Senior Global Clinical Operations Program Director

Senior Global Clinical Operations Program Director

Do you have expertise in Clinical Operations, and a passion to support strategy development and delivery of Clinical Development Programs?

If yes, then we are recruiting a Senior Global Clinical Operations Program Director within the Vaccines and Immune (V&I) Therapies Clinical Operations group.

Biopharmaceuticals Clinical Operations is a diverse, international team focused on the end-to-end de sign, planning and delivery of patient-centric clinical trial programs and studies, enabling submissions for the AstraZeneca portfolio.
We work throughout the clinical lifecycle and leverage our expertise to design and deliver sustainable trials with short clinical cycle times and an excellent patient experience.

​​​​​​​The Vaccine and Immune Therapies unit is committed to protect and treat the most vulnerable populations, through development of vaccines and/or monoclonal antibodies. We are focused on developing medicines that provide an effective and long-lasting immunity.

What you’ll do?

As a Senior Global Clinical Operations Program Director (Sr GPD) you will work in a global role in the Clinical Operations function for the Vaccines and Immune Therapies unit.  The Sr GPD is accountable for input into the design and delivery of the clinical development plan and is part of the strategic and operational leadership team.  The span of responsibilities is broad, you will play a key role in providing strategic and operational leadership within Clinical Operations V&I. You will need to integrate strategy, feasibility and operational planning to produce business-focused clinical drug development programs, and interact with senior leaders within AZ.

The Sr GPD brings product knowledge and strategic thinking to support governance interactions, leads the delivery of a program of studies and is accountable for the project management of the clinical support of regulatory marketing applications and post registration product maintenance deliverables. The Snr GPD will be an expert in Clinical Operations with strong working knowledge of all Clinical Operations capabilities and an advocate for the broader organizational requirements to successfully deliver the clinical development plan.

Additionally, the Sr GPD may lead or contribute to improvement and change projects within clinical operations and/or other business areas. 

The role is typically responsible for:

• As leader of the Clinical Program Team (CPT) accountable to support design, set-up and delivery of clinical development plans. 
• Accountable for provision of timelines and budget relating to clinical development plan as part of governance interactions, and oversight to ensure studies delivered to plan (or within tolerance). 
• Ensure provision of clinical operations expertise into the program and for the use of new innovative design and delivery models.
• As a member of the leadership team, responsible for efficient and effective program management, covering all clinical development deliverables including aspects of quality, resources, budget, timelines and risks.
• Responsible for representing wider Biopharmaceutical Clinical Operations functions at CPT/GPT and required Governance interactions  in defining project clinical operational strategy.
• Providing leadership, clear direction and aligned goals to clinical delivery teams.
• Lead discussions with cross-functional representatives, drive and implement critical initiatives on the program level ensuring the CPT is operating as a high functioning team
• Managing program-level AZ operational interface with externally managed/outsourced partners (e.g. CRO/specialty vendors) and collaboration/alliance partners for program planning and delivery
• Contribute to functional and cross functional initiatives to represent TA/Clinical Operations as Subject Matter Expert
• Coaching and mentoring the Global Clinical Operations Program Director (GPD)

Essential education, skills and experience for the role:

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent), preferably in medical or biological sciences or discipline associated with clinical research, advance degree is preferred
• Extensive experience within pharmaceutical industry or similar biotech global industry
• Extensive global experience of clinical development/drug development process across early/late phase providing input into clinical development plans and execution from protocol design through to health authority submission
• Experienced in use of project management techniques and systems for complex projects, including resourcing, financial management and business case development 
• Clinical operations expert level knowledge in study and program leadership roles with strong track record of delivery
• Extensive global drug development leadership experience, partnering and negotiation/influence of senior leaders
• Extensive global drug development leadership or equivalent leadership experience demonstrated in a variety of roles.
• Proven teamwork and ability to work collaboratively across a wide range of disciplines
• Track record of planning, prioritization and delivery success  

You will also need strong strategic communication skills and an ability to influence broadly within and outside the organization. Proven ability to develop successful collaborations, to develop programs to meet business goals and to assess business risk; ability to understand/adapt to global business requirements.

Desirable for the role:

• Demonstrated ability to drive process improvement and/or functional work
• Experience in vaccine development/clinical trials or working in infectious disease area
• Regulatory submission experience
• Experience of implementing changes in ways of working that focus on increasing efficiency
• Experience in development and implementation of digital health and patient centric strategies into clinical studies
• Proven experience in leading teams through change  

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

At AstraZeneca, you'll find an environment that fosters innovation and growth. Our entrepreneurial spirit combined with the security of a global pharma ensures that you can define your career path while making a significant impact. We are committed to protecting our patients, our people, and our planet. Here, you are encouraged to take ownership, develop new skills, and expand your capabilities. Our culture is rooted in integrity, inclusiveness, and dedication to supporting communities worldwide. Join us as we inspire change with integrity and celebrate diversity.

Date Posted

26-Aug-2025

Closing Date

21-Sep-2025

Our mission is to build an inclusive environment where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and employees. In 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.

AstraZeneca embraces diversity and equality of opportunity. We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse team representing all backgrounds, with as wide a range of perspectives as possible, and harnessing industry-leading skills. We believe that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be. We welcome and consider applications to join our team from all qualified candidates, regardless of their characteristics. We comply with all applicable laws and regulations on non-discrimination in employment (and recruitment), as well as work authorisation and employment eligibility verification requirements.