Senior Director, Patient Centered Science

AstraZeneca•Gaithersburg, MD

6d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Director, Patient Centered Science (PCS), within Respiratory & Immunology (R&I), oversees the people, performance, and scientific direction of the PCS function. The role leads and develops the PCS team and ensures impactful delivery of patient-centered evidence across the R&I portfolio. It drives the integration of patient experience into drug development, provides portfolio oversight, supports governance and senior review, and contributes directly to projects and innovations in patient-centered science. The role sets PCS strategy at therapeutic-area and portfolio levels, ensuring patients’ experiences of disease and treatment inform drug development. It leads PRO/COA strategies and evidence-generation plans, including patient-experience research, instrument selection or development, and endpoint strategies. It also supports clinical-study design, governance documents, results interpretation, and regulatory and HTA interactions. The Senior Director advances methods and standard processes, disseminates evidence through publications and presentations, and represents AstraZeneca in external collaborations and venues. The position is hybrid, based in Gaithersburg, Maryland, with three days per week onsite.

Requirements

Advanced degree (MSc, MD, PhD, or PharmD) in a relevant field, such as outcomes research, health services research, epidemiology, health policy, or a related discipline.
At least 8 years of relevant experience, including at least 5 years in the biopharmaceutical industry and at least 5 years of dedicated PRO/COA experience.
Expert knowledge of PRO/COA and its application to pharmaceutical development, regulatory approval, and reimbursement internationally.
Proven experience developing and implementing patient-centered science strategies at project, therapeutic-area, and portfolio levels.
Strong knowledge of the regulatory environment affecting clinical development plans, labeling, and promotional claims.
Excellent knowledge of clinical development, research study designs, and their interpretation.
Experience managing, coaching, and developing scientific staff in a complex, matrixed organization.
Experience collaborating cross-functionally and influencing without authority at senior levels.
Understanding and background in digital health technology (DHT) and real-world evidence (RWE) methods and their application alongside clinical development.

Nice To Haves

Doctoral degree (PhD or equivalent) in a relevant field.
Experience with PRO instrument development and validation, and PRO dossier generation, including successful negotiations with regulatory authorities.
Experience working in respiratory and immunology therapeutic areas.
Participation in external partnerships, industry consortia, or academic collaborations in patient-centered science.
Experience with direct interactions with regulatory and health agencies, such as the FDA and EMA, and HTA bodies.

Responsibilities

Lead, manage, and develop a team of PCS Directors, fostering a high-performing, inclusive, scientifically rigorous, and innovative culture.
Manage direct reports’ performance and individual development through clear objectives and development plans.
Oversee project support and scientific deliverables, and participate in governance bodies and senior cross-functional reviews to align PCS strategies and outputs with regulatory, payer, and patient requirements.
Provide technical and scientific coaching through leadership review of deliverables.
Contribute to functional strategy, capability priorities, and operational decision-making with R&I clinical development leadership teams.
Serve as a senior point of contact for cross-functional R&I colleagues and promote PCS integration and influence throughout development.
Align PCS strategy, knowledge, and experience-sharing across BioPharma.
Set and drive PCS strategy at therapeutic-area and portfolio levels, keeping patient experience central to drug development.
Lead PRO/COA strategies and evidence-generation plans, including patient-experience research, instrument selection or development, and endpoint strategies.
Ensure PCS contributions are embedded in clinical development and inform study design, governance documents, and interpretation of results.
Support regulatory and HTA interactions related to PRO/COA, including preparation of robust evidence dossiers and a consistent external position.
Drive methodological innovation and standard processes for collecting and communicating patient experience.
Disseminate PCS evidence through scientific publications, internal and external presentations, congress presentations, and lay summaries for patients and other stakeholders.
Represent AstraZeneca at external venues and collaborations, including interactions with the FDA, EMA, industry PRO consortia, and HTA bodies.