VP, Lifecycle & Pipeline, Oncology Business Unit

At AstraZeneca, we put patients first and strive to meet their unmet needs worldwide. Join a place that’s working to fundamentally change the way cancer is treated. Evolving to an outcomes-based mode – we go beyond treatment to shape the cancer care environment and transform the whole patient experience.

This is a critical role within the Oncology Business Unit, requiring strong leadership and strategic analytical skills to lead a team that will have a direct impact on our Oncology ambition. You will be part of a high performing Global Oncology Franchise team responsible for ensuring that the decisions we make with our pipeline assets best position us for long term growth and positive patient outcomes. 

Working with cross-functional teams and senior stakeholders across the Oncology Business Unit and R&D, you will create and implement strategies to drive commercialization strategy support for Tumor councils, support  effective Phase 3 ID decisions and deliver an exciting and innovative oncology pipeline. You will enable data-based strategy and decision making through the analysis and application of meaningful, timely, and accurate data from a wide range of internal and external sources. Your team’s analysis and strategic guidance will drive the long-term strategy for projects across early and late stage development and will be the foundation for investment decisions. Your team will also support the Tumor councils which is a core structure that helps us identify opportunities and also prioritize key investment decisions.

AstraZeneca has a strong and growing oncology pipeline across multiple scientific pillars and tumor types. The continued success of this pipeline requires the highly skilled Lifecycle and Pipeline team to support complex investment decisions and develop clear business cases aligned with core strategic aims and supported by strong data and analytics.

Key Responsibilities:

• Leadership and Team Management: Lead the Lifecycle and Pipeline team within the Oncology Business Unit, fostering a high-performance culture that aligns with our strategic objectives for long-term growth and improved patient outcomes.
• Strategic Development: Collaborate with cross-functional teams and senior stakeholders within the Oncology Business Unit and R&D to formulate and execute commercialization strategies. This includes supporting tumor councils and making informed Phase 3 ID decisions to advance our oncology pipeline.
• Data-Driven Decision Making: Enable strategic and data-based decision-making by analyzing and applying meaningful data from diverse internal and external sources. Your team’s insights will underpin long-term project strategies and investment decisions across early and late-stage development.
• Investment and Strategy Support: Provide strategic guidance to support complex investment decisions by developing robust business cases aligned with AstraZeneca’s core strategies, supported by accurate data and analytics. Your team will guide tumor councils, a crucial structure for identifying and prioritizing key investment opportunities.

Education & Experience

• Post-graduate degree in biological, chemical, or pharmacological sciences
• Significant experience in oncology drug development process and necessary scientific, commercial and strategic considerations
• Experience in articulating the commercial and strategic risk assessments of clinical trial designs
• Experience in value-risk assessment modelling
• Proven experience in pharmaceutical industry or consulting in which you have contributed to the global pipeline strategy e.g. market assessment, competitor analysis, forecasting
• Previous strategy role contributing to investment decisions – tumor strategy or pipeline strategy 
• Working with data and/or a science research/ bio-pharmaceutical environment
• Understanding of general business and core marketing principles and application to future healthcare market challenges

Capabilities

• Able to influence without authority and establish and maintain credibility with senior audiences
• Resourceful, motivated, decisive and proactive; must be able to manage multiple priorities in a fast-growing organization
• Experience of setting up short- and long-term strategic plans
• Strategic mindset with high intellectual capability, agility and adaptability
• Strong business acumen and complex problem-solving skills
• Clear and organized thinking with ability to simplify and prioritize complex problems
• Enterprise mindset and focus; strong process skills and ability to work in a matrixed organization with cross-functional teams
• Organizational awareness and experience of commercial pharmaceutical business planning
• Strong consultative and communication skills; must be able to formulate cohesive strategic arguments and respectfully challenge in a group of experts
• Ability to influence without authority and establish/maintain credibility with senior individuals/audiences
• Ability to do moderate global travel (Medical Congress, Advisory Boards, key internal meetings)

Desirable Experience

• Candidates may have clinical or investor background or may possess an MBA, but not required
• Awareness of the highly competitive cancer therapeutic marketplace including the many new technologies that are being developed across the industry (Preclinical and Clinical)
• Experience assessing oncology portfolios and advising internal/external clients on how to best position themselves for success

This position can be based at our sites in Gaithersburg, MD or Cambridge, UK. When we put diverse teams in the same room, we unleash bold thinking with the power to inspire life-changing medicines. In-person working gives 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 bold world.

AstraZeneca offers an environment where you can thrive by working with new drugs, digital approaches, and ever-changing environments. We are driven by our determination to ensure the value of our medicines is realized and look for opportunities to transform care and address care gaps, across the treatment paradigm. Our dynamic environment encourages creativity in designing strategies and developing innovative solutions. We thrive on co-creation and draw on diverse perspectives to overcome challenges. Join us to be part of a team that is passionate about making a meaningful impact on patient outcomes.

Ready to make a difference? Apply now to join our team!

The annual base pay for this position ranges from $330,263 - $495,395. 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.

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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.