Senior Director in Reading

Senior Director in Reading

Reading Temporary 100000 - 120000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
AstraZeneca

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead strategic external science engagement and drive oncology R&D initiatives.
  • Company: Join a leading pharmaceutical company focused on innovative cancer treatments.
  • Benefits: Remote work, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
  • Other info: Dynamic role with potential for travel and extensive networking opportunities.
  • Why this job: Make a significant impact in oncology by collaborating with top experts and teams.
  • Qualifications: PhD or MD preferred, with experience in life sciences and strategic leadership.

The predicted salary is between 100000 - 120000 £ per year.

Job Title

Senior Director, External Science Engagement Strategy Lead

Location

Remote, UK (occasional travel to London/ Cambridge may be required)

Duration

6 months

IR35 Status

Inside

The Senior Director, External Science Engagement Strategy Lead supports the ORD Strategy - Academic Partnerships mission of driving and integrating insights, biosamples, capabilities and accelerating clinical trial delivery through our industry-leading academic ecosystem.

Specific responsibilities include ownership of External Science Panels and the generation of milestone-informing insights that support individual tumor and asset strategies as well as the overall Oncology R&D Strategy.

It will drive cross-functional collaboration across Early Oncology, Late Oncology, Tumor Councils, and ORD Strategy teams.

This role will lead critical team-wide initiatives and workstreams.

In this role you will utilize your experience, leadership, and extensive expertise in oncology to lead effective cross-functional working teams of internal stakeholders in Oncology, Haematology and Cell Therapy R&D and leverage the vast AZ network of external experts in order to drive and deliver the AZ Oncology strategy.

What you will do

  • With senior ORD & CTU leadership, identify highest-priority strategic topics for External Engagements and integrate learnings and insights into strategic plans.
  • Lead the External Science Panel portfolio, and deliver ESPs end-to-end
  • Manage multiple cross-functional, cross-disciplinary working teams to deliver External Engagements.
  • Work with ORD-LT members to socialize and integrate critical outputs, actions, and recommendations into strategic plans.
  • Maintain up-to-date knowledge of AZ pipeline, strategy, vision, and SBDA priorities.
  • Collaborate with broad functional teams across the early and late-stage oncology organization (Early Oncology, Late Oncology, Tumor Councils, and SBDA).
  • Lead subset of External R&D internal workstreams in close collaboration with other members of the Leadership Team.
  • Manage Key External Expert (KEE) relationships and participate in meetings with external partners; prepare and deliver external presentations.
  • Contribute to budget management, governance processes, and annual planning processes.
  • Maintain compliance with all company compliance and regulatory guidelines governing external interactions.

Qualifications

  • Ph D or MD (desirable) in life sciences, biomedical sciences, healthcare, or a related field, with experience working in or consulting with the pharmaceutical industry.
  • Management consulting, investment banking, private equity, or other similar professional experience.
  • Critical strategic thinker comfortable with designing and executing workplans and communication cascades within a highly matrixed organization.
  • Highly collaborative with exceptional interpersonal skills and the capacity to influence stakeholders across Oncology departments
  • Excellent written and verbal communications comfortable engaging and leading conversations with senior leadership.
  • Highly organized with demonstrated strength in project management, and cross-function team management
  • Experience working in a matrixed organization with demonstrated ability to influence across an organization.
  • Experience representing an organization to external stakeholders and experts.
  • Knowledge of Oncology drug development, strategy and process.
  • CV Submission Closing Date - 13th August

Senior Director in Reading employer: AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters innovation and collaboration in the heart of Cambridge. Employees benefit from extensive professional development opportunities, a commitment to diversity and inclusion, and the chance to make a meaningful impact in the pharmaceutical industry through cutting-edge research and AI integration.

AstraZeneca

Contact Details:

AstraZeneca Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Senior Director in Reading

Get Familiar with Temporary Roles in Pharma

Temporary positions in the pharmaceutical industry often arise during specific periods, like product launches or seasonal hiring sprints. Keep an eye on timelines and be proactive in reaching out to companies, especially around these busy times!

Join Pharma Networking Events

Participate in local and virtual pharmaceutical networking events or job fairs. This is a fantastic way to get in front of hiring managers and learn more about temporary opportunities directly from those in the know.

Leverage Your University Career Services

If you’re a student or recent grad, tap into your university’s career services which often have specific connections to pharma companies looking to fill temporary roles. They might even have exclusive internship programmes that lead to temp jobs!

Be Visible Online and Offline

Utilise platforms like LinkedIn to share your interests in temporary roles and connect with industry professionals. Plus, consider writing about relevant pharmaceutical topics to showcase your knowledge and enthusiasm—this can help you stand out to hiring companies like AstraZeneca.

We think you need these skills to ace Senior Director in Reading

Leadership
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Oncology Expertise
Strategic Thinking
Project Management
Stakeholder Engagement
Communication Skills

Some tips for your application 🫡

Highlight Your Relevant Experience:In the pharmaceutical industry, it's crucial to showcase any relevant experience you have, whether it's internships, lab work, or coursework. Let’s emphasise your familiarity with drug development processes and any hands-on experience you've had with lab equipment or clinical trials in your CV.

Mention Certifications and Training:If you’ve got any certifications relevant to pharmaceuticals, like Good Clinical Practice (GCP) or a certification in pharmacovigilance, make sure to include them. These show your commitment to the field and can make a positive impact on your application for a temporary role at AstraZeneca.

Show Your Flexibility and Availability:Temporary positions often require immediate availability and flexibility in working hours. In your cover letter, make it clear when you can start and your ability to adapt to changing schedules, as this is key to a successful application.

Express Your Learning Goals:Since this is a temporary role, we suggest discussing what you hope to learn or gain from the experience at AstraZeneca. This not only shows your eagerness but also helps employers see you as someone who’s ready to make the most out of the opportunity.

How to prepare for a job interview at AstraZeneca

Know Your Regulations

In the pharmaceutical industry, it’s crucial to understand key regulations like GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) or GCP (Good Clinical Practices). Brush up on these standards and be ready to discuss how they influence your work approach during your interview with AstraZeneca.

Emphasise Adaptability

Since this is a temporary role, show that you're ready to hit the ground running. Share examples from your past experiences that demonstrate your ability to adapt quickly to new environments or changes, especially in a fast-paced setting like pharmaceuticals.

Highlight Relevant Skills and Tools

Whether it’s laboratory techniques or software like LabWare or SAS, make sure you can confidently talk about your technical skills. If you have experience with any specific tools used in previous roles, relate that directly to how it can help AstraZeneca achieve its goals.

Prepare for Technical Questions

Be ready for technical questions related to drug development processes or quality assurance. We should expect scenarios where you might have to troubleshoot a problem or suggest improvements on a project—this shows your problem-solving capability in a temporary role.