Executive Director, Oncology Business Unit, Strategy

AstraZeneca•Gaithersburg, MD

6d•$267,914 - $401,870•Hybrid

About The Position

The Executive Director, Oncology Business Unit (OBU) Strategy leads a high-impact agenda at the intersection of science, medicine, and business. Working with experts across Oncology R&D and the OBU, this role creates and implements strategies to advance an innovative oncology pipeline and improve patient care and outcomes. The work relies on rigorous analysis, actionable insights, innovative thinking, and cross-functional teamwork, supporting AstraZeneca’s ambition to eradicate cancer as a cause of death. The role leads integrated therapy-area, tumour, and indication strategies; provides strategic valuations and recommendations to senior leaders; and serves as the OBU’s single point of contact for tumour strategy. It also directs commercial analytics, market research, forecasting, portfolio governance, and investment assessments across pipeline assets and tumour markets. The position guides and develops Directors and Associate Directors and builds trusted partnerships across OBU, Oncology R&D, and other functions. The role is based in Gaithersburg, Maryland, and requires working in the office an average of at least three days per week. Alternative locations, remote arrangements, and travel constructs cannot be accommodated. The annual base-pay range is $267,914 to $401,870, with eligibility for incentives and benefits.

Requirements

Advanced degree, including a Master's degree or MBA.
At least 10 years of relevant experience, including in the pharmaceutical industry, consulting, equity research, or a similar field, contributing to global pipeline strategy through market assessment, competitor analysis, and forecasting.
Extensive depth in oncology.
Strong consultative and communication skills.
Strong scientific background and strategic analytical skills, with excellent analysis and fact-based decision-making; experience with data and/or a science research or biopharmaceutical environment.
High intellectual capability, agility, and adaptability.
Motivation to work in a fast-paced field with clear societal impact.
Understanding of general business and core marketing principles and their application to future healthcare market challenges.
Familiarity with oncology drug development and its strategic and commercial touchpoints.
Ability to influence without authority and establish and maintain credibility with senior audiences.
Resourcefulness, motivation, decisiveness, and proactivity, including the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-growing organization.
Attention to detail, along with big-picture thinking and communication.
Critical-thinking experience identifying and driving key projects and providing researched, verified, relevant information to leaders.

Nice To Haves

PhD in life sciences.
Experience setting up short- and long-term strategic plans.
Understanding of clinical data and clinical trial design.
Experience in at least two major geographies, such as the US, EU, Japan, or China.
Thorough understanding of regulatory and pricing dynamics in major markets.

Responsibilities

Lead development and implementation of therapy-area, tumour, and indication strategies, aligning them into a company-wide oncology strategy with Oncology R&D and global franchise partners.
Provide disciplined, insights-driven valuations and strategic recommendations to C-suite stakeholders to inform portfolio and investment decisions.
Serve as the single point of contact and “single voice” for OBU tumour strategy; chair bimonthly tumour forums and establish best practices and transparent coverage across priority tumours.
Lead market research, forecasting, and insight generation to shape global brand strategies, R&D decisions, supply planning, and therapeutic-area scenario analyses across multiple GPTs and assets.
Produce assumption-based forecasts for tumour pipeline assets through the annual cycle, articulating risks, opportunities, and context for senior leaders.
Drive clarity and consistency in forecast reviews, investment cases, therapeutic-area and portfolio reviews, and business and audit reviews.
Partner with Finance VPs on annual impairment assessments.
Integrate study designs, target product profiles, clinical development plans, combination strategies, competitive and pricing landscapes, and stage-specific disease strategies to inform prioritization and investment.
Lead large investment requests and business opportunity assessments to optimize value creation across evolving tumour markets.
Guide and develop Directors and Associate Directors, maintain trusted partnerships with clinical, commercial, and strategy leaders, and influence senior stakeholders across OBU and Oncology R&D without formal authority.