Director, Respiratory Evidence Strategy

Introduction to role

At AstraZeneca, we turn ideas into life-changing medicines. Working here means being entrepreneurial, thinking big, and collaborating to improve the lives of people with serious diseases. The Director role in Medical Evidence Strategy at AstraZeneca is a lead epidemiologist position, driving real-world evidence strategy and delivery from Phase 3 projects to post-launch marketed products.

Accountabilities

The major focus is to describe the unmet need and demonstrate the value of a new medication to a wide range of partners, including clinicians, regulators, payers, and patients, using real-world primary and secondary data sources. As part of the global Medical Affairs group, medical evidence team members actively contribute to providing strategic direction and messages based on real-world evidence to ensure the right patients receive optimized treatments at the right time.

Evidence Directors set the tactical RWE plan together with the Evidence Strategy Lead and contribute to the annual business strategy planning cycle. They act as independent scientific leads for the planning and execution of RW studies, both primary and secondary, and advise on observational methods. Major technical activities include critical appraisal and synthesis of relevant epidemiological literature; design, initiation, management, conduct, analysis, and reporting of epidemiological studies; and development of medical evidence plans to identify critical knowledge gaps.

Evidence Directors interact with a wide range of internal and external customers to ensure appropriate identification of evidence gaps and communication of results to customers. They perform research on secondary data either internally or through collaboration with external research and academic groups. Additionally, they design and conduct primary data collection studies driven through external service providers. Finally, they ensure that time frames are negotiated appropriately for task completion and that results are presented effectively.

Evidence Directors support medical and clinical objectives and work closely with commercial partners to improve the potential of AstraZeneca’s products. In this specific role, the successful candidate will focus on products in clinical development and their successful transitions through late-stage clinical development, peri- and post-approval.

Senior staff are also expected to educate colleagues in the principles and practice of epidemiology. Additionally, senior staff will participate in the development of medical evidence strategies and drive decisions within an exciting matrix drug team environment.

The Evidence Director is a strategic as well as scientific role involving designing and implementing effective Medical Evidence strategies for drug and enablement projects at a global level. It requires interaction with diverse scientific, technical, and business experts to ensure scientific quality and timely project delivery while adhering to ethical requirements and responding to business needs.

Essential Skills/Experience

• Substantial experience in pharmacoepidemiology and/or disease epidemiology.

• Ph.D. or equivalent in epidemiology or related health science field with proven experience in the healthcare environment.

• Experience in the pharmaceutical industry or closely related academic epidemiological research.

• Experience managing challenging medical evidence plans.

• Ability to provide critical appraisal to study designs and published studies.

• Sustained productivity in epidemiological research as evidenced by successful design, execution, and publication of original epidemiological research relevant to drug discovery and development or commercialization in a peer-reviewed journal.

• Sustained record of epidemiological productivity at both strategic and operational levels.

• In-depth experience using secondary real-world data.

• Recognition by external scientific communities as an expert in applying epidemiology to areas relevant to drug development and commercialization.

• Ability to effectively engage and collaborate with recognized key external scientific experts.

When we put unexpected teams in the same room, we fuel 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.

AstraZeneca offers an environment where you can be at the forefront of healthcare innovation. We provide medical leadership across the entire product lifecycle—from advising on Research & Development investment decisions to leading pre-launch scientific efforts and accelerating evidence-based healthcare changes in the real world. Here, you can shape the future of healthcare while growing both personally and professionally.

The annual base pay (or hourly rate of compensation) for this position ranges from $179,816to $269,724. Hourly and salaried non-exempt employees will also be paid overtime pay when working qualifying overtime hours. Base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. In addition, our positions offer a short-term incentive bonus opportunity; eligibility to participate in our equity-based long-term incentive program (salaried roles), to receive a retirement contribution (hourly roles), and commission payment eligibility (sales roles). Benefits offered included a qualified retirement program [401(k) plan]; paid vacation and holidays; paid leaves; and, health benefits including medical, prescription drug, dental, and vision coverage in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable plans. Additional details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment. If hired, employee will be in an “at-will position” and the Company reserves the right to modify base pay (as well as any other discretionary payment or compensation program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, Company or individual department/team performance, and market factors.

Ready to make a difference? Apply now!

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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.