Disease Area Medical Lead - Rare Disease

Biopharma Asia; Sydney; Hybrid; AUD 200,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Disease is seeking a Medical Affairs leader to drive strategy across nephrology, haematology and transplant. You will lead a high-performing Medical team, translate insights into action, and partner across functions to advance patient care.

This permanent, full-time role is based at the Macquarie Park, Sydney office with hybrid working (3 days in office) and travel for field coaching and partner engagement.

Qualifications

• Extensive Medical Affairs experience across brands, assets or therapy areas.
• Demonstrated people leadership of MSLs and/or Medical Managers.
• A tertiary scientific qualification with strong scientific credibility relevant to the portfolio.
• Strong cross-functional leadership and partnership with Market Access and the ability to connect Medical priorities to business goals.
• Experience applying Medical Excellence standards, field medical operations, governance and compliant scientific engagement.
• Practical capability and interest in AI or digital health; willingness to travel regularly.

Responsibilities

• Lead the creation and implementation of Medical Affairs plans for the portfolio, aligning medical priorities with brand objectives and broader business strategy.
• Lead, coach and develop MSLs and Medical Managers, creating accountability and development pathways.
• Embed standards and approaches aligned with Medical Excellence to strengthen scientific acumen and execution.
• Champion responsible use of AI, analytics and digital tools to improve medical insights and engagement.
• Oversee evidence generation, external expert engagement, scientific governance and translation of insights into strategic recommendations.
• Collaborate across Commercial, Market Access, Regulatory, Legal, Pharmacovigilance, Clinical Operations and global teams.

Skills

Medical affairs leadership

MSL/Medical Manager leadership

Strategic medical planning

Cross-functional collaboration

Evidence generation

External expert engagement

Digital health / AI awareness

Medical governance & compliance

Travel readiness

Education

Tertiary scientific qualification (MD/PhD/PharmD/MBBS)

Job description

Bring your Medical Affairs expertise and people leadership experience to a growing rare disease portfolio where scientific leadership, collaboration and innovative ways of working can make a meaningful difference for patients and the healthcare professionals who care for them.

Lead across nephrology, haematology and transplant, empower a high-performing Medical team and translate insights into strategies that advance patient care with Alexion.

About AstraZeneca & Alexion Rare Disease

AstraZeneca is a global, science-led biopharmaceutical company transforming treatment across Oncology, CVRM, Respiratory & Immunology and Rare Disease.

Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Disease is dedicated to advancing care for people living with rare diseases. We work alongside clinicians and the wider rare disease community to support appropriate access and redefine what is possible for patients and their families.

Medical Affairs at Alexion

This is an opportunity to lead a strategically important portfolio spanning nephrology, haematology and transplant. You will join a purposeful, highly engaged organisation with an expanding portfolio and a strong in-house clinical trial capability.

You will bring clear direction, trusted people leadership, and an enterprise mentality. You will assist the team in building strategic medical plans in a cooperative cross-functional environment. You will turn these plans into measurable outcomes that encourage earlier diagnosis and improved care pathways.

This permanent, full-time position is based at our Macquarie Park, Sydney office, with hybrid working (3 office days per week) and regular travel for field coaching and external partner engagement.

What you’ll do

Reporting to the Director, Medical Affairs, you will provide strategic and scientific leadership across in-market brands and pre-launch assets.

Key responsibilities include:

Lead the creation and implementation of Medical Affairs plans for the portfolio, aligning medical priorities with brand objectives and broader business strategy.

Lead, coach and develop MSLs and Medical Managers, creating clear accountability, individual development pathways and a stable, empowered team environment.

Embed standards, frameworks, and approaches aligned with Medical Excellence, strengthening scientific acumen, developing critical thinking, communication, and consistent execution.

Champion responsible use of AI, advanced analytics and digital tools to improve medical insights, scientific decision-making, operational efficiency and partner engagement.

Oversee evidence generation, compliant scientific exchange, external expert engagement, medical governance and the translation of field and ecosystem insights into strategic recommendations.

Partner across Commercial, Market Access, Regulatory, Legal, Pharmacovigilance, Clinical Operations, Corporate Affairs and global teams to shape integrated initiatives and contribute to the Medical Leadership Team.

Essential for the role

Extensive Medical Affairs experience in the pharmaceutical industry, including design and delivery of medical strategy across brands, assets or therapy areas.

Demonstrated people leadership, with experience leading and developing MSLs and/or Medical Managers through clear direction, coaching and performance management.

A tertiary scientific qualification, such as medicine, pharmacy, a PhD, master’s degree or equivalent, with strong scientific credibility relevant to the portfolio.

Strong business insight and cross-functional leadership, including effective partnership with Market Access and the ability to connect Medical priorities to overarching business goals.

Experience applying Medical Excellence standards, field medical operations, governance and compliant scientific engagement in a matrix environment.

Practical capability and interest in AI, digital innovation and new ways of working, including identifying where approved tools can improve insight, efficiency or engagement; willingness to travel regularly.

Desirable for this position

Rare disease or orphan drug experience, ideally across nephrology, haematology, transplant or an adjacent specialist portfolio.

Experience leading across a broad portfolio, although deep experience in one relevant therapy area may also be considered.

A doctoral qualification such as an M.D., Ph.D. or Pharm.D.

Experience in product launch, evidence generation, real-world evidence platforms or strategy development and execution.

Formal training or certification in AI or digital health.

Why join Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Disease?

At Alexion, we are committed to making a difference through our bold mission: transforming the lives of people living with rare diseases. Recognized as a Great Place to Work, our team welcomes talented, diverse individuals who thrive in a collaborative environment. Here, your voice is heard, your expertise is valued, and your work truly changes lives.

You will have the autonomy to own your space while collaborating with a cohesive leadership team. The role offers visibility, meaningful influence over a growing portfolio and the opportunity to build leadership capability and career pathways within the team.

Guidance on AI use:

We support you using AI tools responsibly in the recruitment process to help you be at your best and showcase your knowledge, skills and abilities.

Review our guide built to assist you in doing this: https://careers.astrazeneca.com/aiguidance

Where can I find out more?

Visit the Alexion careers website – https://careers.alexion.com/

Follow Alexion on LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/alexion-pharmaceuticals/

Visit the AstraZeneca ANZ Careers Page – https://www.astrazeneca.com.au/careers.html

AstraZeneca in Australia has been formally recognised as a Silver Tier Employer within the Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI). Visit our ANZ Careers Page - www.astrazeneca.com.au/careers.html to learn more about our commitment to fostering a flexible, diverse, and inclusive environment.

We recognise that any recruitment process may present challenges, if there is anything we can do to make our recruitment process more accessible for you, please let us know via this Form .

Alexion is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and affirm… The Company will not make decisions about employment, training, compensation, promotion, and other terms and conditions of employment based on race, color, religion, creed or lackthereof, sex, sexualorientation, age, ancestry, national origin, ethnicity, citizenship status, marital status,pregnancy, (including childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), parental status (including adoption or surrogacy), military status, protected veteran status, disability, medical condition, gender identity or expression, genetic information, mental illness or other characteristics protected by law. Alexion provides reasonable accommodations to meet the needs of candidates and employees. To begin aninteractive dialogue with Alexion regarding an accommodation, please contact [e-mail] . Alexion participates in E-Verify.