Director, Discovery Project Management, Cell Therapy Autoimmune

ASTRAZENECA UK LIMITED; Hartford; Hybrid; GBP 104,000 - 157,000; Full time

Job summary

AstraZeneca is seeking a Director, Discovery Project Management, Cell Therapy Autoimmune, to co-own and drive execution of next-generation discovery programs. You will partner with Bioscience Leads to manage scope, timelines, budgets, risks, and milestones, ensuring timely delivery and strategic program decisions.

You will leverage AI-enabled tools to enhance scheduling, risk analysis, and reporting while coordinating with global teams and transitioning successful programs to Global Product

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree; significant project management experience in pharma/biotech drug discovery or early development.
• Strong cross-functional leadership and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience partnering with scientific leaders to drive execution and delivery.

Responsibilities

• Lead discovery-stage programs from initiation to preclinical transition and readiness for Global Product Teams.
• Co-own program scope, timelines, budgets, risks, and milestones; manage governance.
• Facilitate cross-functional collaboration and escalation pathways; maintain governance docs and dashboards.

Skills

Project management

Cross-functional leadership

Stakeholder management

Communication

Agile methodologies

Decision making

Ambiguity navigation

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

PLANIT

Job description

Are you ready to co-own the execution of next-generation cell therapy programs and help transform groundbreaking science into meaningful outcomes for patients? As Director, Discovery Project Management, Cell Therapy Autoimmune, you will play a critical role in driving discovery-stage programs focused on autoimmune and immune-mediated diseases. Working in partnership with Bioscience Leads, you will provide strategic project leadership across a portfolio that spans from pre-Target Selection Investment Decision through preclinical proof of concept and transition into Global Product Teams. Our portfolio includes LVV-based CAR-T, LNP, autologous, and allogeneic cell therapy approaches. This role operates within a unique partnership model where scientific leadership and project leadership work hand-in-hand to ensure clear decision‑making, effective execution, and timely delivery of program objectives. Within a highly collaborative and agile environment, you will help shape how discovery projects are managed while contributing directly to programs advancing toward the clinic. Accountabilities Project Leadership & Execution

Project Leadership & Execution

• Partner closely with Bioscience Leads to drive execution, delivery, and decision‑making across discovery‑stage programs.
• Co‑own program scope, timelines, budgets, risks, and milestones.
• Facilitate cross‑functional collaboration and alignment to ensure successful project delivery.
• Challenge assumptions, drive accountability, and proactively address barriers to progress.

Project Planning & Coordination

• Lead project initiation activities including project charters, RACI development, governance structures, and team operating models.
• Develop and maintain integrated project plans and schedules.
• Identify project risks and opportunities early and coordinate appropriate mitigation activities.

Governance & Decision Support

• Lead and facilitate project team meetings and product development reviews.
• Manage project interdependencies, scope adjustments, and escalation pathways.
• Maintain project plans and governance documentation, ensuring alignment with organizational processes.
• Prepare project updates, dashboards, and milestone reporting for leadership teams.

AI‑Enabled Project Management

• Leverage AI‑enabled solutions to enhance project scheduling, risk analysis, reporting, and decision support.
• Promote responsible and effective use of AI tools across project teams.
• Stay current with emerging technologies that improve project execution and operational efficiency.

Stakeholder Management

• Partner effectively with scientific, technical, and business stakeholders.
• Support governance reviews and investment decision activities.
• Drive clear communication and alignment across global cross‑functional teams.

Program Transfer & Closeout

• Lead the successful transition of programs to Global Product Teams and incoming Global Project Managers.
• Ensure readiness of deliverables, data packages, and handover documentation.
• Capture and apply lessons learned to continuously improve project execution practices.
• Coordinate project handovers with regional teams, including partnerships supporting China Discovery and investigator‑initiated trial preparations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree with a minimum of 10 year's experience.
• Significant project management experience within pharmaceutical, biotechnology, drug discovery, or early development environments.
• Strong understanding of autoimmune and immune‑mediated disease biology and drug development.
• Demonstrated success managing complex, cross‑functional projects through key development milestones and investment decisions.
• Experience partnering directly with scientific leaders to drive project execution and delivery.
• Strong stakeholder management, communication, and influencing skills.
• Ability to challenge constructively, navigate ambiguity, and facilitate effective decision‑making.
• Experience utilizing project management methodologies, planning tools, and governance frameworks.

Desirable Requirements

• Advanced degree (PhD, MSc, MBA, or equivalent).
• Experience supporting cell therapy discovery programs, including CAR‑T, LNP, autologous, and allogeneic approaches.
• Experience preparing for major governance and investment decision milestones.
• Experience coordinating project transfers across global teams and regions.
• Knowledge of portfolio management systems such as PLANIT or equivalent platforms.
• Experience applying AI‑enabled tools to project planning, risk assessment, or reporting activities.

The annual base pay for this position ranges from $137,937.60 - $206,906.40. Our positions offer eligibility for various incentives-an opportunity to receive short‑term incentive bonuses, equity‑based awards for salaried roles and commissions for sales roles. Benefits offered include qualified retirement programs, paid time off (i.e., vacation, holiday, and leaves), as well as health, dental, and vision coverage in accordance with the terms of the applicable plans.

As part of Cell Therapy Discovery, you will work alongside world‑class scientists and project leaders to solve some of the industry's most complex challenges. Here, project management is viewed as a strategic capability that drives better decisions, accelerates delivery, and enables innovative science to progress toward patients faster. When we put unexpected teams in the same room, we unleash bold thinking with the power to inspire life‑changing medicines. In‑person working gives us the platform we need to connect, work at pace and challenge perceptions. That's why we work, on average, a minimum of three days per week from the office. But that doesn't mean we're not flexible. We balance the expectation of being in the office while respecting individual flexibility. Why AstraZeneca: Here, courage, curiosity, and collaboration fuel a relentless focus on transforming cancer outcomes, powered by a pipeline that fuses cutting‑edge science with advanced technology. You will work in an environment where unexpected teams come together to spark bold ideas, backed by meaningful investment and a clear path from discovery to impact. We value kindness alongside ambition, and we empower leaders at every level to ask sharp questions, take smart risks, and turn data into decisions that help patients