Executive Director, Global Clinical Ops - Cell Therapy

AstraZeneca; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

AstraZeneca is seeking an Executive Director, Clinical Operations, Program Management in Cambridge, UK or Gaithersburg, MD with global responsibility for end-to-end delivery of a cell therapy portfolio. Lead strategy, governance, and a high-performing team to ensure time, cost, and quality across phase 1 to registrational studies.

You will shape how programs are executed across geographies, build capabilities, and drive value through robust operational plans, with a focus on inspection readiness

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent.
• Extensive experience in Drug Development with direct clinical operations experience.
• Line management of senior staff in a large pharma/biotech setting.
• Proven ability to develop others and build capabilities at scale.
• Experience leading cross-program management, resourcing, and budgeting.
• High standards and a track record of delivery in a global environment.
• Strong influencing and stakeholder management.
• Willingness to travel domestically and internationally.

Responsibilities

• Define and steward short- and long-term clinical operations strategy across all programs.
• Develop franchise-wide country and site strategy for delivery.
• Drive resolution of franchise-level clinical operations issues across global product teams.
• Provide strategic oversight for all cell therapy studies to meet time and cost targets.
• Ensure governance and inspection readiness across CTCO leadership.
• Establish franchise delivery vision, prioritization, and metrics for accountability.
• Deliver rigorous forecasting and data-driven prioritization for the franchise.
• Sponsor transformation efforts to simplify processes and strengthen governance.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Global program management

Clinical operations

Budget planning

Resource management

Stakeholder management

Risk management

Regulatory readiness

People leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication excellence

Travel flexibility

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

Job description

AstraZeneca is seeking an Executive Director, Clinical Operations, Program Management in Cambridge, UK or Gaithersburg, MD with global responsibility for end-to-end delivery of a cell therapy portfolio. Lead strategy, governance, and a high-performing team to ensure time, cost, and quality across phase 1 to registrational studies.

You will shape how programs are executed across geographies, build capabilities, and drive value through robust operational plans, with a focus on inspection readiness