Head of Portfolio Strategy & Management, CVRM

AstraZeneca•Gaithersburg, MD

19h•Hybrid

About The Position

This role can be based out of Gaithersburg, Boston (USA) or Cambridge (UK). AstraZeneca is a global, science-led, patient-focused biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery, development and commercialisation of prescription medicines for some of the world’s most serious diseases. As a global company in high growth, you will be involved in opportunities across the entire business. Global Portfolio and Project Management (GPPM) is a global organization of about 250 employees that powers the progression of our pipeline, company strategy and annual business cycle. The focus of the group includes enterprise-wide Portfolio Management, Strategic Planning, R&D Pipeline Project Management, Pipeline Governance (ESPC/LSPC), Data Analytics & Decision Support, Portfolio Systems and Project Information Management. GPPM touches all aspects of project delivery and decision-making across the entire AZ pipeline. As the Head of Portfolio Management for the Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism (CVRM) TA, you will work collaboratively with the Therapeutic Area Leadership team (TALT) to develop and implement the TA Strategy for the CVRM TA team within BioPharma. You will proactively drive strategic engagement with senior leaders across R&D and Commercial to ensure an end-to-end approach from research through early and late-stage development in delivering a compelling and differentiated strategy for our CVRM portfolio, which covers ~50 projects across 6 core areas of focus. Further, you will work to ensure that GPPM delivery - including project delivery, prioritization, scorecard, governance and reporting - are aligned to the SET-endorsed CVRM strategy. You will also report to the VP of GPPM for the BioPharmaceuticals portfolio and will be a member of the GPPM BioPharma LT, ensuring that delivery across GPPM – including portfolio, project management, analytics, systems and governance, support our mission to accelerate and efficiently deliver the AZ portfolio. In this role, you will have the opportunity to engage and work with key R&D and in line brand teams within the CVRM TA to ensure strategic alignment with AZ portfolio and help ensure readiness for governance reviews and decisions. Excellent cross-functional leadership experience and strong influencing skills, as well as an extensive knowledge of drug development and commercialisation is key. You must be able to represent strategic portfolio thinking across early, late, and in-market assets. Demonstrably strong skills in the areas of strategic thinking, decision making, communication, enterprise leadership, problem solving, influencing and collaboration across both R&D and commercial are crucial. You will be required to understand and apply a broad range of decision making and data analytics tools, plus look at opportunities to optimise ways of working in alignment with the broader enterprise.

Requirements

A BA/BSc degree or equivalent
Significant experience (8+ years) in healthcare consulting, banking or other strategic roles in biopharma industry
A passion for science – interest in understanding how current scientific advancements will impact patient care in 10-15 years
Strong strategic thinking, decision making, and problem solving
Enterprise leadership skills, including demonstrable ability to influence without authority across a matrixed, global environment
Excellent analytical, organisational and communication skills (written and verbal)
Proven teamwork ability, routinely facilitating the exchange of ideas
Demonstrated ability to bring ideas to action and be accountable as required
Must be able to operate independently with minimal supervision

Nice To Haves

An advanced degree (MBA or PhD)
Pipeline experience and global experience
Scientific background

Responsibilities

Partners with the cross-functional Therapeutic Area Leadership Team (TALT) to drive development of the overall CVRM strategy for AstraZeneca.
Ensures the portfolio is prioritized and scenarios around prioritization, risk and value are considered.
Drives development of the strategic components that underpin the TA strategy. This includes evolution of disease or technology specific strategies unique to the TA, new LCM opportunities development, BD opportunity development and support.
Develops deep understanding of key issues within the TA and ensures the CVRM project and portfolio team effectively uses decision making tools and portfolio assessment/analytics to clarify complex project, product & portfolio issues.
Works directly with GPT and commercial brand teams as needed to enhance strategic plans and support portfolio perspective, understanding governance expectations, technical/risk reviews, helping teams to have successful interactions with TALT and corporate governance.
Uses TA and wider enterprise knowledge to help drive quality decision making at the TALT.
Actively participates during TALT investment decisions.
Understands and manages portfolio management systems and tools to enable CVRM to optimize decision making both at the project and portfolio level.
Responsible for inputs/outputs for regular portfolio reviews at the TA/Senior Executive Team level.
Accountable for portfolio metrics/performance reporting and driving quality of the portfolio information/data in conjunction with project leaders.
Ensures both risk and opportunities are regularly assessed.

Benefits

Agile and collaborative, we work cross-functionally to succeed as one.
This is a place of great passion and pride where we build successful, inclusive, and diverse teams that collaborate across the enterprise and beyond.
We strive for better by encouraging new ideas and embracing failure as part of our innovation process.
Our culture of recognition and reward means we feel supported and empowered to take initiative.
With all the tools you need to succeed, including constructive coaching, there’s no better place to take ownership of your career.
An inclusive culture where you will connect different thinking to generate new and valuable opportunities.
Where you will find a commitment to lifelong learning, growth and development for all.
Our Inclusion & Diversity (I&D) mission is to create an inclusive and equitable environment where people belong, using the power of our diversity to push the boundaries of science to deliver life-changing medicines to patients.
Inclusion and diversity are fundamental to the success of our company, because innovation requires breakthrough ideas that only come from a diverse workforce empowered to challenge conventional thinking.
We’re curious about science and the advancement of knowledge.
We find creative ways to approach new challenges.
We’re driven to make the right choices and be accountable for our actions.
As an organisation centred around what makes us human, we put a big focus on people.
Across our business, we want colleagues to wake up excited about their day at the office, in the field, or in the lab.
Along with our purpose to bring life-changing medicines to people across the globe, we have a promise to you: to help you realise the full breadth of your potential.
Here, you’ll do work that has the potential to change your life and improve countless others.
And, together with your team, you’ll shape a culture that unites and inspires us every day.
This is your life at AstraZeneca.