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
The R&D Data Office is embarking on a transformative journey to support AstraZeneca's ambition to double the productivity of the R&D drug development pipeline by 2030. This goal will be achieved through the effective use of data and AI to power scientific innovation and accelerate data-driven decisions, ultimately speeding the delivery of medicines to patients. The Data and AI Policy and Governance team is at the forefront of this change, unlocking data and AI use in a responsible manner to enable the business while protecting patient data and meeting regulatory obligations.
The Associate Director of R&D Data & AI Policy (R&D PartnershipLegal and Compliance)will partner with the Director of this function and play a pivotal role by leading projects to shape, implement, and manage regulatory change and reviewscientific researchcontractsembedding data privacy,data transfer, ethical and legal review in the interest of protecting patient data rights.The incumbent will be accountable for the day-to-day management of requests relating to contracts covering topical areas including but not limited to data and AI use in scientific research,while supporting R&D scientists, alliance management and business development teams.This will involve legal, ethical and regulatory reviewincluding verifying the patient informed consent, patient sample use, clinical study protocol, and country data workflow to ensure compliant data transfers.
Successful candidates will possess the skills and the aptitude to provideconfident advice on contracts, data privacy, and AI, related topics, draft bespoke contract language, create new contract templates to support compliant clinical trial data requests, and contribute to problem-solving solutions to unlock access to valuable research data.
The Associate Director will be a part of a larger network of legal and compliance professionals that worktogether to enable compliant scientific research including data and AI governance teams, data privacy office, Human Biological Samples (HBS) teams, corporate risk and compliance, procurement, and data sharing operations teams. Thus, building strong relationships with both internal and external partners is essential to implementing a robust contracts, AI, and data privacy strategy using existing policies, business processes, and frameworks. Further, demonstrated experience with stakeholder management, project management, policy development, and knowledge of global laws and regulations, such as the EU AI Act, Clinical Trials Regulation, human biosamples regulations, and data privacy laws (including EU GDPR and UK GDPR)are necessary for success.
Typical Accountabilities
Contract negotiations and data privacy support: Lead contract negotiations and provide comprehensive support for data privacy and AI-related matters in contracts. Utilize existing contract templates or drafting bespoke language as needed to ensure compliance and address specific requirements.
Advisory role: Offer expert advice on contracts, AI, and data privacy, particularly concerning the transfer of clinical trial data in and out of AstraZeneca. Ensure that all advice is aligned with regulatory standards and internal policies.
Management of support requests: Oversee the day-to-day management of incoming support requests related to contract review and data privacy support. Ensure timely and accurate responses to support the business needs.
Regulatory and legal review: Where applicable, assist with regulatory and legal review of informed consent forms, protocol and other legal documents relevant to a clinical study.
Project contribution: Actively contribute to projects related to data privacy, contract development, regulatory response developments, and risk and compliance. Provide insights and solutions to enhance project outcomes.
Maintaining strategic partnerships:Maintain and nurture relationships with strategic internal and externalpartnerships, including the Data Privacy Office, Human Biological Samples team, and external collaboration partners. Foster a collaborative environment to achieve common goals.
Awareness campaigns and training: Design and implement awareness campaigns and present training sessions on data risks, contracts, regulatory aspects, and data privacy. Educate and empower colleagues to understand and mitigate data-related risks.
Data risk and compliance consultancy: Provide consultancy services on risk and compliance, helping both the Data Office and business stakeholders understand and apply current policies and best practices. Evaluate new situations and offer guidance on data risks.
Policy development: Shape, develop, and document policy ways of working, position statements, and standard operating procedures. Incorporate internal requirements and apply external influences to ensure robust policy frameworks.
Culture of compliance: Develop and promote a culture of data and AI compliance. Collaborate with the Data Office and Data Science and AI community to support data risk management and ensure the compliant use of data and AI.
Strategic contribution: Actively contribute to the Data and AI Policy and Governance team strategy, goals, and roadmap. Align individual efforts with the broader organizational objectives.
Trusted business partner: Act as a trusted business partner by using creativity to solve challenges, influence to remove barriers, and voice to escalate risks and situations involving contracts, regulatory issues, or data privacy.
Team culture: Contribute to the R&D Data Office’s innovative and inclusive culture. Bring your authentic self, engage in community activities, celebrate diversity, take risks, and embrace failures as learning opportunities.
Evangelism and representation: Promote the R&D Data Office’s achievements through targeted communications, conferences, and external engagements. Represent AstraZeneca externally, showcasing the company's commitment to responsible data and AI use.
Education, Qualifications, Skills and Experience
Demonstrated experience working cross functionally in leading contract and data privacy supportimplementation projects in the life sciences or pharma industry.
Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university in a relevant legal field.
Being an admitted lawyer or solicitor in your country of residence.
Solid experience in contracts, including drafting, negotiation and supporting it as far as it relates to data transfers in and out of the company.
Solid experience in data privacy globally, especially solid experience with GDPR compliance.
Solid experience and understanding of Intellectual Property Rights and the ability to negotiate these terms in a contract.
Requires a confident approach to providing advice internally to colleagues and stakeholders.
Working knowledge of the EU AI Act and other relevant AI legislation.
Operational understanding of legal & ethical compliance frameworks, data risks, contract an data privacy risk.
Excellent communication skills and ability to build strong relationships. Ability to liaise with people at all levels.
Requires the energy, experience, and motivation to work across global & functional boundaries
Strong project or programme management skills
Excellent organisational skills, and ability to juggle different projects/priorities and deliver high quality outcomes under pressure
Travel – willingness and ability to travel domestically & internationally.
Resilience – ability to overcome and motivate others in the face of a changing environment
Desirable
Highly collaborative with demonstratedexperience influencing and communicating with cross-functionalleaders.
Energized by developing a culture of compliance and continuous learning environment.
Proven ability to tackle the unknown with confidence.
Energized by working with talented and diverse teams toward a common goal, often translating through communication gaps.
Experience of achieving tangible and acknowledged value in a similar position and scale of challenge and opportunity.
Ability to learn new tools and technologies
Change Management track record
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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