Executive Director Clinical Operations, Program Management

AstraZeneca; Gaithersburg (MD); Hybrid; USD 305,000 - 457,000; Full time

Job summary

AstraZeneca plc in Gaithersburg, MD, USA seeks an Executive Director, Clinical Operations, Program Management to set the strategic direction for global clinical program delivery in oncology. You will lead a global community of program leaders, ensuring programs are planned, robust, and delivered on time, with quality and within budget.

You will strengthen governance, partner with Global Product and Global Clinical leaders, and mentor the next generation of Senior and Global Program Directors,

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent required.
• Advanced degree (Master's or PhD) preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to lead global teams and manage complex budgets.

Responsibilities

• Set strategic direction for global clinical program delivery.
• Ensure timely, high-quality execution within budget and scope.
• Lead and develop Senior Global Clinical Operations Program Directors.
• Forecast and manage cross-portfolio resourcing and budgets.
• Embed governance and drive cross-functional improvements.
• Manage external partnerships and expand customer interfaces.
• Escalate and mitigate program risks across the portfolio.
• Foster a performance-driven, diverse, global culture.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Communication skills

Stakeholder management

People leadership

Budget management

Global program mgmt

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

Advanced degree (Master's or PhD)

Job description

Job Title: Executive Director Clinical Operations, Program Management

Possible Locations in the USA:

• Gaithersburg, MD
• Boston, MA

Introduction to role:

Are you ready to set the strategic direction for global clinical program delivery that speeds life-changing medicines to people living with cancer?

Do you thrive on building high-performing teams, solving complex delivery challenges, and turning bold vision into measurable outcomes?

As Executive Director Clinical Operations, Program Management, you will lead a global community of program leaders across a fast-growing Oncology portfolio.

Your remit spans indications and late-stage development, ensuring programs are strategically planned, operationally robust, and delivered to time, quality, and budget.

You will drive standardization across a complex portfolio, serve as a key route for issue escalation and resolution, and strengthen how we interface with our internal and external customers—ultimately accelerating impact for patients.

You will partner closely with Global Product and Global Clinical leaders to embed rigorous governance and scenario planning, sponsor cross-functional improvement initiatives, and develop the next generation of Senior and Global Program Directors.

This role offers the platform, resources, and mandate to influence across the enterprise while staying grounded in delivery excellence.

Accountabilities:

• Strategic Direction and Communication: Communicate business priorities and vision; ensure adoption of globally agreed therapeutic area and clinical development strategies across programs and teams.
• Program Delivery and Operational Excellence: Ensure delivery of all operational and clinical development components of global clinical programs within scope; drive standardization and proactive mitigation to meet timelines and commitments.
• People Leadership and Capability Build: Line manage Senior Global Clinical Operations Program Directors and Global Clinical Operations Program Directors; recruit, develop, and performance manage talent; build capability and a performance-driven global culture.
• Resource and Portfolio Planning: Assign capable clinical operations resources to meet project demands in collaboration with capacity management; forecast and balance resourcing across a dynamic portfolio.
• Governance and Decision-Making: Be a core member of protocol and development review committees; ensure robust strategic and operational planning through governance; contribute to indication-level decisions.
• External Partner and Customer Interface: Lead and evolve the global customer interface and support model for the therapeutic area; strengthen partnerships with internal stakeholders and external providers to optimize delivery.
• Issue Escalation and Risk Management: Act as a key point of escalation for issues impacting across programs; anticipate risks and lead cross-functional mitigation and resolution.
• Cross-Functional Leadership and Change: Serve as an extended member of the late-stage leadership team; sponsor non-drug strategy and organizational infrastructure initiatives; catalyze cross-functional improvements and drive organizational change.
• Financial Stewardship: Deliver agreed departmental activities within budget, including management of FTEs; contribute to delivery model options that balance customer needs and efficiency.

Essential Skills/Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent
• At least 10 years of experience with late stage Oncology Drug Development ideally including time in role as a Senior Global Clinical Program Director (GCPD) or equivalent in a previous organizations.
• Line management expertise; experience of performance management of Associate Director level staff (experience of managing Director level staff desirable but not essential)
• Demonstrated development of others, identifying and providing opportunities to improve the capabilities of other people
• Functional experience in contributing meaningfully to Clinical Operations functional improvement initiatives that cross clinical programs
• Management experience, managing resourcing, budget planning and functional level activities
• Established and well-connected network with other TA Leaders, Development Operations Leadership and Early Development Oncology
• Professional excellence: Background of high professional achievement and willingness to encourage this in others
• Manages change with a positive approach; sees change as an opportunity to improve performance and add value to the business
• Influencing and stakeholder management
• Supplier/Partnership Management
• Excellent communication skills
• Demonstrated ability to set and manage priorities, resources, performance targets and project initiatives in a global environment
• Creative and Innovative: Seeks to improve continuously where it counts, based on good awareness of external competitive practice, and creativity and initiative
• Output/delivery focused - Maintains high standards, including a commitment to AstraZeneca values, policies and employment principles
• Is aware of and sensitive to cultural differences and their impact on communication, expectations and performance
• Teamwork and cross functional Collaboration: Is effective in leading and being a member of teams, both locally and internationally
• Willingness to travel domestically and internationally Desirable

Desired Skills/Experience:

• Advanced Degree (Master's or PhD)
• Significant experience in Clinical Development with knowledge of global operational program and study delivery
• Experience with with lung studies is a strong asset.
• Proven experience in project management
• Comprehensive knowledge of clinical and pharmaceutical drug development processes in Oncology
• Experience working internationally: working with major markets/resolution of international issues
• Business planning skills: has knowledge/experience of planning processes used in managing drug projects
• Risk and crisis management experience
• Experience of leading successful teams from more than one national culture
• Manage of cost centre/department budget and contribute to Clinical Operations budget management
• Manage project budget to threshold for assigned work packages

When we put unexpected teams in the same room, we unleash bold thinking with the power to inspire life-changing medicines.

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.

Competitive salary and benefits package on offer:

For the full time role, the annual base salary in for this position in the US, ranges from $304,856 - 457,285 USD. However, 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) or to receive a retirement contribution (hourly 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 salary (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: 30-Oct-2026

Closing Date: 17-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.