Director, Early Oncology Clinical Operations Technology & Vendor Excellence

AstraZeneca plc; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 172,000 - 257,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Executive incentive plan

Paid time off

Retirement programs

Job summary

AstraZeneca plc in Cambridge, MA seeks a strategic Director to lead Early Oncology Clinical Operations Technology and Vendor Excellence. You will shape technology strategy, governance, and partnerships to deliver efficient study delivery and future-ready platforms.

You will drive AI-enabled processes, oversee external vendor relationships, and partner with COE communities to ensure scalable, high-quality clinical operations technology across Early Oncology.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Life Sciences, Pharmacy, Biomedical Sciences, Business, or related field.
• 10+ years in pharma/biotech/CRO or clinical research environments.
• Leadership in clinical operations with drug development lifecycle knowledge.
• Proven track record in technology strategy, digital transformation or innovation leadership.
• Strong vendor management including governance, performance management, and senior relationships.
• Experience with outsourced CROs, IRT/RTSM, eClinical or other clinical trial tech platforms.

Responsibilities

• Own and drive EO vendor technology roadmap aligned to CPSO and R&D digital strategy.
• Provide strategic oversight of outsourcing models, CLP, IRT/RTSM, digital health tools, and AI capabilities.
• Lead EO vendor governance, KPI frameworks, escalation paths, and contract compliance monitoring.
• Build relationships with EO vendors and external partners; act as primary EO tech vendor contact.
• Lead COE communities (iRT/RTSM, Digital Health) to align roadmaps with CPSO objectives.
• Ensure platforms are reliable, adopted, and continuously improved; track tech performance metrics.

Skills

Leadership

Vendor management

Strategic thinking

Digital transformation

AI & automation

Clinical operations

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Life Sciences / related field

Tools

IRT/RTSM

AI tools

Digital Health platforms

Job description

Director, Early Oncology Clinical Operations Technology & Vendor ExcellenceThis is a newly created strategic leadership role, established as part of the evolution of the CPSO Centre of Excellence (COE). The Director, Clinical Operations Technology & Vendor Excellence is accountable for driving the Early Oncology CPSO technology strategy and vendor governance agenda— ensuring that the tools, platforms, and partnerships that underpin clinical study delivery are fit for purpose, future‑ready, and delivering measurable value for Early Oncology.

Sitting at the intersection of clinical operations, digital innovation, and strategic vendor management, this role shapes how CPSO and its COE enabling communities harness technology — from Central Lab Partnerships (CLP), Outsourced CRO Partnerships, Interactive Response Technology (IRT) systems to digital health tools and Artificial Intelligence (AI)-enabled process automation. The role also provides senior‑level oversight of external vendor relationships, ensuring accountability, performance, and alignment to AstraZeneca's clinical delivery priorities.

Responsibilities:

Vendor Technology Strategy & Innovation

• Own and drive the EO clinical operations vendor technology roadmap, aligned to CPSO and broader R&D digital strategy.

• Provide strategic oversight of our Outsourcing Partnership Model, CLP Model, key platform areas including IRT/RTSM, digital health tools, Vendor AI and automation capabilities, and emerging technologies relevant to clinical trial delivery.

• Partner with Global Clinical Solutions (GCS), alliance management and external innovation partners to identify, evaluate, and scale technologies that improve speed, quality, and efficiency in EO clinical operations.

• Champion an innovation culture across CPSO and COE enabling communities — enabling experimentation, piloting new capabilities, and rapid scaling of what works.

• Lead the integration of AI and automation into clinical operations vendor workflows as needed, working closely with the AI & Automation COE community.

Vendor Excellence & Strategic Partnerships

• Define and lead a best-in-class vendor governance framework for EO CPSO technology vendors, CROs, and specialist service providers. This includes developing and implementing a clear escalation path within EO and beyond.

• Oversees EO vendor performance management — including EO KPI frameworks, escalation pathways, business review cadences, and contract compliance monitoring.

• Lead EO vendor relationships and serve as our EO point of contact for strategic technology and service partners including CLPs, Digital Health, iRT, and Outsourcing Partnership

• Drive vendor and portfolio optimization within EO, ensuring AstraZeneca achieves maximum value from its external partnerships.

• Partners with Procurement, as needed, to shape vendor strategy, competitive sourcing, and contract negotiations for key EO clinical operations technology platforms.

• Develop and embed a vendor risk management approach, including business continuity planning and contingency frameworks for critical vendor systems within EO.

COE Community Leadership

• Provide strategic direction and leadership to the iRT/RTSM and Digital Health COE communities, ensuring their roadmaps and priorities align with broader CPSO and R&D objectives.

• Support community leads in building capability, setting quality standards, and embedding best practices across their respective areas.

• Connects technology and vendor insights across COE communities — acting as a bridge between the AI & Automation, Digital Health, and iRT/RTSM communities to drive coherent, joined‑up delivery. Collaborates closely with the Onboarding, Training and Learning Community Lead and, Process and Quality Community Lead to ensure vendor related EO training and processes are adapted and communicated across CPSO

• Represents Vendor/Systems technology and vendor excellence in CPSO and COE leadership discussions

Operational Excellence & Delivery

• Ensure clinical operations technology platforms are delivered, maintained, and evolved with high reliability, quality, and user adoption within Early Oncology

• Lead continuous improvement initiatives that reduce friction, cycle times, and operational risk associated with technology‑dependent processes.

• Develop and track metrics and dashboards that provide visibility of technology performance, vendor health, and return on investment.

• Collaborate with Process & Quality and Knowledge & Learning COE communities to ensure technology changes are accompanied by robust training, documentation, and change management.

Stakeholder Engagement & Influence

• Build and maintain strong relationships with senior stakeholders across CPSO, R&D Operations, Procurement, Alliance, and Global Clinical Solutions
• Represent EO CPSO externally at industry forums, vendor advisory boards, and technology consortia.
• Communicate complex technology and vendor topics clearly and compellingly to non‑technical leadership audiences.
• Influence the strategic direction of vendor product roadmaps in ways that serve AstraZeneca's clinical operations needs.

Essentialrequirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Life Sciences, Pharmacy, Biomedical Sciences, Business, Supply Chain, Clinical Research, Health Sciences, or related field.

• 10+ years of experience within pharmaceutical, biotechnology, CRO, or related clinical research environments.

• Significant leadership experience in clinical operations, with deep knowledge of the drug development lifecycle and clinical trial delivery.

• Proven track record in technology strategy, digital transformation, or innovation leadership within a pharmaceutical, biotech, or CRO environment.

• Strong vendor management expertise — including governance frameworks, performance management, and senior‑level relationship management.

• Experience leading or working closely with outsourced CRO partners, IRT/RTSM, eClinical, or other clinical trial technology platforms.

• Demonstrated ability to influence without authority across a complex, matrixed global organisation.

• Excellent communication and demonstrated ability to influence more senior colleagues.

• Experience leading through change and building capability within high‑performing teams or communities.

Desirablerequirements:

• Familiarity with AI, machine learning, or automation technologies as applied to clinical development processes.

• Experience with Outsourced partners, RTSM, digital health tools, patient‑facing technology, or decentralized clinical trial (DCT) approaches.

• Knowledge of regulatory and compliance requirements pertaining to clinical trial technology (e.g. 21 CFR Part 11, GCP, data privacy).

• Background in or exposure to procurement, contract management, or strategic sourcing.

• Experience operating within or leading a Centre of Excellence Enabling Support model.

This role offers a rare opportunity to shape the future of clinical operations technology within early oncology at one of the world's leading biopharmaceutical companies. You will have the platform, resources, and senior sponsorship to build something meaningful — modernizing how clinical trials are delivered, and how vendor partnerships are managed, at a global scale.

The annual base pay (or hourly rate of compensation) for this position ranges from $171,622 to $257,433.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

Date Posted

24-Sep-2026

Closing Date

07-Oct-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.