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Cell Therapy Functional Program Manager

Posted date Aug. 20, 2026
Contract type Full time
Job ID R-257649
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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-257649 Date posted 08/20/2026

Job Title: Cell Therapy, Functional Program Manager

Introduction to role:

This role is based in Barcelona, with an on-site commitment of three days a week. Fluency in English is required.

Are you ready to orchestrate complex, cross-functional cell therapy programs that turn bold science into meaningful treatments for people? This role sits at the heart of our mission to move with speed and precision, aligning science, operations, and delivery so patients benefit sooner.

You will connect discovery, technical development, manufacturing, clinical, quality, regulatory, and external partners into one cohesive plan. Your leadership will bring clarity to complexity, remove barriers, and drive decisive progress from early development through clinical milestones. How would you align CMC, clinical, and manufacturing to hit aggressive timelines without compromising quality or budget?

Accountabilities:

• Deliver projects and programs within agreed timelines, budgets, and quality standards.• Define and gain approval for detailed project plans covering activities, resources, costs, roles, responsibilities, and quality assurance.• Follow project work plans and adjust them as needed to meet evolving requirements and circumstances.• Manage day-to-day operational aspects of projects, ensuring timely completion and adherence to deadlines.• Build and maintain strong relationships with key business stakeholders to align project objectives with business needs.• Communicate project impacts and changes effectively to ensure smooth integration within the organization.• Assemble and lead project teams, assigning clear roles and fostering collaboration and teamwork among members and stakeholders.• Apply the organization's methodology rigorously and ensure compliance with established project standards.• Maintain accurate, up-to-date project documentation stored appropriately for easy access and reference.• Develop and implement project improvement plans with contributions from team members to enhance outcomes.• Address quality and compliance risks promptly, escalating critical issues to the Lead Project Manager when necessary.• Manage expectations of the Steering Group, ensuring alignment and proactive communication throughout the project lifecycle.

Essential Skills/Experience:

• Business degree.

• Experience of managing projects/programmes or in a similar role.

• Well developed organisational and interpersonal skills.

• Experience of working with third party suppliers.

• Experience of working application of policies, procedures, and guidelines.

Desirable Skills/Experience:

• Experience of working in a global organisation with complex/geographical context.

• Experience of managing ambiguity whilst navigating through it.

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.

Why AstraZeneca: Here, ambitious science meets decisive delivery. You will be empowered to make bold calls and move at speed, backed by leaders who expect smart risk-taking and evidence-based decisions. Our pipeline in cancer spans multiple stages and modalities, including cell therapies, and we fuse advanced science with enabling technology to push boundaries. We collaborate widely with academia and leading medical centers to accelerate progress, and when the world changes, we pivot fast—during the pandemic, our teams rapidly repurposed a blood cancer medicine into a clinical trial in weeks. We value kindness alongside ambition, giving you the trust, partnership, and resources to turn breakthrough ideas into real outcomes for patients.

Call to Action: If you are ready to lead cross-functional programs that bring cell therapies to patients faster while elevating your impact, take the next step and reach out today!

Date Posted

20-ago-2026

Closing Date

27-ago-2026

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.

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 our people.