Associate Director, Service Contracting

AstraZeneca plc; Wilmington (DE); Hybrid; USD 147,000 - 221,000; Full time

Job summary

AstraZeneca plc is seeking an Associate Director, Service Contracting to lead the contracting engine for Market Access. You will direct technical standards, governance, and performance of contracting activities across MSAs, CDAs, SOWs, and related agreements, while mentoring a team of contracting professionals.

You will partner with Legal, Finance, US Patient Support, and Procurement to deliver compliant, scalable contracting solutions in a regulated environment and ensure alignment with

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree, preferably in a relevant field.
• 5+ years of progressive pharmaceutical experience in governance, operations, contracting, service strategy, patient support, or related functions.
• Understanding of Market Access and healthcare delivery, including the regulatory environment.
• Experience managing contracting activities, including MSAs, CDAs, and SOWs.
• Experience with document workflows, version controls, and audit controls.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to influence with and without authority, lead teams, and develop relationships with senior leadership.
• Demonstrated ability to manage through uncertainty.
• Strong organizational and time management skills with the ability to balance competing priorities.
• Advanced proficiency in Excel, PowerPoint, and Word.
• Strong attention to detail and trends.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a contracting team to manage MSAs, CDAs, SOWs and related contracts.
• Oversee Contract Operations support for US Patient Support contracting and manage intake, drafting, approvals, execution, amendments, and renewals.
• Oversee updates to support Physician Fee Schedule requirements and maintain the bona fide service fee certification library.
• Review and approve contracts aligning with policies, government requirements, and governance standards.
• Supervise preparation and processing of customer communications and contract requests.
• Improve contracting processes, templates, playbooks, and governance metrics.
• Develop and maintain contracting infrastructure, including templates and clause libraries.
• Advise internal customers on contract structure, provisions, risk, and implementation.
• Build relationships with stakeholders to ensure timely execution of agreements.
• Monitor legal, regulatory and procurement changes and update guidance materials.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Analytical skills

Decision-making

Problem solving

Excel

PowerPoint

Word

Market Access

Contract governance

Education

Bachelor’s degree

MBA or JD desirable

Tools

MSA drafting

CDA drafting

SOW drafting

Job description

Are you ready to lead the contracting engine that enables AstraZeneca's Market Access business? As the Associate Director, Service Contracting, you will be accountable for the technical direction, quality, compliance, controls, standards, stakeholder enablement, and performance management of Market Access contracting activities. You will manage the full contract lifecycle, including MSAs, CDAs, SOWs, GPO services agreements, and other commercial contracts, while ensuring alignment with business objectives, regulatory requirements, and AstraZeneca governance standards. You will balance compliance, efficiency, and customer excellence, own the development of our contracting infrastructure, and lead, develop, and mentor a team of contracting professionals.

Partnering closely with Account Directors, Legal, Finance, US Patient Support, Service Strategy, Contract Strategy, Procurement, and other functions, you will deliver scalable, compliant, and business-focused contracting solutions within a highly regulated environment.

Accountabilities:

• Lead and develop a contracting team, including work allocation, prioritization, performance management, development, succession planning, and hiring decisions, ensuring the team effectively manages the drafting, review, execution, and maintenance of Market Access customer agreements, including MSAs, CDAs, SOWs, and other commercial and service-related contracts.
• Lead Contract Operations support for US Patient Support contracting, assuming operational ownership of intake, drafting coordination, approvals, execution, amendments, renewals, and issue resolution for vendor and service agreements that enable patient support programs, while maintaining clear accountability, continuity, and governance throughout the transition.
• Oversee contracting updates to support Physician Fee Schedule requirements and maintain the bona fide service fee certification library, ensuring compliance with applicable quarterly reporting requirements.
• Oversee the review and approval of contracts to ensure alignment with AstraZeneca policies, government requirements, approved contractual language, risk mitigation provisions, compliance controls, and governance standards; manage prioritization, quality review, and escalation of contractual issues.
• Supervise the preparation and processing of customer communications and contract-related requests submitted by internal customers.
• Establish, oversee, and continuously improve contracting processes and performance metrics, including intake, version control, approvals, execution, renewals, document retention, audit readiness, cycle times, backlog, quality, and stakeholder service levels.
• Own the development and maintenance of contracting infrastructure, including templates, clause libraries, playbooks, handbooks, and process documentation.
• Serve as a Market Access contracting subject matter expert, advising internal customers on contract structure, required provisions, approval pathways, risk considerations, product and service strategy, and operational implementation.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including customers, vendors, auditors, Account Directors, Finance, Legal, US Patient Support, Service Strategy, Contract Strategy, Government Reporting, and Procurement, to resolve issues and ensure timely, effective execution of agreements.
• Monitor changes in legal, regulatory, compliance, procurement, privacy, and business requirements, assess their impact on Market Access contracting, and recommend updates to processes, standards, templates, and guidance materials.

Essential Skills/Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree, preferably in a relevant field
• 5+ years of progressive pharmaceutical experience in governance, operations, contracting, service strategy, patient support, or related functions
• Understanding of Market Access and healthcare delivery, including the regulatory environment
• Experience managing contracting activities, including MSAs, CDAs, and SOWs
• Experience with document workflows, version controls, and audit controls
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills
• Demonstrated ability to influence with and without authority, lead teams, and develop relationships with senior leadership
• Demonstrated ability to manage through uncertainty
• Strong organizational and time management skills with the ability to balance competing priorities
• Advanced proficiency in Excel, PowerPoint, and Word
• Strong attention to detail and trends

Desirable Skills/Experience:

• MBA, J.D., or Paralegal Certificate
• Detailed understanding of the AstraZeneca business model, with knowledge of brand team operations, brand planning, and the sales model

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. Join us in our unique and ambitious world.

Why AstraZeneca?

At AstraZeneca, we turn ideas into life-changing medicines. Working here means being entrepreneurial, thinking big and working together to make the impossible a reality. We're focused on the potential of science to address the unmet needs of patients around the world. Within Market Access, you'll help ensure patients can access our medicines by building the compliant, efficient contracting foundation that our customers and partners rely on. You'll join a collaborative team that values operational excellence, sound judgment, and continuous improvement, with the support to grow your leadership and your career.

The annual base pay for this position ranges from $147,200- $220, 500. Hourly and salaried non-exempt employees will also be paid overtime pay when working qualifying overtime hours. 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 (salaried roles), to receive a retirement contribution (hourly roles), and commission payment eligibility (sales roles). 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: 10-Nov-2026

Closing Date: 24-Nov-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.