Executive Director, Oncology Global Programme Management (IO)

Executive Director, Oncology Global Programme Management (IO)

Mississauga, Canada

Mississauga is the preferred location for this role, however, applicants from Gaithersburg, Boston, Barcelona, Cambridge and Gaithersburg 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 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 acumen in IO 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.

Player–Coach 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: PhD in life sciences and / 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 we’re dedicated to being a Great Place to Work. Where you are empowered to push the boundaries of science and unleash your entrepreneurial spirit. There’s 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. We’re 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 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 ambitious world.

So, what’s next?

Are you ready to bring new ideas and fresh thinking to the table? Brilliant! We have one seat available, and we hope it’s yours.

Where can I find out more? Our Social Media, Follow AstraZeneca on LinkedIn Follow AstraZeneca on Facebook Follow AstraZeneca on Instagram

If this sounds like you... Apply today!

Pay Transparency

The annual base pay for this position ranges from $220,668 to $331,100. 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.

We are using AI as part of the recruitment process.

This advertisement relates to a current vacancy.

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.