to navigate the governance pathway. You will have end-to-end accountability for modality portfolio insights strategy and execution influencing decision making across the value chain to enable optimal portfolio delivery in both quality and speed. Through the Oncology Global Project Managers (GPMs) you will ensure Global Project Teams (GPTs) deliver at pace and with confidence by translating complexity into clarity anticipating issues and influencing outcomes using insights. Operating as a playercoach within a High Performing Team (HPT) environment you will balance enterprise leadership direct delivery and enabling others to succeed.

This is a critical and exciting opportunity to use your scientific knowledge and strategic expertise to lead and influence decisions that will have a direct impact on patients lives. Working at the highest levels you will ensure the decisions we make best position AstraZeneca for maximum return on investment and positive patient outcomes.

To be successful you will need:

• Deep scientific acumen in TDR/DDR/Epigenetics and pharma experience to guide and navigate strategy prioritisation and portfolio decisions

• Clear and organised thinking with the ability to simplify and prioritise complex problems

• The application of strong data-driven analysis to translate strategy into action

• The ability to establish and maintain credibility with senior audiences

• In depth experience of developing and driving high performing teams

• The ability to build credibility through expertise relationships and trust to persuade and align others without formal authority

Key Accountabilities

Enterprise Leadership & Strategic Influence

• Hold end-to-end accountability for modality portfolio insights shaping TA strategy and influencing critical investment and prioritisation decisions across the full drug development lifecycle.

• Collaborate with and influence SVP/VPs Functional Heads and Tumour Council leadership to navigate governance pathways and ensure coherent end-to-end modality strategy and pipeline delivery.

• Provide clear evidence-based and actionable guidance on portfolio optimisation and investment decisions ensuring the modality remains ahead of emerging scientific clinical and commercial opportunities.

• Connect the organisation from Discovery to Commercial and maintain active presence in key decision-making forums across Early Late and Commercial to ensure alignment and informed enterprise-level decisions.

Modality Leadership & Execution

• Deliver the AZ scorecard for your modality

• Provide clear evidence based and actionable guidance on portfolio optimisation and investment decisions.

• Serve as the accountable leader for the modality across platforms ensuring strategic priorities translate into effective execution.

• Be deployed into Tumour Councils while maintaining a direct connection with the modality leadership enabling integration between scientific modality expertise and therapeutic area strategy.

• Ensure modality knowledge and insights are embedded within teams enabling dissemination of expertise and strengthening cross-organisational capability.

• Translate modality strategy into clear actionable plans through GPMs optimising resource utilisation capacity planning and operational delivery.

PlayerCoach Leadership within HPT Model

• Operate as both leader and active contributor modelling the behaviours of a self-leading empowered High Performing Team environment.

• Agile leader with the ability to accelerate opportunities and unblock issues

• Balance strategic leadership of the modality with delivery and execution of key priorities whilst enabling and coaching teams to succeed

• Navigate complexity and simplify decision landscapes bringing clarity focus and momentum to portfolio execution.

Connected Operating Rhythm & Delivery

• Establish insight-driven operating rhythms across Global Project Teams and Tumour Councils that enable clarity pace and confident delivery.

• Empower and enable GPMs to deliver the pipeline

• Ensure clear and compelling communication of modality strategy progress and priorities to diverse audiences maintaining transparency and organisational alignment.

Enterprise Mindset & Future Capability

• Bring an enterprise leadership mindset helping to link people process and portfolio insights from across the value chain

• Leverage advanced analytics and AI-enabled insights to strengthen portfolio understanding decision making and strategic foresight.

• Contribute to a future-ready organisation strengthening capabilities fostering innovation and developing the next generation of leaders.

• Support talent development pathways including progression of GPMs to GPL and other critical roles across the enterprise

• Regarded as expert coach go to mentor and is trusted by senior leaders including Franchise Heads Clinical Heads etc.

Essential Skills & Experience:

• Deep Scientific Expertise: Advanced degree (e.g. MSc or PhD in life sciences or MD) 10 years of experience in life sciences

• Oncology expertise: Deep understanding of specific modality with proven experience in the pharmaceutical industry or consulting contributing to strategic planning and portfolio decisions

• Executive presence and leadership: Ability to interact and communicate effectively with senior executive teams with demonstrated ability to lead and influence experienced professionals in a fast-paced highly matrixed work environment

• Strategic thinking: Ability to think critically creatively and to anticipate and solve problems with excellent analysis and fact-based decision-making capabilities

• Agility and impact orientation: Highly intellectually capable with agility and adaptability motivated by working in a fast-paced field with clear societal impact

Preferred Skills/Experience:

• Strategic planning expertise: Experience in strategic planning processes and tools with ability to translate business needs into coordinated plans and develop creative solutions to complex problems

• Financial acumen: Strong financial background and understanding of forecasts budgets and financial tools to support strategic decision-making

• Global perspective: Ability to work across global teams and priorities delivering operational effectiveness and prioritization in a fast-growing highly matrixed organization

Why AstraZeneca

At AstraZeneca were dedicated to being a Great Place to Work. Where you are empowered to push the boundaries of science and unleash your entrepreneurial spirit. Theres no better place to make a difference to medicine patients and society. An inclusive culture that champions diversity and collaboration and always committed to lifelong learning growth and development. Were on an exciting journey to pioneer the future of healthcare.

When we put unexpected teams in the same room we unleash bold thinking with the power to inspire life-changing -person working gives us the platform we need to connect work at pace and challenge perceptions. Thats why we work on average a minimum of three days per week from the office. But that doesnt mean were not flexible. We balance the expectation of being in the office while respecting individual flexibility. Join us in our unique and ambitious world.

So whats next

Are you ready to bring new ideas and fresh thinking to the table Brilliant! We have one seat available and we hope its yours.

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If this sounds like you... Apply today!

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