Medical Associate Director, Rare Disease

AstraZeneca; Dubai; On-site; AED 350,000 - 500,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global biopharmaceutical company seeks a Medical Associate Director for Rare Diseases in the Gulf region. The role focuses on strategic medical leadership, evidence generation, and cross-functional alignment to enhance patient access. Candidates should possess a medical degree and over six years of experience in medical affairs, particularly in rare diseases. Strong leadership skills and fluency in English are essential; Arabic is a plus. This is an exciting opportunity to shape the future of healthcare in a dynamic team environment.

Benefits

Inclusive culture supporting diversity and collaboration

Opportunities for lifelong learning and growth

Qualifications

• Minimum 6+ years of medical affairs experience with proven strategic leadership.
• Deep expertise in rare disease or specialty therapeutic areas.
• Fluent in English; Arabic is an advantage.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute the Therapy Area Medical Strategy across the Gulf.
• Lead and develop the TA medical team including Medical Advisors and MSLs.
• Shape and oversee the TA evidence generation plan.
• Represent AstraZeneca with thought leaders and policymakers.
• Ensure all TA medical activities are compliant with regulations.
• Contribute to the broader Rare Disease strategy and business planning.

Skills

Medical affairs leadership

Strategic planning

Cross-functional teamwork

Scientific communication

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Medical or advanced scientific degree (MD, PharmD, PhD preferred)

Job description

JOB TITLE

Medical Associate Director, Rare Disease, Gulf

ABOUT ASTRAZENECA

AstraZeneca is a global, science‑led, patient‑focused biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery, development, and commercialisation of prescription medicines for some of the world’s most serious diseases. But we’re more than one of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies.

ROLE SUMMARY

AstraZeneca is pioneering the next era of science‑driven healthcare, focused on delivering life‑changing therapies to patients with rare and devastating diseases. Through a global partnership between AstraZeneca and Alexion, we are building a unified medical platform that brings together scientific innovation, deep disease understanding, and local execution excellence.

As a Medical Associate Director, Rare Disease (Therapy Area Medical Lead), you will define the medical vision and direction for your therapeutic area across the Gulf region — leading strategic medical planning, evidence generation, and cross‑functional alignment to accelerate patient access and improve outcomes.

The Medical Associate Director (TA Medical Lead) is the senior medical leader for a defined Rare Disease therapeutic area across the Gulf cluster. Reporting to the Gulf Rare Disease Medical Director, this role is responsible for shaping the therapeutic area strategy, driving medical excellence, and leading a high‑performing medical team (Medical Advisors and Medical Science Liaisons).

The Medical Associate Director (TA Medical Lead) serves as the key medical voice and thought partner to the business, providing strategic, scientific, and operational leadership to ensure AstraZeneca remains a trusted rare disease partner for healthcare professionals, policymakers, and patients.

What you’ll do

1. Strategic Leadership & Therapeutic Area Vision

• Define and execute the Therapy Area Medical Strategy across the Gulf cluster in alignment with International and Regional medical priorities.
• Lead the translation of global and regional strategies into locally relevant medical objectives, evidence plans, and access initiatives.
• Serve as the strategic medical partner to the cross‑functional TA leadership team, contributing to long‑term planning, pipeline readiness, and launch excellence.
• Provide medical leadership for lifecycle management, evidence generation, and stakeholder engagement across all brands within the TA.

2. Team Leadership & Capability Development

• Lead and develop the TA medical team, including Medical Advisors and MSLs, fostering a culture of high performance, collaboration, and scientific excellence.
• Coach team members to build strategic thinking, scientific depth, and external engagement capabilities.
• Collaborate with HR and the Medical Director to shape talent development, succession planning, and capability‑building frameworks across the medical organization.

3. Evidence Generation & Data Strategy

• Shape and oversee the TA evidence generation plan, ensuring integration of real‑world data, registries, and post‑marketing research aligned to clinical and payer needs.
• Ensure effective collaboration with global, regional, and local stakeholders to deliver studies and publications of scientific relevance.
• Drive medical input into HEOR and value‑based initiatives, ensuring alignment between medical and access strategies.

4. External Engagement & Scientific Leadership

• Represent AstraZeneca as the medical face of the TA across the Gulf — engaging with thought leaders, key institutions, policymakers, and academic networks.
• Build and maintain strong external partnerships that advance disease understanding and elevate AstraZeneca’s scientific leadership reputation.
• Oversee scientific congress activities, advisory boards, and continuous medical education events in collaboration with internal and external stakeholders.

5. Medical Governance & Compliance

• Ensure all TA medical activities are compliant with AstraZeneca policies, global SOPs, and local regulations.
• Serve as the governance lead for the TA, providing medical oversight to promotional review, clinical programmes, and external collaborations.
• Champion a culture of integrity, transparency, and ethical medical engagement across the team and cross‑functional partners.

6. Business Partnership & Strategic Contribution

• Act as a member of the Gulf Medical Leadership Team, contributing to the broader Rare Disease strategy and business planning.
• Collaborate closely with Access, Policy, and Commercial functions to integrate medical perspectives into pricing, reimbursement, and market‑access initiatives.
• Serve as a key conduit between Gulf operations and regional/global medical leadership, ensuring alignment and knowledge flow across levels.

Only Applications in UAE will be considered.

Essential for the role

• Medical or advanced scientific degree (MD, PharmD, PhD preferred).
• Minimum 6+ years of medical affairs experience, with proven strategic and people‑leadership experience.
• Deep expertise in rare disease or specialty therapeutic areas.
• Demonstrated success in building and leading cross‑functional medical teams and delivering measurable strategic outcomes.
• Proven ability to influence at senior levels and operate effectively in a matrix environment.
• Experience in evidence generation, HEOR collaboration, and medical‑access integration.
• Excellent leadership, strategic, and communication skills.
• Fluent in English; Arabic an advantage.
• Willingness to travel regionally in Gulf region.

Why AstraZeneca?

At AstraZeneca we’re dedicated to being a Great Place to Work. Where you are empowered to push the boundaries of science and unleash your entrepreneurial spirit. There’s no better place to make a difference to medicine, patients, and society. An inclusive culture that champions diversity and collaboration, and always committed to lifelong learning, growth, and development. We’re on an exciting journey to pioneer the future of healthcare.

So, what’s next?

• Are you already imagining yourself joining our team? Good, because we can’t wait to hear from you.
• Are you ready to bring new ideas and fresh thinking to the table? Brilliant! We have one seat available, and we hope it’s yours.

Where can I find out more?

Our Social Media, Follow AstraZeneca on

Date Posted

20-يناير-2026

Closing Date

19-يناير-2026