Executive Director, Oncology Business Unit, Strategy

AstraZeneca GmbH; Gaithersburg (MD); On-site; USD 270,222 - 405,332; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Short-term incentive bonus opportunity

Equity-based long-term incentive program

401(k) retirement plan

Paid vacation and holidays

Health benefits (medical, dental, vision)

Job summary

AstraZeneca GmbH in Gaithersburg, Maryland seeks an Executive Director for Oncology Business Unit Strategy. In this pivotal role, you'll drive the oncology strategy with R&D and business units to enhance patient care and outcomes. Over 10 years in biopharmaceuticals and extensive oncology experience are vital.

This leadership role focuses on guiding teams, providing strategic recommendations, and managing tumor portfolios. Join us in our mission to eradicate cancer as a cause of death.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in biopharmaceuticals or related fields.
• Extensive experience in oncology.
• Strong scientific background and strategic analytical skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and implementation of oncology strategy.
• Provide insights-driven valuations to C-suite stakeholders.
• Produce rigorous forecasts for tumor pipeline assets.

Skills

Consultative skills

Communication skills

Analytical skills

Project management

Influence without authority

Education

MBA or PhD

PhD in life sciences

Job description

Introduction to role

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

• MBA or PhD
• 10+ years in biopharmaceuticals or related fields
• Extensive experience in oncology
• Strong consultative and communication skills
• A strong scientific background and strategic analytical skills
• Proven experience in pharmaceutical industry or consulting in which you have inputted to global pipeline strategy (market assessment, competitor analysis, forecasting)
• 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 $270,222 - $405,332. 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.

AstraZeneca embraces diversity and equality of opportunity. We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse team representing all backgrounds, with as wide a range of perspectives as possible, and harnessing industry‑leading skills. We believe that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be. We welcome and consider applications to join our team from all qualified candidates, regardless of their characteristics. We follow all applicable laws and regulations on non‑discrimination in employment (and recruitment), as well as work authorization and employment eligibility verification requirements.