Associate Director, Contract Management - Scientific Services

AstraZeneca GmbH; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

AstraZeneca in Cambridge is seeking an Associate Director, Contract Management for Scientific Services to lead governance of outsourced support for laboratory equipment maintenance, logistics and waste services, ensuring alignment with business needs and compliance with service agreements.

You will oversee supplier performance, collaborate with procurement, maintain contract records, lead review meetings, and drive risk management and continuity planning to support lab operations.

Qualifications

• Graduate calibre or equivalent experience.
• In-depth knowledge of operational needs of pharmaceutical business.
• Lean principles understanding and process improvement awareness.

Responsibilities

• Govern outsourced services in Scientific Services ensuring alignment with business needs.
• Collaborate with AZ Procurement for commercial compliance and regulatory alignment.
• Maintain contract management records and conduct quality activities.
• Provide strategic oversight and targets for outsourced service providers.
• Monitor contract performance and ensure SLA compliance and regulatory guidelines.
• Develop and implement service supply plans and secure cross-functional commitment.
• Lead contract review meetings and manage escalation for delivery issues.
• Manage PO validity, invoice reconciliation and payment disputes.
• Develop risk management and business continuity plans for the service group.
• Contribute to Revenue and Capital budgets for Scientific Services.
• Ensure alignment with other AstraZeneca service functions.

Skills

Graduate calibre

Pharma operations knowledge

Education

Graduate degree or equivalent

Job description

Position: Associate Director, Contract Management – Scientific Services

Location: Cambridge (on-site role)

Competitive Salary & Exceptional Company Benefits

Application Closing Date: 22 September 2026

About AstraZeneca

In this role, you will ensure the continuous delivery of high-quality Scientific Services across laboratory equipment maintenance, laboratory support and waste services for internal business customers. The primary purpose of the role is to align objectives and manage relationships across key Scientific Services stakeholders, including the laboratory user community, laboratory leaders and supplier organisations. You will provide contract management expertise, oversee supplier performance and ensure compliance with service agreements and relevant SHE and GxP requirements.

Key Responsibilities:

You will be accountable for a range of services from lab automation and instrumentation support, logistics, and lab support.

• Provides governance for a variety of outsourced service providers in Scientific Services, ensuring alignment with business needs.
• Collaborates with AZ Procurement to ensure commercial compliance and industry regulations.
• Maintains contract management records and conducts quality management activities.
• Offers strategic oversight, direction, and targets for outsourced service providers.
• Monitors contract implementation, execution, and performance to ensure compliance with service level agreements and regulatory guidelines.
• Develops and implements service supply plans, obtaining commitment from key collaborators.
• Leads contract review meetings and serves as the operational point of escalation for supplier delivery issues.
• Manages validity of purchase orders, invoice reconciliation, and payment dispute resolution.
• Develops and maintains risk management and business continuity plans for the service group.
• Contributes to the development of Revenue and Capital budgets associated with Scientific Services.
• Ensures alignment, connectivity, and engagement with services in the Scientific Services delivery chain and other AstraZeneca service functions.

Essential

• Requires an individual of graduate calibre or with an equivalent level of experience
• In depth knowledge of the operational needs of pharmaceutical business
• Good working knowledge of the facility management industry
• Sound understanding of Lean principles and the process options for improvement

Desirable

• Facilities Management qualification
• Qualification in Lean Six Sigma or other process improvement methodology
• CIPS qualification

Date Posted

08-Sept-2026

Closing Date

22-Sept-2026

Our mission is to build an inclusive and equitable environment. We want people to feel they belong at AstraZeneca and Alexion, starting with our recruitment process. We welcome and consider applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of characteristics. We offer reasonable adjustments/accommodations to help all candidates to perform at their best. If you have a need for any adjustments/accommodations, please complete the section in the application form.