Associate Director, External Quality

AstraZeneca GmbH; Boston (MA); Hybrid; USD 135,000 - 203,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) plan

Paid vacation and holidays

Health benefits

Equity-based long-term incentive

Job summary

Fusion Pharmaceuticals, a member of the AstraZeneca Group, seeks an Associate Director, External Quality for its Boston, MA hybrid site. You will oversee external manufacturing partners, testing labs, and suppliers to ensure cGMP compliance and high-quality products across drug substances and products.

The role leads risk management, investigations, CAPA, and regulatory readiness, reporting to the Head of Radiopharmaceutical Quality.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in science required; advanced degree preferred.
• 10–12 years in pharma/biotech quality or manufacturing with external partners.
• Strong knowledge of cGMP for drug substance/product and ICH guidelines; familiarity with GDP.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational quality oversight for CDMOs/CMOs, labs, and key suppliers.
• Ensure partner adherence to cGMP/cGDP/cGLP and data integrity; maintain quality agreements.
• Guide validation/qualification, technology transfers, and change management.
• Lead risk assessments (FMEA/ICH Q9) to identify and mitigate risks.
• Oversee quality investigations and CAPA with timely closure and verification.
• Support regulatory inspections and submissions; ensure inspection readiness.
• Define supplier benchmarks and monitor governance; drive continuous improvement.
• Collaborate with Operations, Supply Chain, CMC, and Procurement on quality matters.

Skills

Quality oversight

Risk management

CAPA investigations

Regulatory readiness

Cross-functional leadership

Vendor management

Communication

Travel

Education

Bachelor’s degree in pharmacy/chemistry/biology/engineering

Tools

Electronic QMS

Quality documentation systems

Job description

Job Title: Associate Director, External Quality

Location: Boston, MA

Hybrid 3 days/week

Fusion Pharmaceuticals, a member of the AstraZeneca Group, is a clinical-stage oncology company focused on developing next generation radio conjugates (RCs) as precision medicines. Fusion has multiple pipeline programs entering early FIH trials. In addition, Fusion is pursuing combination programs between RCs and other therapeutic modalities including DNA Damage Response Inhibitors (DDRis) and immune-oncology agents. To support these programs, Fusion has a fully operational radio conjugate manufacturing facility. It is brand new and GMP compliant to meet the demand for our growing pipeline of RCs.

The Role:

AD, External Quality – Radio Conjugatesis accountable for end-to-end Quality oversight of external manufacturing partners, contract development and manufacturing organizations (CDMOs), suppliers, and testing laboratories supporting commercial and/or late-stage clinical products. The role ensures products and processes supplied by external partners meet applicable cGxP requirements, marketing authorization commitments, and company standards. This leader drives proactive quality risk management, addressing customer concerns and resolution, and continuous improvement across the external network. This position will report to the Head of Radiopharmaceutical Quality.

Responsibilities:

• External Partner Oversight: Provide strategic and operational Quality oversight for assigned CDMOs/CMOs, testing labs, and critical suppliers across drug substance, drug product, packaging/labeling, and distribution. Establish quality governance, performance metrics, and relationship management routines.
• Compliance and QMS: Ensure partner adherence to cGMP/cGDP/cGLP, ICH, and relevant regional regulations (e.g., FDA, EMA, MHRA, PMDA). Maintain robust Quality Agreements and ensure effective implementation of the company’s Quality Management System elements at partners (deviation/CAPA, change control, complaints, recalls, batch release, training, data integrity, and document control).
• Technical and Lifecycle Support: Guide validation/qualification (process, cleaning, methods, equipment), technology transfers, and change management. Review/approve master and completed batch records, specifications, method transfers, and validation protocols/reports.
• Risk Management: Lead risk assessments (FMEA, HACCP, ICH Q9 principles) to identify and mitigate quality and supply risks. Drive proactive detection and prevention strategies, trend analysis, and management reviews.
• Investigations and CAPA: Oversee and approve quality investigations for deviations, OOS/OOT, complaints, and stability issues from partners. Ensure high-quality root cause analysis and effective, sustainable CAPAs with timely closure and verification of effectiveness.
• Regulatory Readiness: Ensure partners are inspection ready. Lead or support health authority inspections and partner audits; manage responses, commitments, and follow-up actions. Contribute to regulatory submissions (CMC quality sections) and post-approval changes.
• Metrics and Governance: Define and monitor Supplier benchmarks (right-first-time, deviation rate, cycle times, complaint rate, timely CAPA, audit/inspection outcomes). Advance significant quality or supply risks through internal governance and lead cross-functional resolution.
• Cross-Functional Leadership: Partner closely with Technical Operations, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, CMC, Procurement, and Quality Control to ensure reliable supply and compliant operations. Provide quality input to sourcing decisions, business continuity, and network strategy.
• Continuous Improvement: Champion guidelines, digital/analytics enablement, and quality culture across the external network. Drive simplification and standardization of processes to improve compliance and efficiency.
• People and collaborator management: Provide matrix leadership to site-facing quality teams and subject matter experts; mentor partners on expectations and standards.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in pharmacy, Chemistry, Biology, Engineering, or related scientific field required; advanced degree or equivalent experience preferred.
• 10–12 years in pharmaceutical/biotech Quality or Manufacturing with significant experience overseeing external manufacturing/testing partners. Demonstrated leadership in commercial and/or late-stage clinical operations.
• Strong knowledge of cGMP for drug substance and drug product, ICH guidelines (Q7, Q8–Q10, Q12), and data integrity principles; familiarity with GDP for distribution oversight. Experience with biologics and/or small molecules; cell/gene therapy experience is a plus depending on portfolio.
• Hands-on experience with deviation/investigation management, CAPA, change control, complaints/recalls, validation, stability, and batch disposition. Comfortable with electronic QMS and quality documentation systems.
• Proven track record leading external audits and supporting or hosting health authority inspections with successful outcomes.
• Experience in technology transfers, PPQ, method transfers, cleaning/process validation, and control strategy implementation.
• Proficiency in risk assessment tools and using data/metrics to drive decisions and continuous improvement.
• Strong influencing and relationship-building skills with external partners; crisp written and verbal communication; ability to lead through ambiguity, prioritize effectively, and escalate with clarity. Vendor negotiation and conflict resolution experience beneficial.
• >20-30% travel required.

Preferred Experience

• Prior radio conjugate experience
• Prior responsibility for multiple CMOs/CDMOs across regions and modalities (DS, DP, packaging/labeling).
• Experience integrating quality considerations into sourcing and contracting; drafting/negotiating Quality Agreements.
• Familiarity with serialization/traceability, Annex 1 for sterile manufacturing (if applicable), and computerized system compliance (CSV/CSA).
• Knowledge of environmental monitoring, contamination control strategies, and aseptic processing for sterile products.
• Exposure to statistical sampling, SPC, and continued process verification.

The annual base pay for this position ranges from 135,463.20 - 203,194.80 USD. Base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.

In addition, our positions offer a short-term incentive bonus opportunity; eligibility to participate in our equity-based long-term incentive program. Benefits offered included a qualified retirement program [401(k) plan]; paid vacation and holidays; paid leaves; and, health benefits including medical, prescription drug, dental, and vision coverage in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable plans.

Additional details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment. If hired, employee will be in an “at-will position” and the Company reserves the right to modify base pay(as well as any other discretionary payment or compensation program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, Company or individual department/team performance, and market factors.

Date Posted

16-Sept-2026

Closing Date

25-Sept-2026

Our mission is to build an inclusive environment where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and employees. In furtherance of that mission, we welcome and consider applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of their protected characteristics. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please complete the corresponding section in the application form.