Oncology Medical Liaisons Associate Director

Oncology Medical Liaisons Associate Director

Introduction to role:

Are you ready to lead and elevate a high-performing team of Medical Science Liaisons to transform cancer care? Do you thrive at the intersection of science, strategy, and field execution where your decisions directly shape how evidence reaches physicians and patients? 

In this leadership role based in the Northeast (preferably MA, NJ, PA, NY), you will guide regional field medical strategy and translate modern data into practical, patient-focused impact. Working cross-functionally with scientific and commercial partners, you will set clear priorities for customer engagement, speaker programs, clinical trial support, scientific exchange, and collaborative research—ensuring cohesive execution across geographies. Your coaching will strengthen our field medical culture, while your insightful decisions will accelerate the pace at which meaningful evidence changes clinical practice. 

Accountabilities:

Team Leadership and Development: Hire, recruit, assess, and develop a strong team of MSLs, providing ongoing performance and talent development that advances field medical excellence and strengthens patient impact. 

Regional Strategy Execution: Partner with National Field Medical Director (NFMD) to understand and implement Regional and GEO-based field medical strategy for the assigned therapeutic area; provide direction and prioritization to MSLs for customer engagement plans, speaker program support, clinical trial support, scientific exchange, and collaborative research. 

Performance Management: Monitor and measure therapeutic area and priority External Scientific Expert (ESE) performance metrics; assess field performance at individual and team levels, identify trends, and provide timely feedback and guidance to drive improvement. 

Values and Coaching: Through coaching and development discussions, ensure MSLs demonstrate AZ Values; where needed, work with NFMD to create and drive execution of MSL development plans. 

Compliance Governance: Ensure MSL compliance with AZ Compliance, SOPs, and US laws and regulations for all activities, aligned with principles of Scientific Engagement, the promotional code, and field medical practice policies. 

Market Coverage and Prioritization: In coordination with NFMD, provide information and insight to inform GEO/account coverage and prioritization decisions that meet local market needs and align with therapeutic area strategy. 

Launch Readiness: Ensure field medical launch activities align with therapeutic area plans and strategies; ensure team compliance with ways of working; accountable for field team preparation and sign-off. 

Matrix Partnerships: Establish and maintain robust matrix partnerships to ensure strategic alignment, identify local needs and challenges, and gather feedback on field medical team performance. 

Process Excellence: Hold teams accountable for delivering business processes agreed with NFMD and therapeutic area leadership, including Scientific Engagement, Scientific Presentations, External Scientific Expert (ESE) engagement, Account Planning, and others, to meet business objectives and customer needs. 

Insight Generation: Drive the execution of listening priorities and deliver robust, vetted insights via X-fly that inform strategy and improve decision-making. 

Risk Escalation: Bring up and flag clinical and medical risks for HCPs and patients to NFMD, protecting patient safety and scientific integrity. 

Financial Stewardship: In concert with NFMD, ensure MSL teams meet financial and sustainability budget targets. 

Essential Skills/Experience:

• Experience hiring, recruiting, and developing high-performing MSLs, including ongoing performance and talent assessment 
• 5-7 years’ experience in pharma and 2+ years in field leadership experience 

• Proven ability to partner with NFMD to understand and implement Regional and GEO-based field medical strategy for an assigned therapeutic area 

• Demonstrated skill in monitoring and measuring therapeutic area and priority ESE performance metrics, and identifying individual and team trends 

• Strong coaching capability to embed AZ Values and create development plans in partnership with NFMD 

• Deep understanding of AZ Compliance, SOPs, and US laws and regulations; proven adherence to principles of Scientific Engagement, promotional code, and field medical practice policies 

• Ability to provide information and insight to inform GEO/account coverage and prioritization decisions that align with therapeutic area strategy 

• Experience ensuring field medical launch activities align with therapeutic area plans; accountable for team preparation and sign-off 

• Track record of building robust matrix partnerships to align strategy and address local needs 

• Discipline in holding teams accountable for Scientific Engagement, Scientific Presentations, ESE engagement, Account Planning, and related processes 

• Capability to drive listening priorities and deliver vetted insights via X-fly 

• Experience bringing up clinical and medical risks to NFMD to safeguard patient and HCP interests 

• Demonstrated success meeting financial and sustainability budget targets in collaboration with NFMD 

Desirable Skills/Experience:

• Advanced scientific degree (e.g., PharmD, PhD, MD) or equivalent experience 

• Deep oncology therapeutic area expertise and prior field medical leadership 

• Experience leading geographically dispersed teams and aligning cross-functional stakeholders 

• Background in clinical trial support, speaker program strategy, and external expert engagement 

• Strength in data-driven decision-making, performance analytics, and insight translation to strategy 

The annual base pay for this position ranges from $ 202,622.40 - 303,933.60 USD. 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. Benefits offered include 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. 

Why AstraZeneca:

Here, science drives every decision, and collaboration turns evidence into action. You will work with diverse experts who openly share knowledge, combine scientific rigor with strategic clarity, and move quickly to deliver impact across the patient journey. We value kindness alongside ambition, encourage bold ideas, and create space to learn from experimentation—so your leadership not only advances our pipeline, it helps redefine how cancer is treated. 

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.