Global Medical Affairs Leader - ADC, GI

Job Title Global Medical Affairs Lead

Location: Gaithersburg, MD US

Introduction to role

The Global Medical Affairs Lead (GMAL) is a pivotal strategic leader, driving the scientific and medical agenda behind some of AstraZeneca’s most important oncology launches. This role sits at the centre of our ambition to transform cancer care worldwide, shaping how breakthrough science becomes real-world impact for patients. As the accountable medical leader for assigned indication(s) and asset(s), the GMAL owns the Global Medical Strategy, connects R&D with Commercial, and steers global launch readiness to deliver evidence, confidence and clarity at scale. Ready to influence how cancer is treated across the globe?

Accountabilities

The Global Medical Affairs Lead is the owner of the Global Medical Plan and the primary driver of launch strategy for assigned oncology indication(s)/asset(s). This includes leading the development, evolution and delivery of the Global Medical Plan, setting strategic direction, prioritising initiatives and making evidence-based trade-offs to maximise patient and business impact. The role continually adjusts medical strategy in response to external dynamics, insights and performance against launch KPIs, defining and tracking these KPIs to measure impact, identify progress and diagnose blockers to launch success.

Acting as a key cross-functional leader, the GMAL represents Global Medical on critical forums such as the Integrated Business Team, shaping commercial strategy, and the Global Product Team, informing R&D development, evidence requirements and lifecycle planning. The role leads Medical Integrated Teams to align global, regional and country teams around launch strategy and execution, serving as a medical decision maker and ambassador in market engagements to address insight needs, resolve misalignment and reinforce global priorities. The GMAL represents Global Medical in Launch Readiness Reviews and Strategic Brand Reviews, ensuring Medical input shapes clinical development plans and commercialisation strategies, while strengthening global medical capabilities through effective delegation, coaching, empowerment and mentorship.

The GMAL ensures transformative evidence is available to enable strong scientific leadership and confident market uptake. This includes leading global and regional gap analyses to identify critical clinical, real-world and mechanistic evidence needs, and developing cross-functional integrated evidence plans spanning clinical, diagnostic, digital and real-world sources. The role shapes the scientific and strategic design of AZ-sponsored interventional Medical Affairs studies, conceptualises real-world evidence studies with O2R, oversees study governance, milestones and resource allocation, and ensures delivery to the highest scientific, ethical and compliance standards. The GMAL develops and owns the Global Publications Plan from Phase 3 ID onwards in partnership with the publications team, prepares and delivers compelling scientific communications, reviews and approves selected local/regional medical studies and Externally Sponsored Research, and embeds the MARS vision across evidence activities through innovative study design, cancer networks and data-driven insights.

The GMAL also shapes how the world understands and adopts AstraZeneca’s oncology science. This includes owning and leading the scientific narrative from four months prior to Phase 3 ID, ensuring consistency across evidence, publications, congresses and education, and building accountability for the Integrated Confidence Plan while Centres of Excellence deliver execution. The role defines educational priorities, provides subject matter expertise aligned to the scientific narrative, identifies priority audiences, learning objectives and delivery formats, and ensures scientific rigour in global medical education delivered by MedEx and other partners. The GMAL leads the external engagement strategy for indication(s)/asset(s), including KEEs, societies, health systems and global organisations; leverages partnerships to gather insights and shape scientific and clinical practice; influences external experts to advance health outcomes and accelerate guideline adoption; and leads congress strategy across pre-congress preparation and post-congress insight synthesis, dissemination and follow-up. How will this leadership role shape the next wave of oncology innovation?

Essential Skills/Experience

• MD, PhD, PharmD, or equivalent scientific degree required.

• Experience in Medical Affairs (3+yrs) within the pharmaceutical or biotech industry, ideally at the country, Region and global level.

• Demonstrated success in leading evidence generation strategies, Medical Plans, publications, or scientific communication programs.

• Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders across Commercial, R&D, and Medical Affairs.

• Experience engaging external experts and scientific communities.
  

Desirable Skills/Experience

• Significant (7+ yrs) global Medical Affairs leadership experience in oncology.

• Experience leading cross functional teams in highly complex, multi indication environments.

• Experience navigating launch environments, new MoAs, new CDx, complex biomarker landscapes, or challenging safety profiles (aligning to GMAL complexity criteria).
  

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.

At AstraZeneca, oncology is driven by a clear purpose: to push the boundaries of science so that fewer lives are lost to cancer. Colleagues work in an environment that encourages speaking up, challenging convention and experimenting with new ideas, supported by access to industry-leading research, technology and a pipeline with global reach. With a dedicated focus on talent development, collaboration across diverse disciplines and markets, and a strong commitment to patients and sustainability, this is a place to build a meaningful career while helping to change the practice of medicine.

If this role matches your experience and ambition, apply now to help shape the future of cancer care.

The annual base pay (or hourly rate of compensation) for this position ranges $206,827.20 - $310,240.80 USD Annual.  Our positions offer eligibility for various incentives—an opportunity to receive short-term incentive bonuses, equity-based awards for salaried roles and commissions for sales roles. Benefits offered include qualified retirement programs, paid time off (i.e., vacation, holiday, and leaves), as well as health, dental, and vision coverage in accordance with the terms of the applicable plans.

Date Posted

Closing Date

Our mission is to build an inclusive environment where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and employees. In furtherance of that mission, we welcome and consider applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of their protected characteristics. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please complete the corresponding section in the application form.