Executive Director Clinical Operations, Program Management in Cambridge

Are you ready to set the strategic direction for global clinical program delivery that speeds life‑changing medicines to people living with cancer? Do you thrive on building high-performing teams, solving complex delivery challenges, and turning bold vision into measurable outcomes? As Executive Director Clinical Operations, Program Management, you will lead a global community of program leaders across a fast‑growing Oncology portfolio. Your remit spans indications and late‑stage development, ensuring programs are strategically planned, operationally robust, and delivered to time, quality, and budget. You will drive standardization across a complex portfolio, serve as a key route for issue escalation and resolution, and strengthen how we interface with our internal and external customers—ultimately accelerating impact for patients.

You will partner closely with Global Product and Global Clinical leaders to embed rigorous governance and scenario planning, sponsor cross‑functional improvement initiatives, and develop the next generation of Senior and Global Program Directors. This role offers the platform, resources, and mandate to influence across the enterprise while staying grounded in delivery excellence.

Accountabilities

• Strategic Direction and Communication: Communicate business priorities and vision; ensure adoption of globally agreed therapeutic area and clinical development strategies across programs and teams.
• Program Delivery and Operational Excellence: Ensure delivery of all operational and clinical development components of global clinical programs within scope; drive standardization and proactive mitigation to meet timelines and commitments.
• People Leadership and Capability Build: Line‑manage Senior Global Clinical Operations Program Directors and Global Clinical Operations Program Directors; recruit, develop, and performance‑manage talent; build capability and a performance‑driven global culture.
• Resource and Portfolio Planning: Assign capable clinical operations resources to meet project demands in collaboration with capacity management; forecast and balance resourcing across a dynamic portfolio.
• Governance and Decision‑Making: Be a core member of protocol and development review committees; ensure robust strategic and operational planning through governance; contribute to indication‑level decisions.
• External Partner and Customer Interface: Lead and evolve the global customer interface and support model for the therapeutic area; strengthen partnerships with internal stakeholders and external providers to optimize delivery.
• Issue Escalation and Risk Management: Act as a key point of escalation for issues impacting across programs; anticipate risks and lead cross‑functional mitigation and resolution.
• Cross‑Functional Leadership and Change: Serve as an extended member of the late‑stage leadership team; sponsor non‑drug strategy and organizational infrastructure initiatives; catalyze cross‑functional improvements and drive organizational change.
• Financial Stewardship: Deliver agreed departmental activities within budget, including management of FTEs; contribute to delivery model options that balance customer needs and efficiency.

Essential Skills/Experience

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent.
• Extensive late stage Oncology Drug Development experience, ideally including time in a role such as Senior Global Clinical Program Director (GCPD) or equivalent.
• Line management expertise; experience managing performance of Associate Director level staff (management of Director level staff desirable but not essential).
• Demonstrated development of others, identifying and providing opportunities to improve the capabilities of other people.
• Functional experience in contributing meaningfully to Clinical Operations functional improvement initiatives that cross clinical programs.
• Management experience, managing resourcing, budget planning and functional level activities.
• Established and well‑connected network with other TA Leaders, Development Operations Leadership and Early Development Oncology.
• Professional excellence: Background of high professional achievement and willingness to encourage this in others.
• Manages change with a positive approach; sees change as an opportunity to improve performance and add value to the business.
• Influencing and stakeholder management.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to set and manage priorities, resources, performance targets and project initiatives in a global environment.
• Creative and Innovative: Seeks to improve continuously where it counts, based on good awareness of external competitive practice, and creativity and initiative.
• Output/delivery focused - Maintains high standards, including a commitment to AstraZeneca values, policies and employment principles.
• Is aware of and sensitive to cultural differences and their impact on communication, expectations and performance.
• Teamwork and cross functional Collaboration: Is effective in leading and being a member of teams, both locally and internationally.
• Willingness to travel domestically and internationally – Desirable.

Skills/Experience

• Advanced Degree.
• Significant experience in Clinical Development with knowledge of global operational program and study delivery.
• Proven experience in project management.
• Comprehensive knowledge of clinical and pharmaceutical drug development processes in Oncology.
• Experience working internationally: working with major markets/resolution of international issues.
• Business planning skills: has knowledge/experience of planning processes used in managing drug projects.
• Risk and crisis management experience.
• Experience of leading successful teams from more than one national culture.
• Manage of cost centre/department budget and contribute to Clinical Operations budget management.
• Manage project budget to threshold for assigned work packages.

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, science meets courage and collaboration to change outcomes in cancer. You will join a dedicated Oncology organization with a bold pipeline across multiple indications, the investment to scale what works, and the freedom to ask big questions. By bringing unexpected teams together—from clinical operations and development to external partners—we move faster, learn continuously, and focus relentlessly on what helps patients most. We combine cutting‑edge technology with deep clinical expertise, value kindness alongside ambition, and empower leaders at every level to shape how we deliver for patients and the business.

Call to Action: If you are driven to lead global program delivery that turns strategy into meaningful patient impact, step into this role and help us push the boundaries of what’s possible in Oncology.

Date Posted: 23-Jun-2026

Closing Date: 05-Jul-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.