Executive Director, Oncology Global Programme Management Radioconjugates

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. 

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 player–coach 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 acumenand experience in platform development forRadioconjugatestoguide andnavigatestrategy,prioritisationandportfolio decisions

• Clear andorganisedthinking withtheability to simplify andprioritisecomplex problems 

• The application of strong, data-driven analysis totranslate strategyinto action

• The ability toestablishand maintain credibility with senior audiences

• In depth experience of developing and driving high performing teams

• The ability to build credibility throughexpertise, relationships, and trust to persuade and align others without formal authority

Gaithersburgis the preferred location for thisrole,however, applicants fromCambridge, Boston,Barcelonaand Mississauga will also be considered.

Accountabilities

Enterprise Leadership & Strategic Influence

• Holdend-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 influenceSVP/VPs, Functional Heads, and Tumour Council leadershipto navigate governance pathways and ensure coherent end-to-end modality strategy and pipeline delivery.

• Provideclear, evidence-basedand actionable guidanceon portfolio optimisation and investment decisions, ensuring the modalityremainsahead of emerging scientific, clinical, and commercial opportunities.

• Connect theorganisation from Discovery to Commercial andmaintainactive presence in key decision-making forums across Early, Late, and Commercialto 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 astheaccountable leader for the modality across platforms,ensuring strategic priorities translate into effective execution.

• Bedeployed into Tumour Councils whilemaintaininga direct connection with the modality leadership, enabling integration between scientific modalityexpertiseand therapeutic area strategy.

• Ensure modality knowledge and insights areembedded within teams,enabling dissemination ofexpertiseand strengthening cross-organisational capability.

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

Player–Coach Leadership within HPT Model

• Operate as bothleader and active contributor,modelling the behaviours of aself-leading, empowered High Performing Team environment.

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

• Balancestrategic leadership of themodality withdelivery and execution of key prioritieswhilst enabling and coaching teams to succeed

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

Connected Operating Rhythm & Delivery

• Establishinsight-driven operating rhythmsacross Global Project Teams and Tumour Councils that enable clarity, pace, and confident delivery.

• Empower and enable GPMsto deliver the pipeline

• Ensureclear and compelling communication of modality strategy, progress, and prioritiesto diverse audiences,maintainingtransparency and organisational alignment.

Enterprise Mindset & Future Capability

• Bring anenterprise leadership mindsethelping to link people,processand portfolio insights from across the value chain

• Leverageadvanced analytics and AI-enabled insightstostrengthen portfolio understanding, decision making, and strategic foresight.

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

• Supporttalent development pathways, including progressionof GPMs to GPL and other critical roles across the enterprise 

• Regarded as expert coach, go to mentor, and is trusted bysenior 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 sciencess

• Oncologyexpertise: Deep understanding ofspecific modalitywith 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, withdemonstratedability to lead and influence experienced professionals in a fast-paced, highly matrixed work environment

• Strategic thinking: Ability to think critically, creatively and toanticipateand 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 planningexpertise: 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

Pay Transparency

The annual base pay for this position ranges from $251,610 to $377,441. Hourly and salaried non-exempt employees will also be paid overtime pay when working qualifying overtime hours. Base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.  In addition, our positions offer a short-term incentive bonus opportunity; eligibility to participate in our equity-based long-term incentive program (salaried roles), to receive a retirement contribution (hourly roles), and commission payment eligibility (sales roles). Benefits offered included a qualified retirement program [401(k) plan]; paid vacation and holidays; paid leaves; and, health benefits including medical, prescription drug, dental, and vision coverage in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable plans. Additional details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment. If hired, employee will be in an “at-will position” and the Company reserves the right to modify base pay (as well as any other discretionary payment or compensation program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, Company or individual department/team performance, and market factors.