Disease Area Medical Lead - Rare Disease

AstraZeneca plc; Sydney; Hybrid; AUD 260,000 - 400,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Regular travel

Job summary

Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Disease in Sydney seeks a Medical Affairs leader to drive a strategic portfolio across nephrology, haematology and transplant. You will provide scientific leadership, build a high-performing team and translate insights into medical plans and initiatives.

This permanent, full-time role offers hybrid work (3 days in the Macquarie Park office) and regular travel for field coaching and partner engagement, with the opportunity to shape medical strategy within a global

Qualifications

• Extensive Medical Affairs leadership experience in pharma.
• Experience designing and delivering medical strategy across brands/therapy areas.
• Strong cross-functional leadership with Market Access and other functions.

Responsibilities

• Lead Medical Affairs plans for the portfolio aligned with brand objectives and business strategy.
• Coach and develop MSLs and Medical Managers with clear accountability and development paths.
• Embed Medical Excellence standards and governance across field medical ops.
• Champion AI, analytics and digital tools to improve insights and efficiency.
• Oversee evidence generation, compliant scientific engagement and external expert engagement.
• Collaborate with Commercial, Regulatory, Legal and global teams to shape integrated initiatives.

Skills

Medical Affairs leadership

People leadership

Strategic medical planning

AI & analytics literacy

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

MD/PhD/PharmD or equivalent

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.

Date Posted: 08-Nov-2026

Closing Date: 05-Dec-2026

Alexion is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and affirmative action employer. We are committed to fostering a culture of belonging where every single person can belong because of their uniqueness. 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 lack thereof, sex, sexual orientation, 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 an interactive dialogue with Alexion regarding an accommodation, please contact [e-mail]. Alexion participates in E-Verify.