Business Planning & Process Manager

Position: Business Planning & Process Manager
Location: London, UK
Competitive Salary & Excellent Company Benefits

AstraZeneca is seeking an exceptional Business Planning & Process Manager to serve as a hands-on project leader at the centre of major transformation initiatives for the Oncology Business Unit.

Based in London, you will work closely with senior stakeholders—including the Business Operations Lead, OBEX LT, OBU Head and Oncology Leadership Teams—to shape and deliver high-priority projects that define the business’s future direction. You will oversee project timelines, coordinate resources, clarify roles and provide regular updates to ensure strategic alignment. Maintain progress on priority initiatives and deliver concise updates to senior leadership. You will streamline planning and governance processes across franchises, maintaining momentum and transparency through proactive stakeholder engagement.

You will also leverage data-driven insights to recommend and implement operational improvements, communicating objectives, progress and outcomes to leadership and cross-functional teams, and act as an indispensable partner and catalyst for the Oncology Business Unit’s most critical projects, ensuring sustained progress and measurable impact.

What you’ll do

• Lead Strategic Project Delivery: Drive the planning, execution, and completion of transformation and performance-enhancing projects aligned with the Oncology Business Unit’s strategic priorities, ensuring that all initiatives support franchise objectives
• Stakeholder Management: Collaborate proactively with senior leadership, franchise teams, and cross-functional partners to maintain alignment, transparency, and momentum for high-impact projects and launches.
• Change Management: Act as a change agent by championing transformation initiatives, supporting teams through transition, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement and operational excellence.
• Communication and Reporting: Provide timely, clear, and impactful updates on project objectives, progress, and outcomes to leadership and relevant stakeholders, ensuring accountability and informed decision-making.

Other Responsibilities will include:

Priority Project Coordination & Delivery (50%)

•  Facilitate the prioritisation of key OBU projects – lead on practical operational considerations and timelines
• Partner with Strategy & Ops Lead and cross-functional teams to integrate existing, new and evolved projects into a business calendar.
• Point of contact with key global and EUCAN colleagues – identifying opportunities to leverage above market initiatives, including mapping into logical flows with existing priorities
• Accountable for pro-actively identifying off-track implementation of key projects, course correcting / raising with appropriate team leads to take steps to rectify

Stakeholder Management & Communication (30%)

• Work with senior leaders and cross-functional partners to clarify and communicate timelines, accountabilities and deliverables
• Provide clear, timely, and impactful updates to leadership and stakeholders, fostering accountability and supporting informed decision-making.
• Confidently and comfortably represent priority projects purpose, meaningfulness and potential impact – where appropriate influencing team members to maintain commitments and focus

Change Management (20%)

• Driving and support transformation initiatives, guiding teams through change, and promoting a culture of continuous improvement and operational excellence.
• Ensure all projects and business activities adhere to internal governance standards and external regulatory requirements specific to pharmaceutical cancer care in the UK.

Essential Requirements

• Meticulous Project Management: Demonstrated ability to manage complex transformation projects with a high level of detail & personal accountability, ensuring timelines, deliverables, and operational considerations are consistently met. Applicants must show a track record of proactively identifying risks, course correcting, and keeping multiple projects on track under pressure.
• Conflicting Priorities Management: Proven capability to prioritise effectively in dynamic environments, balancing competing demands and making strategic decisions that align with business goals. The ideal candidate will have experience in managing ambiguity and adjusting priorities in response to evolving organisational needs.
• Multi-Project Integration: Strong experience in integrating, coordinating, and delivering multiple high-impact projects simultaneously across different functions and teams. Applicants should demonstrate the ability to map initiatives into logical flows and ensure seamless execution within a broader business calendar.
• Influencing Without Authority: Exceptional skill in inspiring, engaging, and influencing senior stakeholders, cross-functional teams, and colleagues without formal authority. The role requires the capacity to foster commitment, drive alignment, and maintain momentum for critical initiatives through executive-level communication and interpersonal effectiveness.
• Operational and Strategic Excellence: Deep knowledge of business operations, process optimisation, and commercial strategy, including Go-To-Market execution and launch operations. Applicants should be adept at leveraging data-driven insights to recommend and implement operational improvements, with a focus on continuous improvement and compliance with internal and external standards.
• Change Leadership and Adaptability: Demonstrated success in driving transformation initiatives, guiding teams through change, and promoting a culture of operational excellence. Candidates must be comfortable acting as a change agent and supporting others through transitions, ensuring adoption of new processes and maintaining compliance with regulatory requirements.

Desirable

• Proficiency in using formal project management tools and resources (such as Microsoft Project, Asana, or similar platforms) to monitor progress, allocate resources, and report on project milestones.
• In-depth understanding of the UK healthcare system, including operational and policy frameworks within the NHS, and experience navigating its unique organizational environment.
• Prior experience in oncology or with specialist medicines, ideally within the pharmaceutical sector, demonstrating familiarity with the complexities and regulatory considerations of these therapeutic areas.

Interested? Apply now!

Closing Date for Applications: COB 7th November 2025

Date Posted

27-Oct-2025

Closing Date

07-Nov-2025

Our mission is to build an inclusive and equitable environment. We want people to feel they belong at AstraZeneca and Alexion, starting with our recruitment process. We welcome and consider applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of characteristics. We offer reasonable adjustments/accommodations to help all candidates to perform at their best. If you have a need for any adjustments/accommodations, please complete the section in the application form.