Executive Director, Global Commercial Radiopharmaceutical Manufacturing

AstraZeneca • Gaithersburg, MD

1d • $254,706 - $382,060 • Hybrid

About The Position

Are you ready to orchestrate a time-critical global supply so that patients receive radiopharmaceuticals exactly when they need them? Can you turn half-life constraints and unpredictable demand into a reliable, high-performance network that supports rapid launches and sustained growth? In this senior role, you will lead the end-to-end manufacturing strategy and operations for our radiopharmaceutical portfolio—matching global demand with dependable supply, safeguarding quality and compliance, and optimizing cost and service across an intricate, highly regulated chain. Your work will directly enable patient access to targeted therapies by ensuring on-time production, right-first-time performance, and time-definite delivery from isotope source to final mile. You will shape a global network that spans internal sites and external partners, build the digital capabilities that improve forecast accuracy and response, and lead a cross-functional organization focused on continuous improvement and patient impact. This is a global role with significant international travel. While the advertised location for this position is Gaithersburg, US - We are able to offer flexibility where the role can be based and other US and international locations will be considered where possible.

Requirements

• 15+ years in pharmaceutical manufacturing or supply chain, including 8+ years in senior global leadership.
• Direct experience in radiopharmaceuticals or nuclear medicine operations strongly preferred (e.g., PET/SPECT isotopes, cyclotron/reactor supply, radiolabeling, aseptic operations).
• Deep understanding of GMP, aseptic processing, radiolabeling, cold chain logistics, and dangerous goods regulations.
• Proven track record in S&OP/IBP, capacity planning, and network strategy.
• Demonstrated success navigating global regulatory requirements, inspections, and quality systems; strong partnership with QA/RA to maintain compliance and support submissions/variations.
• Experience leading external manufacturing networks and complex supplier relationships, including contract negotiation and performance management.
• Proficiency with advanced planning systems, demand forecasting, and operations analytics; ability to leverage data to drive decision-making and continuous improvement.
• Exceptional people leadership, stakeholder management, and change management skills; adept at influencing across R&D, Commercial, Finance, and Operations.
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Pharmacy, Chemistry, or related field required.

Nice To Haves

• Lean and Six Sigma certification with a record of deploying continuous improvement and digital operations in GMP environments.
• Proven success launching and scaling radiopharmaceutical products across multiple regions, including label/pack variation readiness and market-specific configurations.
• Experience negotiating and operationalizing CDMO/CMO capacity guarantees, risk-sharing models, and business continuity clauses.
• Deep expertise in time-definite, cold-chain logistics for dangerous goods, including courier network optimization and final mile orchestration.
• Experience implementing IBP/S&OP, demand sensing, and predictive analytics across a global manufacturing network.
• Track record of building and leading high-performing, geographically dispersed teams through growth and change.
• Advanced degree (MS/MBA/PhD) strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Design and maintain a resilient global manufacturing network across internal sites and CDMOs/CMOs, including aseptic fill-finish, labeling, and final mile logistics; develop short-, medium-, and long-term capacity models aligned to portfolio growth and lifecycle events to ensure supply readiness.
• Drive right-first-time performance, yield improvement, and cycle-time reduction using Lean, Six Sigma, and digital operations; establish KPIs and tiered governance to monitor OTIF, service levels, cost-to-serve, and scrap/waste—translating insights into actions that lift productivity and reliability.
• Own the S&OP/IBP cadence for radiopharmaceuticals; translate global demand forecasts into executable production plans, capacity commitments, and inventory targets across internal and external nodes to protect patient schedules and market commitments.
• Partner with QA and Regulatory to assure GMP compliance globally; maintain validated processes, robust batch release, inspection readiness, and controlled tech transfers and changes without supply disruption.
• Lead manufacturing readiness for new launches and indication expansions; scale capacity on time, manage label/pack variations, and configure markets while planning for demand volatility and radiolabel half-life constraints.
• Negotiate and manage CDMO/CMO agreements with clear capacity guarantees and business continuity provisions; assess and onboard new partners to strengthen geographic coverage and diversify risk.
• Orchestrate just-in-time distribution for time- and temperature-sensitive materials, ensuring cold chain integrity, dangerous goods compliance, and time-definite delivery; optimize routing, hubs, and courier networks to meet half-life windows and patient appointments.
• Build proactive risk management for reactor outages, isotope shortages, geopolitical events, and transport disruptions; maintain dual-sourcing, safety stock strategies, and contingency playbooks tied to demand signals.
• Implement digital planning tools, demand sensing, and predictive analytics to improve forecast accuracy and supply responsiveness; enable real-time visibility from isotope production through patient administration.
• Own manufacturing budgets, COGS optimization, and capital investments in capacity and technology; deliver productivity targets while continuously improving service and quality.
• Lead a global, cross-functional organization spanning manufacturing, planning, tech ops, logistics, and external manufacturing; foster a culture of safety, quality, continuous improvement, accountability, and patient focus.

Benefits

• short-term incentive bonus opportunity
• equity-based long-term incentive program
• retirement contribution
• commission payment eligibility
• 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: Senior