Head of Statistical Programming

AstraZeneca•Boston, MA

5d•Hybrid

About The Position

Are you ready to set the global programming strategy that accelerates life-changing therapies for people with rare and devastating diseases? This role leads the statistical programming function at enterprise scale—defining how data, analytics, and automation come together to deliver submission-quality outputs that stand up to the highest scientific and regulatory scrutiny. You will shape the roadmap for programming across our portfolio, build AI-enabled capabilities that increase speed and quality, and guide a community of leaders who deliver results study by study and submission by submission. Your decisions will determine how efficiently we generate evidence, how reliably we submit global dossiers, and how quickly we reach the patients who need our medicines. How will you mobilize leaders and partners to deliver at pace without compromising on excellence?

Requirements

Proven track record setting the strategic direction of Programming within Quantitative Sciences.
Experience leading the development of Programming strategy within a business unit while contributing to enterprise-wide Programming strategy, including leadership of broader Quantitative Sciences strategy.
Major contributions to or leadership of strategic initiatives, including developing and executing AI and other technical strategies related to data analysis and operational delivery.
Responsibility for people development strategy within a programming function and leadership of a group of leaders.
Accountability for the programming strategy for quality oversight of a drug portfolio.
Expertise developing and executing outsourcing strategies to maintain the highest quality of programming deliverables; contributions to global governance of external partners (e.g., CROs).
Experience with the development, implementation, administration, and budget management of statistical analysis environments utilized in the development, reporting, and submission of global regulatory dossiers.
Demonstrated ability to plan and manage complex departmental budgets, with accountability for quarterly, annual, and multi-year forecasting and input to corporate strategic planning.
Accountability for compliance to standards and automation usage (including AI, CDISC, etc.) across therapy areas/R&D units.
Delivery of continuous improvement and large-scale change projects within the function or across R&D.
Leadership of portfolio-level programming capacity management for a therapy area/R&D unit.
Provision of strategic, scientific, and programming advice to teams regarding submission of programming deliverables to global regulatory and payer authorities.
Leadership of leaders within a Programming organization.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree in statistics, biostatistics, computer science, mathematics, engineering, or a related discipline.
Deep expertise with CDISC standards and modern statistical programming languages and tools (e.g., SAS, R, Python) and their application in validated environments.
Hands-on leadership establishing and operating scalable statistical computing environments, with a strong track record in global dossier submissions.
Experience building AI governance and automation frameworks that improve quality, speed, and reproducibility in clinical programming.
Demonstrated success governing CROs/strategic suppliers at scale, including quality oversight, KPIs, risk management, and inspection readiness.
Change leadership across large R&D organizations, including operating model evolution and capability-building.
Background in rare disease, orphan indications, or other complex therapeutic areas; experience with payer/HTA submissions is a plus.

Responsibilities

Programming Strategy and Direction: Set the strategic direction for statistical programming within Quantitative Sciences, aligning therapy areas and enterprise priorities to deliver consistent, submission-ready outputs.
AI and Technical Innovation: Lead the evolution of advanced analytics, automation, and AI strategies that improve data analysis and operational delivery, from standards-based programming to intelligent tooling.
Quality and Compliance Oversight: Define and own the programming strategy for quality oversight across the drug portfolio, ensuring compliance with CDISC and other global standards while embedding automation for reliability and reproducibility.
People and Leadership: Lead a group of programming leaders; craft and execute the people development strategy to build deep technical excellence and leadership capabilities across the function.
External Partnerships and Outsourcing: Shape and govern outsourcing strategies with Contract Research Organisations and other partners to ensure on-time, high-quality deliverables; contribute to global partner governance.
Statistical Analysis Environments and Tooling: Oversee the development, implementation, administration, and budget management of statistical analysis environments used for development, reporting, and global regulatory submissions.
Budget and Strategic Planning: Plan and manage a complex departmental budget; forecast quarterly, annual, and multi-year needs; provide inputs to the corporation’s strategic planning process.
Portfolio and Capacity Management: Lead portfolio-level programming capacity planning across therapy areas/R&D, ensuring resources are proactively aligned to enterprise priorities.
Continuous Improvement and Change: Drive continuous improvement and large-scale change initiatives within the function and across R&D, increasing efficiency and elevating quality.
Regulatory and Payer Submissions: Provide strategic, scientific, and programming guidance for submissions to global regulatory and payer authorities, ensuring clarity, traceability, and inspection readiness.

Benefits

qualified retirement program [401(k) plan]
paid vacation and holidays
paid leaves
health benefits including medical, prescription drug, dental, and vision coverage

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