Associate Director, Patient Safety Scientist

Are you ready to shape the benefit–risk strategy for breakthrough oncology medicines and turn complex data into decisions that protect patients?

In this Barcelona-based role, you will be a key voice in advancing safe, effective treatments by steering proactive pharmacovigilance and risk management across development and post-marketing. Your work will directly influence how quickly and confidently our therapies reach those who need them most. Reporting to senior leaders in Patient Safety and working shoulder-to-shoulder with Safety Physicians and PV Scientists, you will drive the evaluation and communication of emerging safety signals, author high-impact safety documents, and engage with critical governance forums. Can you see yourself leading clear, evidence-based recommendations that guide global teams and regulators? This is your opportunity to bring scientific rigour and decisive leadership to areas where precision and pace matter most.

Accountabilities:

- Safety Strategy Leadership: Lead proactive pharmacovigilance and risk management planning for designated products, owning the safety aspects of global risk management plans to clarify benefit–risk and protect patients.

- Cross-Functional Representation: Represent Patient Safety on project teams across development and marketed portfolios, shaping program strategy with data-driven safety perspectives that accelerate high-quality decisions.

- Signal Detection and Risk Evaluation: Review safety data from clinical trials, post-marketing, literature, and epidemiology to identify and characterise risks; translate findings into clear conclusions and actions.

- Governance and Committee Engagement: Present issues to the Safety Information Review Committee and lead data evaluation discussions; perform duties on the Safety Strategy and Management Team to ensure robust oversight.

- Regulatory Safety Deliverables: Author or provide strategic input into periodic safety documents (PBRERs, PSURs, DSURs) to agreed timelines, ensuring accuracy, clarity, and regulatory readiness.

- Reference Safety Information Stewardship: Collaborate with Patient Safety and Clinical colleagues to author and maintain Reference Safety Information for assigned development products, ensuring consistency and clinical relevance.

- Regulatory Submissions Support: Contribute to safety sections of submissions for new products, formulations, or indications, partnering with the Global Safety Program Lead and cross-functional experts to enable approvals. - External Communication: Present safety information at external meetings, clearly conveying scientific rationale and patient impact to diverse stakeholders.

- Third-Party Governance: Ensure the quality and integrity of Patient Safety components within third-party agreements, maintaining alignment with internal standards and regulations.

- Capability Building: Train team members in Patient Safety tools and systems, elevating standards and embedding best practices across the function. 4.

Essential Skills/Experience:

- A life sciences/pharmacy/nursing degree and demonstrated Patient Safety and/or Clinical/Drug Development experience. - Intermediate knowledge of PV regulations. - Fluent in written and verbal English.

Desirable Skills/Experience:

- MD, MSc/PhD in scientific discipline, preferred.

- Basic understanding of epidemiology data, preferred.

- Passion for Customers: Engage with customers to ensure delivery of complete solutions.

- Think Strategically: Use knowledge and experience to challenge and adapt current approaches.

- Act Decisively: Make effective decisions under pressure and seek support when needed.

- Drive Performance: Hold team accountable to quality standards by clarifying objectives and timelines.

- Work Collaboratively: Integrate diverse views by seeking input and incorporating cross-functional perspectives.

- Develop People and Organisation: Provide support and feedback to junior staff while continuing personal development.

Why AstraZeneca: Here, scientific curiosity meets decisive action. Our teams are empowered to follow the science, test bold ideas, and bring unexpected disciplines together in the same room to spark breakthroughs. With a strong track record of delivering new oncology medicines and sustained investment in research, you will operate at the leading edge of safety science—supported by a collaborative community that blends academia and industry. We move fast where it matters, always focused on patient outcomes, and we value kindness alongside ambition so that rigorous debate turns into better decisions and real-world impact.

Call to Action: Shape the safety strategy of tomorrow’s oncology therapies—apply by May 8 to lead with science and make your impact on patients’ lives.

Date Posted

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.