Director, Global Project Management

AstraZeneca • Gaithersburg, MD

104d • $167,772 - $251,658

About The Position

The Director of Global Project Management (GPM) is a key leadership position and global role accountable for the management of global cross functional drug development teams and sub-teams towards achieving key strategic objectives and delivering significant research, development, regulatory and commercial milestones. The GPM holds a senior, central position, with a complete view of the drug project, working across all functions. This role complements the Global Project Leader, by providing top level oversight and integration of the entire development process relevant to early or late stage. Depending on the stage of development and project complexity, the GPM will work on one or more (early or late) Global Project Teams (GPTs). Collaborating closely with the GPL and functional leads, the GPM is accountable for integrating best in class project management standards and practices within the GPT and AstraZeneca. The GPM is a strategic partner to the Global Project Leader /Global Franchise Head and the entire GPT. Projects are likely to be more complex and may include new or multiple disease areas, new modalities, strategic partner alliances/acquisitions/in-licensing and multiple parallel clinical studies. The Director GPM is highly visible and influential and is critical to the delivery of strategic and operational objectives. It plays an important role ensuring successful delivery of innovative medicines to patients throughout the drug development process.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree with 6+ years of experience supporting cross-functional drug development teams or leading sub-teams.
• Experienced in project management with successful track record of delivering complex/high business impact drug development projects within agreed time, quality and cost.
• Ability to motivate, lead and inspire high performing teams.
• Excellent working knowledge of project management tools and processes.
• Proven track record of effective Senior Stakeholder management, demonstrating strong ability to influence strategically.
• Ability to mentor, develop and educate team members.
• Strong information management skills, including use of modern collaboration tools such as SharePoint, Microsoft Teams and OneNote.
• Experience ensuring high quality data in enterprise systems.

Nice To Haves

• Advanced degree in a scientific discipline and/or MBA.
• 8+ years' relevant experience.
• In-depth knowledge of drug development process with therapeutic area specific knowledge and experience.
• Project Management (PMP) Certification.

Responsibilities

• Provides global program management leadership and excellence through active input into the project strategy & vision, and navigates the therapy area and corporate governance processes.
• Ensures alignment of the project strategy with operational delivery.
• Shares lessons learned and communicates those throughout the GPM community to ensure integration of knowledge beyond the GPT.
• May manage or lead the drug project strategy as delegated by Global Product Leader.
• Ensures appropriate linkages between project strategy and key internal processes (TA strategy, TA prioritization, corporate scorecard) and updates the relevant enterprise systems.
• Where applicable, interface with alliance partners and manage joint alliance forums.
• Partners with Business Development to provide strategic input to potential deal cases (investment & divestment).
• Leads project management of cross functional drug development teams and ensures delivery to plan.
• Acts as a core GPT member and drives efficient operation of early and/or late-stage GPTs including overall plans, priorities, budget and risk management.
• Accountable for driving an effective, efficient team environment, creating a shared sense of purpose, inspiring and energising others to build and maintain a cohesive High Performing Team.
• Coaches GPT towards successful decision making and issue resolution.
• Designs, implements, and optimizes effective communication within and outside the team.
• Coordinates with corporate communications and team Comms representative to manage the team's external communication plan.
• Accountable for ensuring the team has a good information management system in line with AZ best practice.
• Responsible for data quality as per agreed standards.
• Directs GPT towards effective governance decisions (e.g. Phase IDs, project revisions, etc.).
• Provides guidance to both the team and senior management / governance bodies that allows efficient (timely and informed) decision making.
• Leverages broad influential network and ensures engagement at all levels prior to key decisions.
• Ensures that overall GPT deliverables, budgets, schedules, and performance standards are realistically set, governance approved and attained.
• Maintains plans of the highest data quality, accountable for all Project Management deliverables associated with GPTs and project teams or sub-teams.
• Leads by example in learning, innovation, cross-functional and cross-TA collaboration and conflict resolution; seeks opportunities to change paradigm and removes barriers within and outside the team.
• Advocates company best practices and adoption of new project management practices.
• Applies extensive business acumen to drive cross-functional and cross project learning.
• Champions and embeds better ways of working across the enterprise, proactively promote learning and development of peers and more junior colleagues through mentorship and knowledge sharing.
• Helps establish new company best practices.

Benefits

• 401(k) plan
• paid vacation and holidays
• paid leaves
• health benefits including medical, prescription drug, dental, and vision coverage

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Industry: Chemical Manufacturing
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree