Senior Director, Cell Therapy Partnerships & Strategy – Neurology

AstraZeneca

6d • $288,059 - $432,089 • Hybrid

About The Position

As Senior Director, Cell Therapy Partnerships & Strategy – Neurology, you will shape and execute AstraZeneca’s global Cell Therapy Strategic Site Partnership strategy, with Neurology as a primary focus. Working across clinical development, clinical trial execution, and commercial readiness, you will build AstraZeneca’s presence in the cell therapy and neurology ecosystem.

You will lead strategic relationships with Key External Experts, investigators, and priority clinical sites across the global portfolio. By developing a high-performing network of strategic partners, you will expand site and patient access, strengthen clinical trial delivery, and create long-term value in support of future commercial success. You will help partners address infrastructure, capacity, referral, and operational barriers to delivering complex therapies, and support scalable networks across academic and community settings.

The role owns the disease-area site partnership strategy across the cell therapy portfolio and leads global site-network strategy, site segmentation, profiling, and archetyping. It also supports Neurology launch planning and commercial readiness, particularly for the U.S. AZD0120 launch footprint, while maintaining appropriate functional responsibilities and governance. You will gather and translate site and field insights into recommendations for clinical development, operations, partnership strategy, and commercial readiness.

The position requires an MD, PhD, or dual MD/PhD; clinical or research training in Neurology or a closely related area; and at least five years of relevant experience. It requires direct experience in Neurology clinical development and trials, substantial cell therapy and site-operations expertise, and the ability to lead complex partnerships and cross-functional initiatives in a global, regulated environment. Travel domestically and internationally is expected more than 50% of the time. The role is based on an in-person working model averaging a minimum of three office days per week, with individual flexibility.

Requirements

• MD, PhD, or dual MD/PhD.
• Clinical or research training in Neurology or a closely related therapeutic area.
• At least 5 years of relevant experience in Neurology, a cell therapy organization, biotechnology or pharmaceuticals, a cell and gene therapy research unit, or a healthcare system.
• Direct experience in Neurology clinical development and clinical trials.
• Deep clinical development and clinical trial expertise within Neurology and cell therapy.
• Ability to translate scientific and clinical knowledge into site-network, partnership, clinical development, and patient-access strategies.
• Demonstrated success leading complex external partnerships and cross-functional initiatives in a highly matrixed environment.
• Experience building credible relationships with investigators, KOLs, KEEs, clinical site leaders, healthcare-system stakeholders, and multidisciplinary teams.
• Deep understanding of clinical site operations, CAR-T logistics, and cell therapy delivery challenges in academic and community settings.
• Understanding of Neurology-specific clinical trial and treatment-delivery considerations.
• Ability to act as a senior strategic owner and exercise independent judgment on complex cross-functional and executive-level matters.
• Ability to identify and resolve problems, make timely decisions, and navigate organizational complexity.
• Ability to prioritize and complete work with urgency based on patient, program, and business needs.
• Knowledge of applicable regulations, standards, and codes of practice.
• Experience in a regulated hospital, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or clinical research environment.
• Strong executive presence, strategic thinking, influencing, and communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively globally and collaborate across time zones.
• Excellent interpersonal, written, verbal, and presentation skills.
• Proficiency in English.
• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft PowerPoint, Word, Excel, and Project.
• Willingness and ability to travel domestically and internationally more than 50% of the time.

Nice To Haves

• Fellowship training or clinical practice in Neurology, including Neuromuscular Medicine, Multiple Sclerosis, Neuro-oncology, or another relevant specialty.
• Experience leading Neurology, cell therapy, or gene therapy clinical trials as an investigator or study lead.
• Experience in apheresis, cellular therapy, or stem cell transplant programs or clinical trials.
• Previous customer-facing or site-facing experience in the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry.
• Experience developing strategic site networks across academic and community-based settings.
• Experience supporting clinical-to-commercial transitions or launch readiness for cell therapy, CAR-T, or another operationally complex treatment model.
• Experience with site segmentation, archetyping, referral-network analysis, master agreements, or shared investment models.
• Experience working across multiple therapeutic areas, countries, or regions.
• Fluency in an additional language.

Responsibilities

• Own the disease-area site partnership strategy across the cell therapy portfolio, with Neurology as a strategic priority.
• Identify, establish, and manage strategic partnerships with high-impact global clinical sites across Neurology and other priority indications.
• Lead strategic site partnership governance and engagement, and serve as the primary relationship owner for select partners.
• Build trusted relationships with KOLs, KEEs, investigators, site leaders, healthcare-system stakeholders, and external vendors.
• Represent AstraZeneca at industry meetings and scientific congresses, including ASH, EHA, AAN, and ECTRIMS.
• Shape, own, and execute the global cell therapy site-network strategy across Neurology and other priority therapeutic areas.
• Identify and engage sites critical to clinical trial participation, operational delivery, and scalable patient access, including community-based settings where appropriate.
• Collaborate with Site Management, Clinical Operations, External Alliances, Medical Affairs, Commercial, Clinical Development, Manufacturing, and other functions to align site strategies.
• Address site barriers to cell therapy delivery, including infrastructure, workforce, capacity, referral pathways, and operational challenges.
• Develop tailored site-engagement strategies, master agreements, shared investment opportunities, and other mutually beneficial initiatives.
• Assess and improve site performance through training, investment, and data-driven improvements in speed, quality, enrollment, and patient access.
• Own site-strategy outcomes for the cell therapy Neurology portfolio and escalate or resolve issues requiring executive judgment or enterprise-wide action.
• Lead site profiling, segmentation, and archetyping; characterize referral networks, patient pathways, site capabilities, and care settings; and evaluate readiness for trials and scalable patient delivery.
• Focus the site network and resources on institutions with the greatest potential impact, including opportunities beyond traditional academic centers while maintaining quality, safety, and regulatory requirements.
• Support Commercial colleagues in defining and preparing the AZD0120 Neurology launch footprint, particularly in the U.S., and align site strategies with launch-planning priorities.
• Identify and address barriers to CAR-T and other cell therapy delivery and adoption, and support transitions from clinical trials to commercial readiness.
• Gather and communicate insights on site capabilities, inpatient and outpatient delivery models, referral networks, patient access, and operational challenges.
• Monitor external developments in cell therapy, Neurology clinical development and trials, treatment delivery, competition, and healthcare systems.
• Translate site and field insights into decision-oriented recommendations and establish feedback loops between strategic sites and global teams.

Benefits

• Eligibility for short-term incentive bonuses.
• Eligibility for equity-based awards for salaried roles.
• Qualified retirement programs.
• Paid time off, including vacation, holidays, and leaves.
• Health coverage.
• Dental coverage.
• Vision coverage.
• Flexible working arrangements alongside an average minimum of three office days per week.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree