Executive Director, Clinical Operations Program Management (Vaccines and Immune Therapies)

AstraZeneca • Gaithersburg, MD

9d • Hybrid

About The Position

Are you ready to lead and innovate in the world of clinical operations? As the Executive Director of Clinical Operations Program Management (COPM) for Vaccines & Immune Therapies, you will be at the forefront of driving strategic initiatives and shaping the future of clinical operations. Reporting to the VP of Clinical Operations, you will manage a team of Program Management Senior Directors and play a pivotal role in delivering our clinical operations portfolio. Your leadership will influence best practices, foster collaboration, and drive innovation across the enterprise.
Impact: This role sits on the V&I Clinical Operations Leadership Team and the BioPharmaceuticals Clinical Operations Extended Leaders Community, shaping strategy and execution across a high‑visibility portfolio that advances patient outcomes globally.
If you’re a strategic, insight‑driven leader who thrives on complex portfolio delivery and cross‑functional influence, we invite you to apply and help transform V&I clinical operations.
Join us in our unique and ambitious world.
Hybrid Model:
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.

Requirements

• Bachelor of Science/Master of Science degree in related discipline, or equivalent work experience. Advanced degree is preferred
• 10 years+ of experience in global drug development leadership or equivalent leadership experience demonstrated in a variety of roles across early and late phase development.
• Understanding and communication of complex study design, TPPs, CDP’s, combination approaches, competition, pricing, prioritization, and decision making considerations
• Comfortable with AI and utilizing AI to support ethical and accurate analyses of data
• Experience in leading and mentoring a diverse, high-performing team.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to engage and inspire collaborators at all levels, both internally and externally.
• Clear and organized thinking with ability to simplify and prioritize complex problems
• Strong understanding of financial evaluation of an asset or brand
• Organizational awareness and experience of clinical operations business planning
• Ability to establish and maintain credibility with senior audiences
• 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
• 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

Nice To Haves

• 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

Responsibilities

• Lead functional leadership, recruitment, capability building, and performance management for V&I Clinical Operations Program Management staff.
• Provide strategic guidance for new and existing programs, integrating clinical trial design, regulatory environments, and market access considerations.
• Ensure clinical trials are delivered on time, within budget, and to high-quality standards by leveraging data insights.
• Represent Clinical Operations on Steering Committees and cross-functional initiatives.
• Drive clarity and consistency across strategic processes and establish best practices for clinical trial delivery.
• Conduct rigorous analysis of data to identify trends and opportunities for optimization.
• Develop forward-thinking strategies for clinical operations program management, utilizing AI and advanced analytics.
• Mentor and support people development within Clinical Operations and other functions.
• Champion new ways of working and drive the implementation of innovative initiatives.

Benefits

• qualified retirement program [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: Executive
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees