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Associate Director, Diagnostic Partnerships, Oncology Business Unit

Posted date Jun. 20, 2025
Contract type Full time
Job ID R-229717
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Why choose AstraZeneca Spain?

AstraZeneca Spain is a rising force in our global business. With headquarters in Madrid and our global hub in Barcelona, we’ve become an important international centre of excellence in the fight against critical disease. Boasting vibrant universities and business schools, the Barcelona ecosystem is a place where scientists can thrive. We attract a diverse workforce from across the globe, shining a beacon for innovation in a country that’s committed to clinical development.

We invite you to bring your talents to Barcelona where our respiratory medicine R&D and Global Marketing centre offers opportunities in R&D, IT, Commercial and HR. Or join us in Madrid and shape our growth in our BUs (Respiratory, Oncology & CVRM ), and a range of Corporate functions. Additionally, you can find sales roles throughout the country. Together, we’re contributing to a world-leading pipeline of therapeutics and delivering life-changing medicines to patients.

Who do we look for?

Calling all tech innovators, ownership takers, challenge seekers and proactive collaborators. At AstraZeneca Spain, breakthroughs born in the lab become transformative medicine for the world's most complex diseases. Alongside technical expertise, colleagues have the resilience, energy and collaborative mindset to change lanes, work with different teams and start projects from scratch.

Here, diverse minds and bold disruptors can meaningfully impact the future of healthcare using cutting-edge technology. Whether you join us in Madrid or Barcelona, you can make a tangible impact within a global biopharmaceutical company that invests in your future. Join a talented global team that's powering AstraZeneca to better serve patients every day.

Success Profile

Ready to make an impact in your career? If you're passionate, growth-orientated and a true team player, we'll help you succeed. Here are some of the skills and capabilities we look for.

Diverse collaborators

This is a speak-up culture that values collaboration. You’ll proactively bring your unique perspectives, experiences and skills to the table and seek the same from others. With our international team composition and the need for fast-paced collaboration, you’ll always be building new connections with colleagues.

Cutting-edge innovators

When you join us, you’ll be part of a team that embraces digital technology and data to transform the way we work and the work we do. Every day, you’ll help make history, empowered to ignite your creativity and build something enduring.

Resilient trailblazers

Here, the answers aren’t always available. So, you’ll need to bring a fearless, self-starter mindset to navigate uncharted territories. You’ll harness your ceaseless energy to discover and make the necessary connections with colleagues to shape the future and achieve maximum impact.

Agile movers

Seize ownership and excel with autonomy to enjoy the constant rush of ground-breaking discovery. Your ability to anticipate sudden shifts and adapt swiftly will prove critical as you make your mark in an environment that rewards initiative and resilience.

Responsibilities

Job ID R-229717 Date posted 06/20/2025

Job Title: Associate Director, Diagnostic Partnerships, Oncology Business Unit

Introduction to role

Are you ready to make a significant impact in the world of oncology diagnostics? As the Associate Director, Diagnostic Partnerships within the Oncology Business Unit, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the patient testing landscape and ensuring no patient is left behind. Reporting to the Director of Diagnostic.

Partnerships, you will lead key partnership activities that drive the delivery of our Global Diagnostics mission. Your expertise will be crucial in refining business needs, engaging with prospective diagnostic partners, and collaborating on scoping, negotiation, and deal closure. Are you prepared to take on this challenge and lead strategic initiatives that deliver diagnostic solutions in-market?

Accountabilities

- Direct GDx projects towards meeting business requirements, fitting into overarching strategies taking into account cost, quality and timeline requirements.
- Develop and manage relationships with external diagnostic partners and potential partners in a compliant and professional manner, ensuring AstraZeneca is regarded as a partner of choice by third parties.
- Work with Business Development colleagues in the negotiation, contracting and deal-closing processes for enterprise-wide agreements.
- Lead execution of specific schedules of work and agreements according to project needs, owning deal processes and aligning with cross-functional colleagues to achieve the same.
- Participate in international, multifunctional teams for the technical, commercial and corporate evaluation of diagnostic partnership opportunities and their execution into the market.
- Ensure that diagnostic partnering opportunities are evaluated thoroughly and objectively with ownership of certain due diligence processes.
- Present partnering opportunities to the oncology business effectively and efficiently.
- Establish external and internal networks to ensure early identification and capture of relevant opportunities and efficient delivery of partnership projects.
- Represent the OBU Diagnostic function at key external scientific congresses as part of searching for and identifying opportunities and building relationships with partners.
- Work collaboratively and flexibly to accommodate the various routes through which projects of different natures may arise, including alongside given Global Diagnostic Marketing colleagues to identify in-market diagnostic solution needs.
- Actively contribute and collaborate with the broader diagnostics team to provide diagnostic inputs and solutions into the wider Oncology Business Unit for given projects.
- Interpret and synthesis data gathered from 3rd parties, desk sources and internal AZ knowledge in building business cases for partnerships.
- Ensure post deal activities are fully completed and optimal handover of solutions to Global and Market colleagues for implementation.
- Prepare activity and achievement reports for senior management and feed into OBU updates as appropriate.
- Positively develop, manage and maintain stakeholder relationships with senior OBU colleagues, BDO, Legal, Compliance, Market diagnostic teams, Precision Medicine, and other cross-functional colleagues as needed.

Essential Skills/Experience

- Post-graduate level education in a relevant subject (e.g. Masters/MBA/MSc or above)
- Relevant consulting, strategy, business development and/or pharma/diagnostic partnership experience
- Knowledge of pharmaceutical and diagnostic company businesses, processes and activities
- Knowledge of scientific, commercial and financial evaluation techniques
- An understanding of governance procedures relevant to deal progression and business development work (CDAs, agreement structures, delegation of authorities, due diligence processes, etc.)
- Analytical skills and ability to ascertain the relevant issues from large masses of information
- Interpersonal and teamwork skills, demonstrating flexibility and a proven ability to deal with complexity under time pressure
- Experience and effectiveness in the presentation of written and oral business cases to senior management
- Numerate and having financial literacy, excellent spoken and written English
- Tenacity and resourcefulness, an ability to demonstrate leadership under sustained pressure
- A flexible, team orientated attitude, willing to contribute own skills to deliver priority projects

Desirable Skills/Experience

- Experience through education or work in a relevant area of oncology diagnostics, providing credibility to scientific audiences
- Experience in multiple, large, international, multi-functional project teams of professionals to deliver to time, cost and quality
- Experience of diagnostics commercialisation and launch working with third party companies
- Experience with academic and commercial oncology testing laboratories and contracting
- A working understanding of diagnostic regulatory frameworks worldwide
- Understanding of various complex in-market needs for novel oncology diagnostics
- Knowledge of alternative deal structures and legal principles applicable to a range of deal types
- Negotiation skills and experience of working in a deal environment
- Good knowledge of disease areas, and drug/diagnostic development activities and commercial processes
- Existing deep diagnostic scientific knowledge and an established external network is an advantage

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.

At AstraZeneca, we are driven by a bold ambition to eliminate cancer as a cause of death. Our relentless pursuit of scientific excellence challenges the status quo to deliver more effective treatments for patients. With a game-changing pipeline backed by pioneering research, we are transforming cancer care through precision medicine. Our entrepreneurial spirit fosters collaboration across diverse teams, empowering us to redefine cancer treatment. Join us on this exciting journey where your contributions can make a real difference.

Ready to take on this exciting challenge? Apply now to join our team!

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.

10000899 F BDAM Oncology

Reasons to Join

Thomas Mathisen

There are many things I enjoy when working at AstraZeneca, mainly the Speak up culture, the great colleagues that are in my teams, the great products that AstraZeneca provides to our patients and the challenging conversations I have around our medicines.

Sales Representative Oslo, Norway

There are many things I enjoy when working at AstraZeneca, mainly the Speak up culture, the great colleagues that are in my teams, the great products that AstraZeneca provides to our patients and the challenging conversations I have around our medicines.

Christine Recchio

Working at AstraZeneca has impacted my life in such a positive way. I now have an improved work-life balance through creating my own schedule and time management, I feel a balance that I didn’t have before.

Sales Representative California, United States

Working at AstraZeneca has impacted my life in such a positive way. I now have an improved work-life balance through creating my own schedule and time management, I feel a balance that I didn’t have before.

Stephanie Ling

There are a lot of reasons why I enjoy working in AstraZeneca, my colleagues being one of them. My team members and the managers have provided a great deal of guidance in helping me to be more confident in my daily work.

Sales Representative Petaling Jaya, Malaysia

There are a lot of reasons why I enjoy working in AstraZeneca, my colleagues being one of them. My team members and the managers have provided a great deal of guidance in helping me to be more confident in my daily work.

What we offer

We're driven by our shared values of serving people, society and the planet. Our people make this possible, which is why we prioritise diversity, inclusivity, balance and sustainability. Discover what a career at AstraZeneca could mean for you.

An award-winning company

We're passionate about being a great place to work, and 84% of our employees would recommend us as an employer. We've been recognised as a Top Employer in Spain, an EFR Family Responsible Business, and we achieved third place in Forbes Spain's Top 50 Best Places to Work list.

Inclusive environment

Diversity and inclusion are embedded in everything we do, and our different views, experiences and strengths enrich our culture. There's no salary gap at AstraZeneca, and the number of female employees has increased by four per cent over the last three years. We've also made all positions fully accessible.

Work-life balance

Your wellbeing means a lot to us, and we're here to support you through all of life's ups and downs. That's why we offer an unpaid leave policy, annual leave, reduced-hours timetables and a host of benefits, including a retirement plan, long service award, and health and travel insurance.

Sustainability initiatives

We're committed to harnessing the power of science to become a more sustainable business. We've reduced our carbon footprint by over 9,000 kg of CO2 over the last two years, and we lead the European GoGreen Project, which aims to introduce environmentally friendly options in our fleet of corporate vehicles.

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Great culture, great work assignments, supportive management. Rotation opportunity within the company. They value inclusion and diversity.