Skip to main content
Search roles

Senior Global Medical Affairs Breast Cancer Strategy Lead

Location Gaithersburg, Maryland, United States Cambridge, England, United Kingdom Job ID R-185928 Date posted 30/09/2024

Do you have expertise in, and passion for Medical Affairs in Oncology? Would you like to apply your expertise to impact the SeniorGlobal Medical Affairs Breast Cancer Strategy Lead role in a company that follows the science and turns ideas into life changing medicines? Then AstraZeneca might be the one for you!

At AstraZeneca, we put patients first and strive to meet their unmet needs worldwide. Working here means being entrepreneurial, thinking big and working together to make the impossible a reality. If you are swift to action, confident to lead, willing to collaborate, and curious about what science can do, then you’re our kind of person.

AstraZeneca’s vision in Oncology is to help patients by redefining the cancer-treatment paradigm, with the aim of bringing six new cancer medicines to patients between 2013 and 2020. A broad pipeline of next-generation medicines is focused principally on four disease areas - breast, ovarian, lung and hematological cancers. As well as other tumor types, these are being targeted through five key platforms - immunotherapy, the genetic drivers of cancer and resistance, DNA damage repair, HER2 and antibody drug conjugates, underpinned by personalized healthcare and biomarker technologies.

Job Description:

You will be joining our globally-renowned Oncology area, which is currently leading the rapid business growth of our enterprise and ever-evolving industry. It is an exciting time to join as we work towards our big ambitions using entrepreneurial thinking and innovation. It is up to us to find solutions and act fast to make them a reality. Science is at the core of our decision making. It is how we achieve our ambitions for patients: fusing science with strategy, embracing new opportunities, and cultivating innovation by seeking expertise in real world evidence and data.

To accompany AstraZeneca’s continued commitment to improving the lives of persons with Breast Cancer, we are pleased to present a new and unique role. This senior role is a critical position with high visibility and impact, providing the individual the opportunity to unleash the full potential of Medical Affairs on a Global scale. Reporting to the Vice President, Global Franchise Head, this senior position is accountable for the strategic direction, and matrix leadership of the Global Medical Affairs (GMA) Breast Cancer Plan, integrating innovative strategies that drives towards improved patient care.

The post holder will be responsible for the alignment, coordination, and implementation of the overall GMA pan-Breast Cancer strategic initiatives that sit above the Breast Cancer brands. As a core member of the Global Medical Breast Cancer Strategy  Team  you will work in a cross-functional environment with senior stakeholders to positively influence the direction and priorities of the AZ Breast Cancer Strategy. As the post holder represents the GMA function, you will proactively engage Global Medical Teams and Stakeholders to ensure GMA alignment and consistency of delivery against the Breast Cancer Strategy. You will also be a strong representation of GMA within the cross-functional Oncology Global Product and Oncology Global Commercial Brand Teams, as well as within collaborative clinical research programmes.

Your focus will also include strengthening and expanding our external engagement strategy and partnerships with the clinical community through consolidation of our real-world evidence and collaborative research programmes. Ultimately, playing a leading role in defining and transforming future breast cancer care models to improve patient lives.

You will be accountable for:

  • The leadership and development of the strategic direction and deliverables across all areas of Medical Affairs in support of the Breast Cancer strategy
  • Congress plans, including KEE engagement, symposia, IME/CME, communications including Q&A
  • Evidence generation including RWE, diagnostics, and translational work
  • Digital innovations
  • Delivering the above brands Breast Cancer Scientific Narrative
  • Development of the platform for external collaboration and engagement as part of the comprehensive external engagement Breast Cancer strategy

You will work:

  • Collaboratively with the Breast Cancer Franchise Head  and Breast Cancer Development Head  in the design and implementation of the integrated Breast Cancer  strategy
  • With the  Alliance team to harness synergies in having an external impact through the Alliance and AZ strategy execution
  • With internal and external stakeholders to enhance the scientific and clinical understanding of Breast Cancer

You will:

  • Lead Pan Breast Cancer Strategy team and execute Pan BC initiatives
  • Serve as the Medical Affairs lead on the Breast Strategy Council , bringing the voice of the patient and physician into the development and commercialisation process
  • Ensure that medical insights from key countries are used to inform all evidence, product development, and franchise strategy deliverables
  • Maintain a good working knowledge of company standards on medicines promotion and supports the Nominated Signatories in ensuring product related materials and activities for external audiences comply with these standards
  • Initiate and develop relationships with internal and external stakeholders to enhance the scientific and clinical understanding of the AZ Breast cancer strategy
  • Develop, gain approval for, and manage the annual budget required to deliver the objectives for assigned brand(s) in line with defined processes and policies
  • Act as an expert author to the Late-Stage Target Product Profiles (TPPs), starting 9-12 months before Phase III ID (investment decision) bringing insights from providers, patients, and policy makers, knowledge of the patient journey, treatment impact and translation of efficacy to effectiveness

Essential Requirements:

  • Advanced scientific degree (MD, PhD, PharmD)
  • Extensive Medical Affairs and product launch experience including deep Breast cancer experience
  • Strong understanding of drug development and the commercialization processes including launch experience
  • A track record of building and maintaining a deep continued connection to medical practice/healthcare delivery
  • Collaborative/matrix management skills with a focus on leading diverse groups (e.g., cultural, geographical, functional) to achieve excellent results in shared goals
  • Strong communication skills with the ability to distil complexity down to what matters to our stakeholders (Fluency in English – essential)
  • Proven ability to generate, analyse and interpret clinical trial and published data
  • The candidate is expected to have strong project management skills and ability to work effectively cross-functional/cross-Franchise globally including development, marketing, diagnostics, and health outcomes
  • Strong Financial/Budget Management and business acumen

Desirable Requirements

  • Extensive knowledge of the latest technical, regulatory, policy and patient–centric developments
  • Experience in Evidence generation planning and clinical trial design
  • Extensive experience in relationship and stakeholder management (3P’s: Payer, Provider and Patients)
  • Effective matrix leadership experience
  • Experience working at the medical marketing interface

Why AstraZeneca?

At AstraZeneca when we see an opportunity for change, we seize it and make it happen, because any opportunity no matter how small, can be the start of something big. Delivering life-changing medicines is about being entrepreneurial - finding those moments and recognizing their potential. Join us on our journey of building a new kind of organization to reset expectations of what a bio-pharmaceutical company can be. This means we’re opening new ways to work, pioneering cutting edge methods and bringing unexpected teams together. Interested? Come and join our journey.

Are you already imagining yourself joining our team? Good, because we can’t wait to hear from you.

The annual base pay for this position ranges from $249,185 - $373,778. 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. 

Where can I find out more?

Our Social Media, Follow AstraZeneca on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/1603/

Follow AstraZeneca on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/astrazenecacareers/

Follow AstraZeneca on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/astrazeneca_careers/?hl=en

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.

50201108 G MABM

We’ll keep you up-to-date

Sign up to be the first to receive job updates.

Interested InSearch for a category and select one from the list of suggestions. Search for a location and select one from the list of suggestions. Finally, click “Add” to create your job alert.

Glassdoor logo Rated four stars on Glassdoor

Great culture, great work assignments, supportive management. Rotation opportunity within the company. They value inclusion and diversity.