Director, Global Insights & Forecasting, Early Assets & Business Development

AstraZeneca; Gaithersburg (MD); On-site; USD 195,000 - 293,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Short-term incentives

Equity-based awards

Health, dental, and vision coverage

Retirement programs

Paid time off

Job summary

AstraZeneca seeks a Director, Global Insights & Forecasting, Early Assets & Business Development (R&I) to guide investment decisions across the R&I pipeline, translating epidemiology, market dynamics, and scientific data into decision-grade forecasts that shape therapeutic area strategy and unlock long-term value.

This senior leader partners with Global Early Commercial, Finance, Market Access, Medical, and BD, driving AI-enabled analytics, governance, and transparent explainability while

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in scientific area required.
• 5+ years of relevant experience in pharma, biotech, or consulting focused on forecasting, portfolio strategy, BD and market insights.
• Strong ability to bridge technical and commercial perspectives.
• Scientific agility to assess indications, modalities, and targets.
• Solid understanding of market access dynamics, pricing, reimbursement and policy factors.
• Excellent communication skills to translate data into actionable recommendations for senior stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Forecasting & scenario modeling for early forecasts, epidemiology, market adoption, and policy shifts to support stage-gate decisions.
• Develop patient-based forecast models using primary and secondary data inputs and analog benchmarks.
• Deliver commercial diligence and market models for in-licensing, partnerships, and acquisitions.
• Provide decision-oriented narratives for governance reviews and portfolio prioritization.
• Advise senior leaders on forecast drivers, model changes, and strategic implications with clarity.
• Contribute to Disease Strategy Team shaping long-term R&I strategy.
• Lead market research initiatives to inform investment decisions and therapeutic area planning.
• Identify AI-enabled approaches (ML, automation) to accelerate insights and improve explainability.

Skills

Forecasting

Scenario modeling

Executive communication

Business acumen

AI & analytics

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Director, Global Insights & Forecasting, Early Assets & Business Development (R&I)

You will play a pivotal role in guiding critical investment decisions across AstraZeneca's industry-leading R&I pipeline — from pre-clinical stages through Phase 3 readiness, as well as in-licensing and business development opportunities. You will translate complex scientific, epidemiological, and market dynamics into decision-grade forecasts and actionable insights that shape therapeutic area strategy and unlock long-term value.

This is a highly visible role that partners directly with senior leaders across Global Early Commercial, Finance, Market Access, Medical, and Business Development, offering the chance to influence portfolio direction while championing the adoption of AI, automation, and next-generation analytics across the organization.

Key Responsibilities

• Forecasting & Scenario Modeling: Build and refine early forecasts and scenario analyses covering epidemiology, market adoption curves, competitive dynamics, and policy shifts to support stage-gate decision-making.


• Patient-Based Forecast Development: Construct robust patient-based forecast models integrating primary and secondary data inputs, benchmarked against internal and external analogs to inform investment decisions.


• Business Development Support: Deliver commercial diligence and market models for in-licensing opportunities, partnerships, and acquisitions.


• Executive Decision Support: Provide clear, decision-oriented narratives for governance reviews, executive updates, portfolio prioritization, and opportunity assessments.


• Strategic Advisory: Act as a trusted advisor to senior leaders, articulating forecast drivers, model changes, external signals, and strategic implications with clarity and confidence.


• Therapeutic Area Strategy: Contribute as a core member of the Disease Strategy Team, helping to shape long-term R&I strategy.


• Market Research Leadership: Design and oversee vendor-led qualitative and quantitative market research to support investment decisions and therapeutic area planning.


• AI & Innovation: Identify and embed AI-enabled approaches - including machine learning, generative AI, agentic workflows, and automation - to enhance speed, quality, explainability, and scalability of insights.


• Governance & Responsible AI: Champion strong data and model governance, documentation, responsible AI practices, and transparent explainability to reinforce business confidence and manage risk appropriately.

Mandatory Requirements

• Bachelor's degree required in scientific area.


• 5+ years of relevant experience in the pharmaceutical, biotech, or consulting industry, with a focus on forecasting, portfolio strategy, business development and market insights.


• Strong scientific and business acumen, with the ability to bridge technical and commercial perspectives.


• Scientific agility to quickly assess new indications, modalities, and biological targets.


• Solid understanding of commercial drivers, market access dynamics, pricing, reimbursement, and policy factors.


• Excellent communication skills — able to translate complex data into clear, actionable recommendations for senior stakeholders and governance forums.

Desirable Requirements

• Advanced degree strongly preferred (MBA, MS, or PhD in a quantitative, scientific, or life-sciences discipline).


• Therapeutic area expertise in Respiratory and/or Immunology.


• Hands-on experience designing and leading qualitative and quantitative primary market research.


• Familiarity with secondary and syndicated data sources - including medical claims, EHR/EMR, IQVIA Rx, and sales data - with proficiency in interpreting large, longitudinal patient-level datasets.


• Change leadership experience: building adoption of new tools, processes, and ways of working across cross-functional stakeholders and geographies.


• Practical experience leveraging AI agents, workflow automation, or digital productivity tools to streamline insight generation, reporting, and stakeholder communication.


• Strong curiosity, growth mindset, and high learning agility.

The annual base pay for this position ranges from $195,469 to $293,203. 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.

Why AstraZeneca?

At AstraZeneca, we push the boundaries of science to deliver life-changing medicines. Joining our Global Insights, Analytics & Forecasting team means being part of a collaborative, innovative, and inclusive environment where your insights directly influence the future of our R&I portfolio and the patients we serve worldwide.

Date Posted

28-sept-2026

Closing Date

18-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.