Director Global Performance Excellence, Cell Therapy
Gaithersburg, MD - USA
Job Summary
The role holder provides technical leadership either as an expert lead or through leadership of small to medium sized clinical studies to ensure effective collaboration between the project teams. Will develop andbuild oract a specialist expert within a cross-functional multi-skilled teamcompromisedof experts across a range of products within Astra Zeneca to drive continuous improvement.
TheCTCOSite Management and Monitoring (SMM)and Patient Operationsorganization aglobal-based organization with staff in over 20 countries is responsible for leading the delivery of clinical trials at a country level ensuring high quality study data is collected in a timely and productive way to supportCell TherapyR&D studies from phase I to phase III.
TheCell TherapySite Management and Monitoring(DSMM)Director Global Performance Excellencereports into theSMMGlobalHeadandis responsible forPerformance excellence and oversight for the countries.
This person is a key member of the Leadership teams playing a lead role in ensuring theCTCO fieldmaximize andoptimizeportfolio delivery and country footprint for volume quality speed & costs in the country grouping. This person is also responsible for delivering theoptimaloperating model and operational efficiency forCTCO field.
In addition toGaithersburg MD this role may also be based inBoston MA; San Francisco CA; Santa Monica CA; or Wilmington DE offering flexibility across these locations.
Country Performance Excellence:
Partnering with theRegionalHeads theDirector Global Performance Excellence (GPE) this individualis responsible forsupporting andmonitoringall aspect of performance excellence and oversight at agloballevel. Accountabilities include:
SupportCTCOfield& stand-alone country Leadership Teams in the local implementation management & execution of the Global Performance Excellence strategies related to processes & systems agreed at global level
Key interface between the Global Performance Excellence group / Country level functions.
Compiles and present the performance metrics acrossCTCOfield utilising analytics KPIs and automation of reporting to deliver clear outputs to countries and to leadership.
Responsible for overall oversight of capacity management ensuring theyremainwithin targets whilst delivering the portfolio.
Supports Country leaders with budget leadership and oversight.
Responsible for the Operational Excellence plan forCTCO fieldand/or the stand-alone country driving delivery and change and providing regular oversight toCTCO fieldleadership.
Responsible for local sourcing strategy including overseeing Work Orders (WOs) management execution of the 3PRM process and partnering with key vendors at aCTCO fieldlevel andproviding feedback to the Global Governance Team relevant to the agreed KPIs with the vendor
Responsible for centralizing and optimizing local finance and other processes toincludePO creation and management of key systems such as SAP and COUPA and Investigational product management
Responsible forCTCO fieldcompliance to financialprocesses andsupports training related to this for LSADs and local leadership. Also coordinates and supports local finance audits asrequired andensures adherence to the Financial Control Framework overall.
Working withCTCO fieldleadership supports and develops processes and systems to optimize business partnering toincludeExternal partnersprocurementand alliance management.
Supporting Country Footprint strategy in theCTCO field partnering with CROs to develop footprint in non-AZ markets.
Support for Global Performance Excellence initiatives:
The role will also support the Director GPE Lead in delivering global support on various Global Performance activities to include:
Supporting the implementation of outsourcing strategies to ensureoptimaland flexible sourcing models are implemented delivering top tier industry metrics (time cost quality)
Support forCTCO fieldAlgorithms and systems ensuring to reliably estimate demand for the function.
Supporting large cross country project deliverables
Partnering with Country Leadership ensure creation and adherence to country budgets.
RepresentsCTCO fieldin cross-functional groups and leads process improvement projects globally
Accountabilities:
The job holderrequiresa high levelof cultural sensitivity interactive communicationnegotiationand effective collaboration.
Drive and build collaborations internally and externally betweenCTCOstakeholders to ensure input to and delivery of all internally delivered clinical trials
Bachelors degreeor equivalent with a minimum of 5 years of industry experience.
Previous experience of working in Clinical Research at a country regional or global level
Extensive experience in accounting financial control/analysis and/or operational excellence programs.
Ability to effectively influence and communicate and ability to engage influence and collaborate across boundaries with a problem solving and delivery focus
Ability to assimilate complex information and identify key issues and message
Strong experience of working across a global organization in various functions particularly finance commercial clinical operations development operations
Understanding of regulatory/statutory requirements and governance principles/SOX
Project Management experience
Ability to look for and champion more efficient and effective methods/processes
Ability to quickly master new systems and tools
Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English negotiation skills collaboration and interpersonal skills in a multicultural environment
Benefits offered include:
A qualified retirement program 401(k) plan
Paid vacation holidays and paid leaves
Health benefits including medical prescription drug dental and vision coverage following the terms and conditions of the applicable plans.
Additionaldetails of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an employee receives an offer of annual base salary for this position ranges from $172000 to $257000. However base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors including market location job-related knowledge skills and addition our positions offer a short-term incentive bonus opportunity; eligibility toparticipatein our equity-based long-term incentive program (salaried roles) to receive a retirement contribution (hourly roles) and commission payment eligibility (sales roles).
#Hybrid #CellTherapy
Date Posted
11-Jun-2026Closing Date
10-Jun-2026Our mission is to build an inclusive environment where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and furtherance of that mission we welcome and consider applications from all qualified candidates regardless of their protected characteristics. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation please complete the corresponding section in the application form.
Required Experience:
Director
About Company
AstraZeneca is an equal opportunity employer. AstraZeneca will consider all qualified applicants for employment without discrimination on grounds of disability, sex or sexual orientation, pregnancy or maternity leave status, race or national or ethnic origin, age, religion or belief, ... View more