Senior Global Clinical Operations Director

This job is with AstraZeneca, an inclusive employer and a member of myGwork – the largest global platform for the LGBTQ+ business community.

Location: Cambridge

Salary: Competitive

Introduction to role:

Are you ready to lead global clinical programs that accelerate transformative cancer therapies to patients? This role places you at the center of our most ambitious work-turning bold science into evidence that changes clinical practice. You will set the operational strategy for complex, multinational programs and deliver them at pace, quality, cost, and risk profiles that enable decisive development and regulatory outcomes. You will join a cross-functional leadership team that blends innovative trial designs, digital approaches, and novel modalities to unlock new possibilities. Can you envision orchestrating early- and late-phase studies across regions, partnering with biometrics, clinical leaders, and external providers to build an efficient path from protocol to submission? If so, this is your opportunity to shape programs with real-world impact on patient lives.

Accountabilities:

• Own the operational strategy and end-to-end delivery of global clinical programs across early and late development, from design concept through final study reports, database lock, and archive.
• Drive feasibility, country and site selection, risk management, operational input into design, and adoption of innovative delivery models to enable faster, more robust evidence generation.
• Cross-Functional Integration: Provide expert input to key documents and milestones (Target Product Profile, Clinical Development Plan, study synopses, protocols, reports, Investigator's Brochure, and regulatory briefing materials), ensuring clarity of strategy and seamless execution.
• Evidence and Regulatory Enablement: Lead the clinical components of regulatory submissions, support interactions with health authorities, and ensure inspection readiness across the program portfolio.
• Team and Stakeholder Leadership: Partner closely with the Global Clinical leadership and Biometrics to set aligned goals; establish high-performing Clinical Program Team structures and ways of working; provide line leadership to global study and program leaders to build capability and accountability.
• External Partnership Management: Serve as AstraZeneca's operational decision maker and escalation point with CROs/AROs and alliance partners; set clear expectations, resolve issues, and ensure delivery to scope and quality.
• Governance, Resource and Financial Management: Ensure compliance with corporate governance controls; manage clinical plans, budgets, headcount, and timelines in enterprise systems; forecast and course-correct to meet KPIs.
• Innovation and Change: Act as an early adopter and ambassador for new approaches, including cutting-edge trial designs and data methodologies; lead and contribute to cross-functional improvement initiatives that elevate efficiency and impact.
• Program Management Excellence: Apply advanced project management techniques to complex, multi-study programs; anticipate risks, plan contingencies, and communicate transparently to senior governance forums.
• People Development and Networking: Mentor and coach clinical operations colleagues; share best practices within and outside the therapeutic area; cultivate a culture of continuous learning and delivery excellence.

Essential Skills/Experience:

• Bachelor of Science/Master of Science degree in related discipline, or equivalent work experience. Advanced degree is preferred.
• Extensive global drug development leadership or equivalent leadership experience demonstrated in a variety of roles.
• Clinical operations knowledge with strong track record of delivery.
• Comprehensive knowledge of the clinical and pharmaceutical drug development process.
• Proven ability to develop programs to meet business goals and to assess business risk versus potential value; ability to understand global business requirements.
• Significant experience of program management and use of project management techniques in complex projects, including resourcing, financial management and business case development.
• Proven ability to develop successful collaborations with internal stakeholders and external partners.
• Strong strategic influencing skills: ability to influence broadly within and outside the organisation.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proven teamwork and ability to work collaboratively across a wide range of disciplines.
• Track record of planning, prioritisation and delivery success.
• Willingness to travel both domestic and international.
• Oncology experience required; Haematology experience preferred.
• Experience of early and late phase clinical delivery.
• Extensive and in depth global drug development experience within clinical function.

Desirable Skills/Experience:

• Higher degree e.g. PhD, MD, PharmD.
• Demonstrated ability to drive process improvement and/or functional work.
• Experience of implementing changes in ways of working that focus on increasing efficiency.
• Regulatory submission experience.
• Previous success of working in Japan and China to ensure delivery of global programmes to meet business needs.
• Proven experience in leading teams through change.
• Experience of and insight into the Clinical environment to be able to drive major improvement programs.
• Line Management experience.

Why AstraZeneca:

Join a team intent on redefining how cancer is treated, where scientific rigor meets inventive trial design to deliver meaningful outcomes for patients. You will work at the leading edge-combining novel biomarkers, AI-enabled insights, and cutting-edge trial designs-with an expanding toolkit of therapeutic modalities that go beyond traditional molecules. Expect unexpected teams in the same room unleashing bold thinking, with the support to move fast and the courage to learn. We value kindness alongside ambition, and we connect individual excellence to a shared mission to make a tangible difference worldwide.

What is next:

Step into a role where your leadership can accelerate breakthrough programs and shape the future standard of care-let's create what's next together. We welcome your application no later than 21st June 2026.