Executive Director Clinical Operations, Program Management

AstraZeneca•Gaithersburg, MD

5d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Executive Director Clinical Operations, Program Management sets strategic direction for global clinical program delivery across a growing Oncology portfolio, spanning indications and late-stage development. The role ensures programs are strategically planned, operationally robust, and delivered to time, quality, and budget. It drives standardization, proactive risk mitigation, issue escalation and resolution, and effective interfaces with internal and external customers. The Executive Director partners with Global Product and Global Clinical leaders to strengthen governance and scenario planning, sponsors cross-functional improvement initiatives, and develops Senior and Global Program Directors. The role leads a global community of program leaders and influences enterprise-wide delivery while remaining focused on operational excellence and patient impact. The position is based in Gaithersburg, Maryland, or Boston, Massachusetts. The company expects employees to work in person an average of at least three days per week, while allowing individual flexibility. Domestic and international travel is required. The US annual base salary range is $304,856–$457,285, with a short-term incentive bonus opportunity and, for salaried roles, eligibility to participate in an equity-based long-term incentive program. Benefits include a qualified retirement program, paid vacation and holidays, paid leaves, and medical, prescription drug, dental, and vision coverage.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent.
At least 10 years of experience in late-stage Oncology drug development, ideally including experience as a Senior Global Clinical Program Director (GCPD) or equivalent.
Line-management expertise and experience performance-managing Associate Director-level staff; experience managing Director-level staff is desirable but not essential.
Demonstrated ability to develop others and identify opportunities to improve their capabilities.
Experience contributing meaningfully to Clinical Operations functional-improvement initiatives that cross clinical programs.
Management experience involving resourcing, budget planning, and functional-level activities.
Established, well-connected network with other Therapeutic Area Leaders, Development Operations Leadership, and Early Development Oncology.
High professional achievement and willingness to encourage high achievement in others.
Ability to manage change positively and use it to improve performance and add business value.
Influencing, stakeholder-management, and supplier/partnership-management skills.
Excellent communication skills.
Demonstrated ability to set and manage priorities, resources, performance targets, and project initiatives in a global environment.
Creative and innovative approach, including continuous improvement, awareness of external competitive practice, and initiative.
Delivery-focused approach, high standards, and commitment to company values, policies, and employment principles.
Awareness of cultural differences and their impact on communication, expectations, and performance.
Effectiveness leading and participating in local and international cross-functional teams.
Willingness to travel domestically and internationally.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree (Master’s or PhD).
Significant Clinical Development experience and knowledge of global operational program and study delivery.
Experience with lung studies.
Proven project-management experience.
Comprehensive knowledge of clinical and pharmaceutical drug-development processes in Oncology.
International work experience, including work with major markets and resolution of international issues.
Business-planning skills and knowledge of planning processes used to manage drug projects.
Risk- and crisis-management experience.
Experience leading successful teams spanning more than one national culture.
Experience managing a cost centre or department budget and contributing to Clinical Operations budget management.
Experience managing project budgets to threshold for assigned work packages.
Experience managing Director-level staff.

Responsibilities

Communicate business priorities and vision and ensure adoption of agreed therapeutic area and clinical development strategies across programs and teams.
Ensure operational and clinical development components of global clinical programs are delivered within scope; drive standardization and proactive mitigation to meet timelines and commitments.
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.
Assign clinical operations resources in collaboration with capacity management and forecast and balance resourcing across the portfolio.
Participate in protocol and development review committees, support robust governance and strategic and operational planning, and contribute to indication-level decisions.
Lead and evolve the global customer interface and support model for the therapeutic area, strengthening partnerships with internal stakeholders and external providers.
Serve as a key escalation point for issues affecting programs; anticipate risks and lead cross-functional mitigation and resolution.
Serve as an extended member of the late-stage leadership team; sponsor non-drug strategy and organizational infrastructure initiatives; drive cross-functional improvement and organizational change.
Deliver agreed departmental activities within budget, including management of FTEs, and contribute to delivery-model options that balance customer needs and efficiency.
Develop the next generation of Senior and Global Program Directors and provide opportunities that improve others’ capabilities.
Manage resourcing, budget planning, functional activities, cost-centre or departmental budgets, and project budgets for assigned work packages.
Collaborate effectively with teams and stakeholders locally and internationally, with sensitivity to cultural differences.
Travel domestically and internationally as needed.