Senior Director, Medical Evidence Strategy

AstraZeneca • Gaithersburg, MD

1d • $243,586 - $365,380 • Hybrid

About The Position

At AstraZeneca, we turn ideas into life-changing medicines. Working here means being entrepreneurial, thinking big, and working together to improve the lives of people with serious diseases. Biopharmaceuticals Medical (BPM) Respiratory and Immunology (RI) mission is to ensure every person living with respiratory and immunology disease receives the right care at the right moment, maximizing health and minimizing the impact on daily life. As an integral part of the global Medical Affairs organization, the Medical Evidence function drives this mission by providing healthcare practitioners, policy-makers, patients, and payers around the world with strategically prioritized evidence, either directly driving evidence strategy and study delivery or working with AstraZeneca’s local markets. The BPM RI Medical Evidence Strategy Director role at AstraZeneca is a senior epidemiologist role combining strategy, science, and people management skills. They report to the Head of Medical Evidence Strategy and partner closely with the Head(s) of medical brands. They drive the Integrated Evidence Strategy plan, covering a portfolio from Ph3 projects to post-launch marketed products. The scope includes different types of scientific studies, from real-world database observational to pragmatic clinical studies. They are experts as independent scientific leads for the planning and execution of real-world studies, both primary and secondary, and consult on observational methods. They supervise, develop, and coach their direct reports, ensuring cohesive, efficient ways-of-working within their team and with other key functions. They are responsible for their teams’ evidence study delivery from scientific excellence to adherence to timeliness, budget, and compliance with Standard Operating Procedures. Furthermore, this role is responsible for managing governance activities for medical evidence studies (Global and Local studies) to the highest quality standards. This may include chairing the protocol Evidence Review Team as well as other activities defined by Standard Operating Procedures. These responsibilities require extensive experience within the pharmaceutical industry, with deep knowledge of medical evidence methodologies and significant experience of communicating impactful evidence. To excel in this role, you should bring deep expertise in the design, conduct, and analysis of medical research, combined with a strategic mindset and people-management skills. Exceptional communication skills when presenting evidence are essential. TA Evidence Strategy leaders will be expected to have six core capabilities: Strategy & Business Acumen, Evidence Strategy and Research Methodologies, Decision Making and Matrix management, Planning and Strategic Sourcing/Partnering, Effective Communication including Publication, and People management.

Requirements

• Doctoral level degree (PhD/PharmD), or MSc/MPH in Epidemiology or Public Health with significant experience (10+ years for both PhD or MSc/MPH) of evidence strategy and generation primarily in pharma business, but also across CRO or academia.
• Experience with direct people management.
• Proven record of setting strategic and tactical evidence plans.
• Extensive hands-on experience of clinical/observational research, drug development process and relevant guidelines (GCP/ICH).
• Persuasive communicator in English, with a proven ability to work collaboratively in a multi-cultural environment.
• Ability to drive concise impactful messages from evidence studies.
• Knowledge of drug life cycle management.
• Respiratory or Immunology therapeutic and disease area knowledge.
• Broad knowledge of health care systems.
• Integrity and high ethical standards.
• Proven ability to interact widely and effectively across functions, regions, and cultures.

Nice To Haves

• Doctoral level degree in Epidemiology plus MD or PharmD with clinical experience.
• Extensive Pharma industry experience, preferably including experience from local Marketing Company.
• Extensive experience from leading and managing people in a global, matrix environment.
• Experience and proven ability of leading cross-functional teams in evidence generation strategy and delivery to support physician/payer/policy/patient needs.
• Experience with protocol review process and other types of evidence study governance.
• Expertise in Respiratory or Immunology disease area.

Responsibilities

• Lead in partnership with Medical Affairs Leads the development of Medical Evidence Strategy, aligned with medical priorities in the TA (Therapeutic Area) and for specific assets.
• Identify evidence requirements/gaps and evidence priorities, based on a good understanding of clinical practice, disease area, and applicable methods.
• Implement sustainability and health policy objectives.
• Responsibility for the development and delivery of brand-specific Medical Evidence tactical plans on time & budget with high scientific quality and impact.
• Serve as Scientific Lead for evidence studies: Apply appropriate Study Design & Analytical methods to generate robust scientific evidence, based on all applicable research methodologies (ranging from pragmatic interventional studies and implementation science to observational studies based on secondary data and utilization of emerging technology and AI).
• Lead governance procedures, as applicable, for review and approval of medical studies (defined by SOPs).
• Translate evidence into messaging driving decisions for clinicians, payers, regulators, and internal governance; communicate clearly to senior leadership.
• Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing team; foster a culture of scientific rigor, delivery excellence, and excellence in communicating evidence impact.
• Drive collaboration across Medical, Health Economics/Payer Evidence, Medical/Biostatistics, Market Access, Clinical, and Commercial to deliver cohesive plans and impact.
• Define and uphold scientific standards, methods, and quality systems for observational research, interventional studies, and evidence synthesis.
• Represent AZ in scientific forums and partnerships; shape external evidence standards through collaborations and publications.

Benefits

• Short-term incentive bonus opportunity
• Eligibility to participate in our equity-based long-term incentive program
• Qualified retirement program (401(k) plan)
• Paid vacation and holidays
• Paid leaves
• Health benefits including medical, prescription drug, dental, and vision coverage

What This Job Offers

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