Executive Director, Oncology Business Unit, Strategy

AstraZeneca plc; Gaithersburg (MD); On-site; USD 268,000 - 402,000; Full time

Job summary

AstraZeneca plc is seeking an Executive Director, Oncology Business Unit Strategy to lead the integrated strategy for our oncology portfolio. You will partner with Oncology R&D and global franchise teams to shape a best-in-class pipeline and drive data‑driven investments that improve patient outcomes.

You will engage senior leaders, chair key forums, and oversee forecasts, TA scenarios, and governance across the portfolio. This role is based in Gaithersburg and requires in‑office collaboration.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree including Master's or MBA.
• 10+ years in pharma/biotech strategy or related consulting/industry roles.
• Extensive oncology knowledge with strategic and commercial insight.
• Strong consultative and communication skills with data-driven decision making.
• Ability to influence senior stakeholders without formal authority.
• Experience in multi-geography settings and regulatory/pricing dynamics.

Responsibilities

• Set integrated oncology strategy across tumor areas and indications.
• Provide insights-driven valuations and strategic recommendations to C-suite.
• Lead tumor portfolio leadership and chair tumor forums.
• Direct market research, forecasting, and insights for global brand strategies.
• Deliver rigorous pipeline forecasts with clear risk and opportunity context.

Skills

Oncology strategy

Executive leadership

Strategic analytics

Cross-functional collaboration

Stakeholder management

Forecasting

Communication

Data-driven decision making

Fast-paced environment

Scientific/biotech background

Education

Advanced degree (Master's or MBA)

Job description

Drive innovation and impact at AstraZeneca by leading strategy for our industry-leading oncology pipeline. Collaborate with R&D and the Oncology Business Unit to shape and deliver cutting‑edge therapies that improve patient outcomes and bring us closer to eradicating cancer.

As Executive Director, Oncology Business Unit (OBU) Strategy, you will lead a high‑impact agenda at the intersection of science, medicine, and business. Working with a team of experts across Oncology R&D and the OBU, you will be responsible for creating and implementing strategies to deliver an industry‑leading and innovative oncology pipeline that improves patient care and outcomes. These strategies will be built through rigorous analyses, actionable insights, innovative thinking, and cross‑functional teamwork. This is an opportunity for a motivated, collaborative, data‑driven leader to help AstraZeneca advance its bold ambition to one day eradicate cancer as a cause of death.

Accountabilities

• Set integrated oncology strategy: Lead development and implementation of therapy area, tumour, and indication strategies that align into a single, company‑wide oncology strategy with Oncology R&D and global franchise partners.
• Engage senior leadership: Provide disciplined, insights‑driven valuations and strategic recommendations to C‑suite stakeholders to guide portfolio and investment decisions.
• Own tumor portfolio leadership: Serve as the single point of contact and single voice for OBU tumor strategy, chairing bimonthly tumor forums and establishing best practices and transparent coverage across priority tumors (e.g., Breast, Lung).
• Drive commercial analytics and forecasting: Lead market research, forecasting, and insight generation to shape global brand strategies, R&D decisions, supply planning, and TA scenario analyses across multiple GPTs and assets.
• Deliver robust pipeline forecasts: Produce rigorous, assumption‑based forecasts for all tumor pipeline assets through the annual cycle, clearly articulating risks, opportunities, and context for senior leaders.
• Ensure process excellence and governance: Drive clarity and consistency across key business processes (forecast reviews, investment cases, TA/portfolio reviews, business and audit reviews), including partnering with Finance VPs on annual impairment assessments.
• Navigate complex development and market dynamics: Integrate study designs, TPPs, CDPs, combination strategies, competitive and pricing landscapes, and stage‑specific disease strategies to inform prioritization and investment.
• Steward major investments and opportunities: Lead large investment requests and business opportunity assessments to optimize value creation across evolving tumor markets.
• Lead and influence across the enterprise: Guide and develop Directors/Associate Directors, maintain trusted partnerships with clinical, commercial and strategy leaders, and influence senior stakeholders across OBU and Oncology R&D without formal authority.

Essential Skills/Experience

• Advanced degree including Master's or MBA
• 10+ years relevant experience including pharmaceutical industry, consulting, equity research or similar in which you have contributed to global pipeline strategy (market assessment, competitor analysis, forecasting)
• Extensive depth in oncology
• Strong consultative and communication skills
• A strong scientific background and strategic analytical skills; excellent analysis and fact‑based decision‑making; experience with data and/or a science research/ bio‑pharmaceutical environment
• Highly intellectually capable with agility and adaptability
• Motivated by working in a fast‑paced field with clear societal impact
• Understanding of general business and core marketing principles and application to future healthcare market challenges
• Familiar with the oncology drug development process and necessary strategic and commercial touch points
• Able to influence without authority and establish and maintain credibility with senior audiences
• Resourceful, motivated, decisive and proactive; must be able to manage multiple priorities in a fast‑growing organization;
• Attention to detail but also a big picture thinker & communicator
• A critical thinker with experience of identifying and driving key projects and providing researched, verified, relevant information to leaders.

Preferred Skills/Experience

• PhD in life sciences
• Experience of setting up short- and long‑term strategic plans
• Understanding of clinical data and clinical trial design
• Experience in at least two major geographies (e.g. US, EU, Japan, China)
• Thorough understanding of regulatory and pricing dynamics in major markets

The annual base pay for this position ranges from $267,914 to $401,870. 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.

In‑Office Working Requirements

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. This role is based in Gaithersburg MD, USA. We are unable to accommodate alternative locations, remote or travel constructs for this roles.

Date Posted

22-Oct-2026

Closing Date

12-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.