Head of Commercial Operations

Head of Commercial Operations

London

Closing Date: 5th June

Introduction to role:

Are you ready to lead the commercial operations strategy of the Innovation and Business Excellence Function (IBEX)?

This is a highly visible leadership role. It offers the opportunity to influence business performance across a broad UK portfolio. You will strengthen go-to-market execution, improve in-line brand performance, deliver launch excellence and modernise commercial operations through smarter, data-driven ways of working.

This role is the commercial backbone of IBEX, bringing deep frontline sales and marketing credibility to connect business priorities with the capabilities and functions that enable delivery. You will influence and drive how the organisation goes to market. Translate strategic priorities into clear commercial choices, disciplined execution and measurable business outcomes for both in-line and launch brands. Act as a trusted strategic partner to Franchise and IBEX leadership, you will accelerate performance and sharpen focus. You will ensure the organisation delivers with pace, clarity, and accountability embedding modern, data-driven ways of working that improve commercial effectiveness and productivity.

Why this role matters

UK commercial success depends on two things: sharp strategic choices and brilliant execution. You will connect priorities to delivery while reducing friction in core commercial processes, helping the business move faster, with greater confidence and impact.

Key Accountabilities:

Drive Performance acceleration and commercial focus:

• Deliver measurable performance improvement by turning insight into clear commercial outcomes. Acting as a senior thought partner to Franchise and IBEX leaders.
• Maintain a clear link from strategic priorities through market launch to measurable business outcomes. Use data and insight for decisions, prioritisation, and tracking performance. Actively stop, simplify, or deprioritise low-value activities to keep the organisation focused on performance drivers.

Shape and optimise the UK go-to-market approach:

• Leads the development and optimisations of go-to-market strategic priorities across ensuring alignment between strategy, customer engagement models, and execution.
• Ensure coordination across IBEX so work is synchronised and roles are clear. Delivery should be joined up rather than fragmented. Use digital tools and analytics to continuously improve go-to-market efficiency. Embrace global and regional initiatives selectively when they contribute significant advantages for the UK.

Make core commercial operations simpler, faster, and higher impact:

• Ensure the Commercial Operations team delivers critical commercial processes to high standards, including segmentation and targeting, incentive design, and brand planning. Continuously simplify and improve these processes to strengthen performance and reduce unnecessary complexity and effort. Embed the use of automation, data and digital solutions to improve quality, speed and scalability of delivery; build pragmatic governance that increases pace without bureaucracy.

Set direction for commercial and organisational capabilities:

• Set the strategic direction for commercial and organisational capabilities. Work with capability leads to ensure development is targeted and practical. Focus on improving real on-the-job performance. Foster an achievement-focused capability culture that connects investment to measurable business outcomes. Use proven external methods and modern approaches, including digital and AI-enabled learning, to raise organisational standards.

Build a high-performing team and culture:

• Guide, mentor, and cultivate a high-performing Commercial Operations team. Build a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement. Provide clear direction and prioritisation to keep the team focused on the most important work. Build positive relationships across the organisation and with both international and regional teams to maximise value for the UK business

Essential Experience:

• A strong commercial background within life sciences, with experience in Commercial Operations or equivalent roles focused on driving business performance
• Significant experience across sales and marketing. Deep understanding of frontline execution and customer engagement. Strong knowledge of how commercial strategy translates in the field. Solid appreciation of market access and healthcare system dynamics.
• Degree in a business, science or equivalent subject
• Deep experience and understanding of leading commercial teams in a UK affiliate requiring a strong understanding of the NHS
• Demonstrated ability to shape and deliver effective go-to-market approaches across in-line and launch brands
• Track record of turning strategy into action, enhancing focus, implementation and tangible outcomes
• Experience operating in complex, matrix organisations, influencing senior leaders and aligning diverse partners
• Proven leadership of high-performing teams, with a focus on delivery, development and accountability

Essential Capabilities:

• Strong commercial judgement and the ability to focus the organisation on what will truly move performance
• Ability to cut through complexity, bring clarity to priorities, and drive pace of execution
• Uses data and insight to challenge thinking, guide decisions and improve commercial effectiveness
• Comfortable operating at senior levels, bringing both support and challenge to drive better outcomes
• Strong understanding of core commercial business processes, with an outlook passionate about simplification, efficiency and ongoing improvement

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.

Why AstraZeneca:

Here you will shape how breakthrough science reaches patients, working across a rapidly expanding portfolio and collaborating with colleagues from across therapy areas to findings and scale what works. We blend scientific insight with commercial craft, move with pace, start small and scale fast, and pioneer digital approaches that raise the bar for customer engagement and patient impact. Ambition is matched with trust and support: we protect space to experiment, learn quickly and bring teams with us, valuing kindness alongside performance. Your leadership will directly influence how we reduce the burden of disease in the UK while building the capabilities that create future leaders.

At AstraZeneca UK, we are committed to delivering against three missions:

Accelerating the position of the UK as a global centre of excellence in life sciences.

Redefining healthcare through fast and equitable access to the most effective medicines, high quality care.

Delivering sustainable leadership that prioritises healthy people, society and planet.

Our head office in Pancras Square offers us the strongest possible platform to transform the lives of patients, as the country’s leading biopharmaceutical company. It brings AstraZeneca UK closer to our customers, partners and collaborators in the UK’s healthcare environment, as well as develop greater collaboration with the wider AstraZeneca footprint.

Ready to lead Commercial Operations? – Apply now.

Date Posted

22-May-2026

Closing Date

05-Jun-2026

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.