Senior Director, Business Planning & Operations, SMM

AstraZeneca•Cambridge, MA

3d•$189,233 - $283,849•Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Director, Business Planning & Operations (BPO) for Site Management & Monitoring (SMM) shapes how a major function within BioPharmaceuticals Clinical Operations operates, performs and evolves, supporting clinical study delivery at country and site level across a global network. SMM comprises more than 2,300 full-time employees, including Functional Service Provider colleagues. Reporting to the Executive Director, Portfolio & Enabling Functions, this individual contributor serves as Chief of Staff to the Vice President and Global Head of SMM and leads business planning for the function. The role provides advice and integration for the SMM Head, runs the leadership team's operating rhythm, and translates strategic priorities into plans, informed decisions and delivery. It supports senior leaders through organisational change while maintaining focus on performance, productivity and patient impact. The role is accountable for SMM's annual business plan and medium-term plan, including strategic objectives, performance scorecards, budget proposals and capacity planning. It works with SMM Business Strategy & Portfolio and Finance & Capacity Management teams, which retain ownership of their respective processes and expertise. As a senior member of the P&EF leadership team and the wider BPCO Business Planning & Operations community, the role connects SMM with broader planning, standards and decision-making and may lead strategic cross-functional initiatives across BPCO and Research & Development. Success requires influence and leadership across a broad matrix, trusted relationships, clarity amid complexity, and the ability to connect strategy with execution and enable evidence-based decisions. The position is based in Boston, with candidates also considered for the company's sites in Gaithersburg or Durham. The company expects an average minimum of three office days per week, while allowing individual flexibility. Annual base salary is $189,232.80–$283,849.20 USD, with a short-term incentive bonus opportunity and eligibility to participate in an equity-based long-term incentive program. Benefits include a qualified retirement program (401(k)), paid vacation and holidays, paid leaves, and medical, prescription drug, dental and vision coverage, subject to applicable plan terms.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in life sciences, business administration, engineering or a related field.
At least 12 years’ experience in the pharmaceutical industry or a CRO, including substantial clinical operations experience and a sound understanding of site management, monitoring and country-level study delivery.
Proven track record in a chief of staff, business planning and operations, strategy or similar role supporting a senior executive in a large global matrix organisation.
Experience leading annual business planning and translating strategy into scorecards, objectives and actionable plans.
Solid understanding of budgeting, FTE and capacity modelling, and the relationship between portfolio requirements, efficiency and resourcing.
Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare concise, decision-ready materials for senior leadership audiences.
Strong influencing and stakeholder leadership skills, with a record of aligning senior leaders across organisational and geographical boundaries.
High maturity and integrity, with discretion in handling confidential and sensitive information.
Ability to synthesise complex data into clear insights and recommendations.
Comfort with ambiguity and rapid change, and a practical, hands-on approach.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree, such as an MBA, MSc or PhD.
Experience leading operating model change, organisational design or restructuring in a global clinical operations setting.
Experience with AI, digital or data-driven transformation of clinical trial delivery.
Familiarity with outsourcing and FSP models and CRO partnerships.
Management consulting experience, particularly in strategy or transformation.
Project management and/or process improvement certifications, such as PMP or Lean Six Sigma.
Experience working across multiple nationalities and cultures, including regional and country organisations.

Responsibilities

Serve as trusted adviser and thought partner to the SMM Head.
Design and run the SMM leadership team's operating cadence, including agendas, pre-reads, decision logs, action tracking and offsites.
Triage demands on the SMM Head's time, prepare decision-ready materials for enterprise reviews, represent the Head as delegated, and handle sensitive organisational matters with discretion.
Lead SMM's annual business plan and medium-term plan.
Translate the Clinical Operations 2030 strategy into SMM goals, a balanced scorecard and actionable annual objectives.
Coordinate SMM budget and capacity proposals with Finance & Capacity Management and R&D Finance, linking resourcing to portfolio demand, productivity assumptions and strategic priorities.
Set and track productivity targets, including active patients and sites per CRA and site performance mix, and ensure benefits are reflected in capacity plans.
Support strategic workforce, sourcing and location planning, optimising the balance of internal, FSP and other outsourced resources in line with location strategy.
Monitor and report progress against the SMM scorecard and objectives; turn complex performance data into insights and recommendations; and own risk reporting and mitigation tracking.
Coordinate timely and consistent responses to enterprise requests and streamline governance, business reviews and reporting in line with BPCO practices.
Support and monitor transformation initiatives within SMM and across BPCO, ensuring SMM is represented in defining the transformation agenda and roadmap.
Lead organisational change and communications for major initiatives, shaping messages and channels so colleagues across regions understand priorities and their implications.
Shape leadership communications, including town halls, leadership messages and digital channels, and use employee engagement insights to drive action planning and follow-through.
Contribute to business planning, portfolio and capacity decisions as a senior member of the Portfolio & Enabling Functions leadership team.
Partner with BPO peers to embed standard processes, tools and best practices across BPCO, owning selected cross-functional processes as needed.
Lead or contribute to strategic cross-functional projects across BPCO and R&D, and connect SMM with adjacent functions such as Study Management Operations and Clinical Data & Insights.