Director, Global Project Management, Early BioPharmaceuticals

Introduction to role

The Director of Global Project Management (GPM) is a key leadership position and global role accountable for the management of global cross-functional drug development teams and sub-teams towards achieving key strategic objectives and delivering significant research, development, and regulatory achievements. The GPM holds a senior, central position, with a complete view of the drug project, working across all functions. This role complements the Global Project Leader by providing top-level oversight and integration of the entire development process.

Depending on the stage of development and project complexity, the GPM will work on one or more Global Project Teams (GPTs) primarily within our growing cell therapy portfolio. Collaborating closely with the GPL and functional leads, the GPM is accountable for integrating outstanding project management standards and practices within the GPT and AstraZeneca. The GPM is a strategic partner to the Global Project Leader and the entire GPT. Projects are likely to be more sophisticated and may include new or multiple disease areas, strategic partner alliances/acquisitions/in-licensing, and multiple parallel clinical studies.

The Director, GPM is highly visible and influential and is critical to the delivery of strategic and operational objectives. It plays a substantial role in ensuring the successful delivery of innovative medicines to patients throughout the drug development process.

Accountabilities

Strategic Business Partnering

• Provides global program management leadership and excellence through active input into the project strategy & vision, and navigates the therapy area and corporate governance processes.

• Ensures alignment of the project strategy with operational delivery.

• Shares lessons learned and communicates those throughout the GPM community to ensure integration of knowledge beyond the GPT.

• May run or be responsible for the drug project strategy as delegated by Global Project Leader.

• Ensures appropriate linkages between project strategy and key internal processes (TA strategy, TA prioritization, corporate scorecard) and updates the relevant enterprise systems.

• Where applicable, collaborate with alliance partners and lead joint alliance forums.

• Partners with Business Development to provide strategic input to potential deal cases (investment & divestment).

Cross-functional Team Leadership and Delivery

• Leads project management of cross-functional drug development teams and ensures delivery to plan.

• Acts as a core GPT member and drives efficient operation of early-stage GPTs including overall plans, priorities, budget, and risk management.

• Accountable for driving an effective, efficient team environment, creating a shared sense of purpose, inspiring, and energizing others to build and maintain a cohesive High Performing Team.

• Coaches GPT towards successful decision-making and issue resolution.

• Focuses the GPT and relevant sub-teams on the right activities at the right time and can handle most meaningful project situations.

• Designs, implements, and optimizes effective communication within and outside the team. Coordinates with corporate communications and team Comms representative to lead the team’s external communication plan.

• Accountable for ensuring the team has a good information management system in line with AZ standard methodology.

• Responsible for data quality as per agreed standards.

Governance and Investment Decisions

• Advises GPT towards effective governance decisions (e.g. Phase Investment Decisions, project revisions, etc.)

• Provides guidance to both the team and senior management / governance bodies that allows efficient (timely and informed) decision making.

• Uses broad influential network and ensures engagement at all levels prior to key decisions.

Planning, Monitoring, and Delivery

• Ensures that overall GPT results, budgets, schedules, and performance standards are realistically set, governance approved and attained, and that the project effectively fulfills all information management and business reporting requirements.

• Maintains plans of the highest data quality, accountable for all Project Management deliverables associated with GPTs and project teams or sub-teams.

Entrepreneurship

• Leads by example in learning, innovation, cross-functional and cross-TA collaboration, and conflict resolution; seeks opportunities to change paradigm and removes barriers within and outside the team.

• Advocates company standard methodologies and adoption of new project management practices.

• Applies extensive business sense to drive cross-functional and cross-project learning.

• Champions and embeds better ways of working across the enterprise, proactively promotes learning and development of peers and more junior colleagues through mentorship and knowledge sharing. Helps establish new company standard processes.

Essential Skills/Experience

• Bachelor’s degree with 8+ years of experience supporting cross-functional drug development teams or leading sub-teams

• Experienced in project management with successful track record of delivering complex/ high business impact drug development projects within agreed time, quality, and cost.

• Experience with cell therapy drug development

• Ability to motivate, lead, and inspire high performing teams

• Excellent working knowledge of project management tools and processes.

• Experience ensuring high quality data in enterprise systems

• Consistent record of effective Senior Stakeholder management, demonstrating strong ability to influence strategically

• Ability to mentor, develop, and educate team members

• Strong information leadership skills, including use of modern collaboration tools such as SharePoint, Microsoft Teams, and OneNote

• Experience ensuring high quality data in enterprise systems

Desirable Skills/Experience

• Advanced degree in a scientific subject area

• 10+ years’ relevant experience

• In-depth knowledge of drug development process

• Respiratory & Immunology therapy area knowledge

• Project Management (PMP) Certification

• Experience with sophisticated project management tools, such as Planisware/PLANIT

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.

Join a place built on innovation and creativity developing the next generation of therapeutics. Be part of an environment where questioning minds never settle until new insights are uncovered that challenge convention. Acting with urgency, you’ll be empowered to take smart risks to push the boundaries. Committed to making the right choices to win, spotting opportunities and developing our resilience to solve complex challenges.

You will work with teams that reflect the diversity of the communities we operate in. Here, sharing and understanding different perspectives is expected. Staying closely connected with one another is how we work. Drawing on our different views, experiences, and strengths is key to unlocking our plans for industry-leading growth; it propels us forward to reach bold new solutions.

Ready to make a difference? Apply now!

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.