Global Clinical Operations Program Director, Late Development Oncology

AstraZeneca GmbH; Gaithersburg (MD); Hybrid; USD 204,000 - 306,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Short-term incentive bonuses

Equity-based awards

Qualified retirement programs

Paid time off

Health, dental, and vision coverage

Job summary

AstraZeneca is seeking a Global Clinical Operations Program Director to lead late-stage oncology programs, shaping operational strategy for pivotal global studies across Phase 3 and post-approval. You will align internal experts and external partners to deliver regulator-ready evidence and real-world impact.

You will direct a matrix of cross-functional teams, translate objectives into concrete plans, and champion innovative delivery models to improve reliability, productivity and quality.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in medical or biological sciences; advanced degree preferred.
• 10+ years in pharma or a large multinational with program leadership.
• Experience with project management tools and processes.
• Clinical development experience across phases and therapeutic areas.
• Ability to mentor staff and lead teams.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Proven adaptability and ability to deliver in changing environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead cross-functional teams to plan and deliver a defined study program with scope, quality, budget and time.
• Provide strategic oversight of programs on behalf of senior leaders.
• Design and feasibility expertise for country selection and external partner strategy.
• Develop governance components and contribute to business cases with cost and timelines.
• Manage plans in reporting systems with clear performance targets.
• Resolve issues and drive delivery through internal and external partners.
• Lead submission teams for regulatory filings and marketing applications.
• Drive cross-functional delivery and serve as subject matter expert.
• Mentor and develop staff; champion new ways of working.
• Share best practices to raise performance across programs.

Skills

Program leadership

Cross-functional leadership

Change management

Stakeholder management

Data-driven decision making

Mentoring & staff development

Adaptability

Strategic thinking

Negotiation & collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in medical/biological sciences

Advanced degree preferred

Tools

PLANIT

Job description

Introduction to role:

Are you ready to steer late-stage oncology programs that set new standards of care and get medicines to patients faster? This is a chance to lead the operational strategy for pivotal global studies, bringing together design, feasibility and delivery so that science turns into regulator-ready evidence and real-world impact.

As Global Clinical Operations Program Director, you will direct a suite of studies across Phase 3 and post-approval, working through a global matrix of internal experts and external partners. You will translate program objectives into concrete, business-focused plans—meeting scope, quality, budget, and timelines—while championing innovative delivery models that raise reliability, productivity, and quality.

You will be at the center of a fast-moving pipeline, aligning cross-functional teams around clear milestones and risks, and ensuring decisions are grounded in data and patient outcomes. Can you see yourself shaping global study portfolios end-to-end, from country selection through submission, and coaching teams to deliver at pace and scale?

Accountabilities:

• Program Leadership: Lead cross-functional teams of experts to plan and deliver a defined program of studies and clinical activities to scope, quality, budget and time, including resource planning and risk management.




• Strategic Oversight: Work closely with global study leaders to provide strategic oversight of a program of studies on behalf of the Senior Global Clinical Operations Program Director and the Clinical Program Team.




• Operational Design and Feasibility: Provide clinical operations expertise on country selection, feasibility, operational design, risk and external partner strategy, applying innovative design and delivery models to accelerate start-up and strengthen governance interactions.




• Governance and Business Case Development: Develop core clinical operations components for governance with oversight of the Senior GPD; contribute cost, timelines, quality, feasibility and risk inputs to new business case opportunities.




• Financial and Resource Management: On behalf of the Clinical Program Team, manage clinical plans (cost, FTEs and timelines) in business reporting systems, such as PLANIT, with clear performance targets.




• Issue Resolution and Partner Management: Lead large or complex deliverables and proactively identify, solve or escape operational issues; drive delivery through internal teams and external partners (alliance partners, CROs, vendors and AROs) and act as the AstraZeneca point of escalation for externally managed studies.




• Submission Leadership: Provide project leadership and management to cross-functional Clinical Submission Teams to plan and execute the clinical components of marketing applications, aligning closely with other submission contributors.




• Cross-Functional Delivery: Lead cross-functional teams in delivery of assigned Clinical Program Team activities; serve as a subject matter expert across functional and cross-functional initiatives.




• People Development: Mentor, coach and support people development, promoting motivation and empowerment to achieve individual, team and organizational objectives.




• Change and Improvement: Lead or contribute to improvement and change projects within clinical operations and beyond; be an early adopter and ambassador for new ways of working, ensuring implementation and utilization of new initiatives.




• Networking and Best Practice: Actively network within and outside the therapeutic area, sharing best practices and lessons learned to raise performance across programs.

Essential Skills/Experience:

• Bachelors degree (or equivalent), preferably in medical or biological sciences or discipline associated with clinical research. Advanced degree is preferred.




• At least 10 years from within the pharmaceutical industry or similar large multinational organizations.




• Proven knowledge of project management tools and processes




• Proven experience in clinical development/drug development process in various phases of development and therapy areas.




• Proven ability to learn by working in multiple phases, TAs, and/or different development situations.




• Experience from leading clinical projects and deliverables or similar expertise from other areas of drug development (such as pharmaceutical development).




• Ability to mentor, develop and educate staff




• Proven leadership promoting motivation and empowerment of others in order to accomplish individual, team and organizational objectives




• Skilled & experienced in change management




• Ability to look for and champion more efficient and effective methods/processes of delivering clinical operations components focusing on key performance metrics around reliability, productivity, cost, and quality




• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, negotiation, collaboration and interpersonal skills with ability to work effectively with others at all levels of the organization




• Demonstrated ability to set and manage priorities, resources, performance targets and project initiatives in a regional and local environment




• Integrity and high ethical standards




• Excellent stakeholder management skills




• Adaptability

Desirable Skills/Experience:

• Project management certification is desirable but not mandatory.




• Knowledge of process improvement methodology such as Lean Sigma/Change Management is desirable but not mandatory




• Regulatory submission experience




• Proven knowledge of clinical operations,




• Experience with development and implementation of digital health initiatives in Clinical Studies

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. We balance the expectation of being in the office while respecting individual flexibility. Join us in our unique and ambitious world.

The annual base pay for this position ranges from $203,709.60 - 305,564.40. 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:

Here, you will help turn cutting-edge oncology science into therapies that change lives, partnering across disciplines—clinical, data, regulatory, manufacturing and external collaborators—to accelerate progress on a high-ambition pipeline. We combine bold goals with practical support: modern trial delivery models, advanced analytics, and a culture that values kindness alongside ambition. With multiple indications moving at pace and a clear focus on bringing several new medicines to patients in the near term, your leadership will directly shape global evidence packages and speed medicines through pivotal phases. This is a community where diverse expertise meets in the same room to spark smarter decisions, shorten cycle times and unlock breakthroughs for patients facing some of the toughest cancers.

Date Posted

17-Sept-2026

Closing Date

01-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.