Medical Excellence Lead

At AstraZeneca, we pride ourselves on crafting a collaborative culture that champions knowledge-sharing, daring thinking, and innovation – ultimately providing employees with the opportunity to work across teams, functions and even the globe.

Recognizing the importance of individualized flexibility, our ways of working allow employees to balance personal and work commitments while ensuring we continue to build a strong culture of collaboration and partnership by engaging face-to-face in our offices 3 days a week. Our head office and BlueSky Hub in downtown Toronto are purposely crafted with collaboration in mind, providing space where teams can come together to strategize, brainstorm, and connect on key projects.

Our dedication to sustainability is also central to our culture and part of what makes AstraZeneca is an excellent place to work. We know the health of people, the planet and our business are interconnected which is why we’re taking bold actions to address some of the biggest challenges of our time, from climate change to access to healthcare and disease prevention.

Role background

At AstraZeneca Canada our Scientific Affairs team continues to grow to support our emerging portfolio and evolving healthcare environment. Underpinned by our core AZ Values, this role supports the actualization of AZC Scientific Affairs team vision by driving both operational and executional excellence.

This role works with the AZC Medical teams across therapeutic areas to shape the future of HCP engagement This role will work closely with the Director of Medical Strategy and Innovation to ensure core capabilities are aligned to Medical Leadership for the future, and to support Transforming Healthcare priorities.

The role also provides leadership in the area of measuring the impact of medical affairs, as well as bridging cross-functional communication on the relevance of this impact to the overall organizational goals.

The role partners with the EuCan and Global teams to understand and mold capability development, insight generation strategy and to bring global initiatives to the local market as applicable.

Successful execution in this role requires effectively shaping the strategy and proficiency in enabling impact through strong partnering with cross-functional teams in a matrix organization

Accountabilities:

Lead brand agnostic Capability Plan for market

• Define, in coordination with MA Leadership, knowledge and skills to be acquired to ensure outstanding quality of scientific interactions, achieve high performance and be recognized as credible players in the Scientific Community.
• Build and own a core capability plan to support the skills required for growing medical affairs leadership, scope to include head office as well as field roles, aligning channels of communication.
• Execute on Capability Development Plan through development and facilitation of sessions and engagement of external experts where vital.
• Support the medical teams in brand-agnostic initiatives, including owning the implementation of new methods or procedures to improve the efficiency of Medical Affairs, ex. onboarding tactics and sustainability plan for medical affairs;
• Lead opportunity to use digital learning platforms, working with global partners to build digital learning pathways and adaptive learning initiatives to enhance capability development and sustainment.
• Collaborate with local market IBEX (Innovation and Business Excellence team) for enterprise-wide capability alignment, bridging scientific affairs as key business partners in cross-functional implementation strategy driving better patient outcomes.
• Implement project work plans and recommend revisions as appropriate to meet changing development needs within the team in line with the Medical Plan

Lead Insights Management Plan for market

• Lead development of an aligned insight management plan for Canada, activating new digital tools where applicable.
• Lead development of an aligned insight management plan for Canada, activating new digital tools where applicable.
• Uplift Insight gathering and analysis capability, scoping beyond just field medical and leveraging digital as applicable.
• Build teamwork between Field Medical and Medical Evidence teams in Canada in support of insights to advise action.

Lead cross-TA Metrics of Performance for Market

• Supervision of all Medical Effectiveness and monitoring activity, including building a 360 ° vision of our interactions both at institution and healthcare professional levels.
• Own Field Medical Metrics reporting for market, running quarterly effectiveness dashboard reports for One Field Medical and coordinating IMPACT measures across TAs. Own Communication Plan for IMPACT measures, elevating medical affairs contributions to overall organizational objectives.

Enable Medical Process Improvement and Alignment

• Analyze changes in the pharmaceutical environment in the mid-long term and assess impact on local organization elevating the role of medical in the greater enterprise.
• Identify and create new opportunity for proactive collaboration and communication between therapy areas and other parts of the organization to align standard processes and synergies.
• Actively work in support of continuous improvement and simplification initiatives, adapting processes as compliance parameters evolve and leading sustainability plan for current prioritized capabilities.
• In collaboration with S&I director, support evolution of field medical role towards practice change initiatives.
• Ensure the frameworks, projects, training, and communications are all aligned with relevant standard operating procedures including those in area of pharmacovigilance, patient safety, data privacy, information security etc.
• Represent Canada in the Global Medical Excellence team, attending meetings regularly and bringing relevant global MedEx initiatives to local market as aligned with local strategy and compliance and seeking out opportunity for cross-market collaboration. Represent Canada in the Regional (EuCAn) Medical Excellence Team, attending meetings regularly and ensuring KPI and metric alignment with region for local operational excellence.
• Accountable for the Medical Excellence plan in the country

Education, Qualifications, Skills and Experience

•  Proven experience within the pharmaceutical industry in Medical Affairs roles, Medial Advisor or Field Manager experience considered an asset
• Advanced science Degree
• Experience with digital or adaptive learning platforms considered an asset
• Deep understanding of the Field Medical role and contribution to the larger organization
• Knowledge of the Canadian healthcare environment as well as local regulatory requirements related to medical affairs activities
• Experience in product launch preparation and execution
• Strong team-player with ability to build partnerships and work well within diverse teams
• Strong Change Management Skills
• Strong leadership capability with the ability to lead multi-disciplinary working groups and cross functional teams
• Strong communication, presentation skills; proficiency in written and spoken English
• Able to tactfully influence, persuade and achieve results while promoting the creation of effective and positive relationships in the business

Great People want to Work with us! Find out why:

• GTAA Top Employer Award for 10 years
• Top 100 Employers Award
• Canada’s Most Admired Corporate Culture
• Learn more about working with us in Canada
• View our YouTube channel

This is the place to make a meaningful impact – on patients’ lives and your personal growth. It’s both exciting and inspiring, and it’s what keeps us motivated every day.

Ready to make a difference? Apply now!

AstraZeneca is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion and providing a workplace that is free from discrimination. AstraZeneca is committed to accommodating persons with disabilities. Such accommodation is available on request in respect of all aspects of the recruitment, assessment and selection process and may be requested by emailing AZCHumanResources@astrazeneca.com (mailto:AZCHumanResources@astrazeneca.com).

Date Posted

31-Jul-2025

Closing Date

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 authorization and employment eligibility verification requirements.

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.