Commercial Operations Director

AstraZeneca; Saudi Arabia; On-site; SAR 250,000 - 350,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading biopharmaceutical company is seeking a Commercial Operations Director in Riyadh. This role is vital for driving operational excellence and strategic management across commercial organizations in Saudi Arabia. The successful candidate will leverage extensive experience in pharmaceutical operations and leadership to achieve ambitious growth targets and ensure compliance with local regulations.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in pharmaceutical commercial operations, with significant exposure to the Saudi market.
• Proven expertise in optimizing sales processes and digital solutions.

Responsibilities

• Drive operational excellence and business analytics in commercial operations.
• Lead high-performing teams across various commercial functions.
• Oversee demand planning and resource allocation processes.

Skills

Leadership

Commercial Process Optimization

Business Analytics

Stakeholder Management

Project Management

Education

Bachelor’s degree or higher in Business Administration, Life Sciences, Pharmacy

MBA or advanced degree strongly preferred

Job description

Job Title

Commercial Operations Director

Job Location

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

ABOUT ASTRAZENECA

AstraZeneca is a global, science-led, patient-focused biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery, development, and commercialisation of prescription medicines for some of the world’s most serious diseases. But we’re more than one of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies.

ROLE SUMMARY

At AstraZeneca we believe in the potential of our people and that you’ll develop beyond what you thought possible. We make the most of your skills and passion by actively supporting you to see what you can achieve no matter where you start with us.

AstraZeneca is a global, innovation-driven biopharmaceutical business that focuses on the discovery, development and commercialization of prescription medicines for some of the world's most serious diseases. AstraZeneca is one of only a handful of pure-play biopharmaceutical companies to span the entire value chain of a medicine from discovery, early- and late-stage development to manufacturing and distribution, and the global commercialisation of primary care and specialty care medicines that transform lives. Our primary focus is on key areas of healthcare: Oncology; Cardiovascular and Renal Metabolic disease (CVRM) and Respiratory + Immunology – and Rare Disease.

The Commercial Operations Director is accountable for driving operational excellence, business insight, and cross-functional effectiveness across AstraZeneca Saudi Arabia’s commercial organization. The role provides leadership for commercial operations, sales force effectiveness, business analytics, demand forecasting, and the deployment of commercial strategy. The Director supports the business in achieving ambitious growth targets by enabling data-driven decision making, optimizing field force deployment, and ensuring best-in-class processes and capabilities. The position serves as a strategic partner to Marketing, Sales, Medical, Market Access, and Finance to realize AstraZeneca’s commercial objectives and serve patients in Saudi Arabia.

What you’ll do

• Develop and execute the local Commercial Operations strategy in alignment with AstraZeneca global and regional priorities.
• Lead, coach, and develop high-performing teams in Commercial Excellence, Business Intelligence, Sales Operations, and related support functions.
• Drive operational effectiveness through standardized, efficient processes for sales force deployment, territory design, targeting, call planning, and incentive compensation.
• Ensure the ongoing development and delivery of business analytics, sales reporting, forecasting, and key performance metrics that drive informed management decisions.
• Oversee demand planning, sales forecasting, and resource allocation processes, working closely with supply chain and finance teams to optimize inventory management and ensure product availability.
• Implement and champion digital tools, CRM systems, and data platforms to support omnichannel marketing, customer engagement, and sales insights.
• Lead commercial planning and operational readiness for new product launches in collaboration with cross-functional teams.
• Act as the guardian of data governance, ensuring integrity and compliance in the management of commercial and customer data.
• Identify, recommend, and deliver process improvement initiatives, leveraging best practices and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Partner with compliance and quality teams to ensure all commercial operations adhere to AstraZeneca’s Code of Ethics and local legal requirements.
• Represent the Saudi Arabian affiliate in cross-market or regional forums for commercial operations, exchanging best practices and supporting organizational learning.

Essential for the role

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Business Administration, Life Sciences, Pharmacy, or a related field; MBA or advanced degree strongly preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in pharmaceutical commercial operations, business excellence, or related roles, with significant exposure to the Saudi healthcare market.
• Demonstrated leadership experience managing multi-disciplinary teams.
• Proven expertise in commercial process optimization, sales force effectiveness, business analytics, and omnichannel customer engagement.
• Strong project management skills and experience implementing digital and data solutions in a commercial environment.
• Comprehensive understanding of local regulatory, legal, and compliance frameworks.
• Exceptional communication, stakeholder management, and cross-functional collaboration skills

Why AstraZeneca?

At AstraZeneca we’re dedicated to being a Great Place to Work. Where you are empowered to push the boundaries of science and unleash your entrepreneurial spirit. There’s no better place to make a difference to medicine, patients and society. An inclusive culture that champions diversity and collaboration, and always committed to lifelong learning, growth and development. We’re on an exciting journey to pioneer the future of healthcare.

So, what’s next?

• Are you already imagining yourself joining our team? Good, because we can’t wait to hear from you.
• Are you ready to bring new ideas and fresh thinking to the table? Brilliant! We have one seat available and we hope it’s yours.

Where can I find out more?

Our Social Media, Follow AstraZeneca on LinkedIn

Follow AstraZeneca on Facebook

Follow AstraZeneca on Instagram

Date Posted

09-يوليو-2025

Closing Date

30-يوليو-2025

AstraZeneca embraces diversity and equality of opportunity. We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse team representing all backgrounds, with as wide a range of perspectives as possible, and harnessing industry-leading skills. We believe that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be. We welcome and consider applications to join our team from all qualified candidates, regardless of their characteristics. We comply with all applicable laws and regulations on non-discrimination in employment (and recruitment), as well as work authorization and employment eligibility verification requirements.