US Senior Medical Director - COPD Biologics

Senior Medical Director, COPD Biologics

Introduction to the role

Are you ready to provide senior medical leadership in an area with significant unmet patient need?

The Senior Medical Director, COPD Biologics will provide strategic medical leadership for AstraZeneca’s COPD biologics portfolio across the product lifecycle. As a senior member of US Medical Affairs and the US Core Medical Team, you will shape COPD biologics strategy, align medical priorities with patient needs and emerging science, and translate complex clinical insights into actionable plans.

Working closely with the USMedical Director, COPD Biologics, you will guide US medical plan development, launch readiness, evidence generation, external scientific engagement, and lifecycle management for current and pipeline biologics.

Accountabilities

Strategic planning and asset leadership

• Provide senior medical leadership for the US Brand Medical Plan across pre-approval, launch, and post-approval stages.
• Shape US brand strategy, asset plans, launch readiness, lifecycle management, and Core Medical Team priorities.
• Translate COPD biology, clinical data, and treatment landscape insights into clear US medical strategies.

Team leadership and capability building

• Provide leadership, coaching, and mentorship to Medical Affairs colleagues, including the Medical Director, COPD Biologics.
• Build team and Field Medical capability through scientific training, clinical education, and effective communication.
• Promote accountability, innovation, inclusion, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

Pre-approval medical affairs

• Provide senior US medical input into late-stage clinical development, endpoint relevance, subpopulation strategy, biomarkers, and launch readiness.
• Support regulatory readiness through medical review, scientific positioning, data interpretation, and collaboration with Regulatory Affairs and global partners.
• Develop compliant pre-approval scientific engagement strategies and partner on early value-evidence priorities for the US healthcare environment.

Post-approval medical affairs

• Lead post-approval medical strategy, scientific exchange, Phase 4, real-world evidence, effectiveness, and lifecycle management priorities.
• Guide publication strategy, congress planning, scientific response, data dissemination, medical education, and compliant material review.
• Maintain the evolving US product scientific narrative using clinical data, guidelines, real-world insights, and emerging science.

External engagement and scientific leadership

• Develop US external engagement strategy across experts, academic institutions, health systems, professional societies, and patient organizations.
• Build credible peer-to-peer relationships and lead advisory boards and scientific exchange activities.
• Serve as an appropriate US medical spokesperson while ensuring engagement is rigorous, balanced, patient-focused, and compliant.

Evidence generation and medical governance

• Collaborate on clinical effectiveness studies, real-world evidence, health outcomes research, and externally sponsored research governance.
• Provide medical input into product safety strategy and ensure Medical Affairs activities comply with US regulations, PhRMA Code, and AstraZeneca policies.

Enterprise and cross-functional leadership

• Provide medical and scientific thought leadership across Medical Affairs, Clinical Development, Commercial, Regulatory, Market Access, HEOR, and related functions.
• Influence strategic decisions through scientific reasoning, sound judgment, and understanding of the clinical, regulatory, and healthcare landscape.
• Represent US medical needs with global teams and contribute to broader enterprise Medical Affairs priorities.

Minimum requirements

• Medical, Pharmacy, or relevant scientific degree, such as MD, MBBS, PharmD, PhD, or equivalent education.
• At least eight (8) years of relevant experience in Pulmonary Medicine, respiratory pharmacology, immune-mediated disease, clinical development, Medical Affairs, or a related pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or healthcare environment.
• Significant experience leading Medical Affairs strategies and functions, including experience across late-stage clinical development, launch readiness, and/or post-approval Medical Affairs.
• Demonstrated expertise in COPD, respiratory medicine, biologic therapies, or a closely related therapeutic area.
• Strong understanding of the US regulatory and compliance environment, including FDA and OPDP requirements, the PhRMA Code, and applicable Medical Affairs standards.
• Demonstrated ability to engage with and influence senior leadership and contribute to strategic business and medical decisions.
• Proven ability to build trusted relationships with external experts, investigators, professional societies, academic institutions, patient organizations, and other healthcare stakeholders.
• Experience leading through cross-functional and matrixed ways of working, with the ability to align diverse stakeholders around shared scientific and patient-focused priorities.
• Demonstrated ability to develop talent, provide mentorship, inspire followership, and drive accountability.
• Lead and influence perceptions constructively, solve complex problems, and implement innovative Medical Affairs approaches that improve patient care and outcomes.
• Lead medical, scientific, clinical, and technical evaluation data insights.
• Extensive experience in interpreting medical and scientific literature and designing effective medical and communication strategies accurately and clearly.
• Understanding of early- and late-stage clinical development, evidence generation, and product lifecycle management.
• Ability to work effectively in a multicultural, international, and agile organization.
• Willingness to travel approximately 20–25% on average within the US and occasionally internationally.

Preferred requirements

• Board certification or eligibility in Pulmonary Medicine, Respiratory Medicine, Internal Medicine, Allergy and Immunology, or a related specialty.
• Advanced degree in a relevant scientific, clinical, public health, or business discipline.
• Experience with biologic medicines and first-in-class, disease-modifying, specialty, or complex launches.
• Experience in COPD, severe lower respiratory tract disease, type 2 inflammation, or related respiratory conditions.
• Experience leading or contributing to global, regional, or US medical strategies.
• Experience with product lifecycle management, Phase 4 strategy, real-world evidence, and health outcomes research.
• Established relationships with leading experts, institutions, and professional societies in COPD or respiratory medicine.
• Experience supporting launch preparation and commercialization strategy through Medical Affairs leadership.
• Experience mentoring or developing other Medical Affairs colleagues.

Working at AstraZeneca

When unexpected teams come together, we unlock bold thinking to inspire life-changing medicines. In-person collaboration helps us connect, move at pace, and challenge perceptions, which is why we work, on average, a minimum of three days per week from the office.

We balance in-person collaboration with individual flexibility in an ambitious environment where diverse perspectives, scientific expertise, and collaborative leadership help improve outcomes for patients.

Business area

AstraZeneca is a global, science-led biopharmaceutical company. Within Respiratory & Immunology, we are advancing innovative approaches to address unmet needs in chronic respiratory disease, including COPD.

In this role, you will help shape medical strategy for an innovative COPD biologic and contribute to the future of respiratory care.

Pay Transparency

The annual base pay for this position could range from $300,693 – $375,000 USD Annual. 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 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, employees 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.

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, we are driven by our commitment to deliver accelerated growth for AstraZeneca and make people's lives better. We thrive in our often-intense environment by seeking out new challenges and working towards innovative solutions. Here you can build a long-term career with global knowledge opportunities while positively impacting local communities.

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.