MLR Planning Manager

AstraZeneca plc; Gaithersburg (MD); On-site; USD 151,000 - 227,000; Full time

Job summary

AstraZeneca plc is seeking an MLR Planning Manager in Gaithersburg, MD to orchestrate Medical, Legal, and Regulatory reviews for timely, compliant launch-ready assets. You will lead Day 0 planning, shape MLR strategy for congresses, and coach a team to keep reviews flowing smoothly.

The role requires 5–7 years of pharma marketing operations experience, strong leadership, and ability to drive cross-functional collaboration while maintaining high standards of accuracy and compliance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; pharma/healthcare experience preferred.
• Proven leadership of cross-functional teams and programs.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Experience managing supplier partners and external vendors.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities and timelines.
• Proactive, self-starter with solid project management skills.
• Ability to influence without formal authority.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end MLR reviews to ensure assets launch on schedule with medical accuracy and regulatory compliance.
• Build proactive cross-functional partnerships to align on brand priorities and maintain momentum.
• Champion adherence to Marketing Guide; coach teams on approval processes to reduce rework and cycle time.
• Define MLR planning strategy for new products and launches to ensure readiness upon approval.
• Set MLR planning for congresses and major brand activities; translate objectives into asset plans.
• Lead MLR Planning Associate team to prioritize assets and balance reviewer workload.
• Facilitate pre-MLR consults to align content owners and reviewers early, reducing late changes.
• Use PM tools to track progress, surface risks and communicate status to partners.
• Analyze data to identify bottlenecks and scale best practices for efficiency.

Skills

People leadership

Supplier management

Program management

Oral and written communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Project risk management

Influence without authority

Strategic initiative leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

PM platforms

Job description

MLR Planning Manager

Location: Gaithersburg, MD

Introduction to role

Are you ready to orchestrate the Medical, Legal, and Regulatory process so that breakthrough brand messages are approved and ready the moment labels launch? In this role, you connect science to market by ensuring every promotional and disease awareness asset is accurate, compliant and on time—so healthcare professionals and patients receive the right information at the right moment.

You will join a global team that powers launches and major brand landmarks by simplifying processes, using data to guide decisions and bringing diverse experts together to move fast without compromising standards. Can you align brand priorities with reviewer capacity to hit critical dates without sacrificing compliance or quality?

Your impact will be visible from day one: you will lead Day 0 planning for new products and indications, shape the MLR strategy for congresses and campaigns, and coach a team that keeps reviews flowing smoothly. Ultimately, your leadership will help transform innovative science into clear, compliant communications that advance patient care and build our brands.

Accountabilities

• End-to-End MLR Orchestration: Lead and coordinate timely review and approval of promotional and disease awareness materials, ensuring medical accuracy and regulatory compliance that enables assets to launch on schedule.


• Stakeholder Leadership: Build strong, proactive partnerships across Marketing, Medical, Legal, Regulatory, Agency and Content Delivery teams to align on brand priorities, resolve issues early and maintain momentum.


• Standards and Governance: Champion adherence to our Marketing Guide, acting as a subject matter expert on approval processes and compliance guidelines; coach teams on what “good” looks like to reduce rework and cycle time.


• Day 0 Launch Readiness: Define and implement the MLR planning strategy for new product and indication launches, data releases and label updates to ensure assets are ready for immediate deployment upon approval, aligned to brand strategy.


• Campaigns and Events: Set the MLR planning approach for congresses and other major brand activities; translate event objectives into a prioritized asset plan that manages reviewer capacity and protects critical path timelines.


• Team Leadership and Capacity Management: Lead an MLR Planning Associate team responsible for prioritizing assets, balancing reviewer workload, and maintaining visibility of progress and risks across portfolios.


• Consult Process Enablement: Facilitate pre-MLR consults so content owners and reviewers align on guidance upfront, decreasing late-stage changes and improving first-pass approval rates.


• Risk Management and Communication: Use PM platforms to track achievements, surface risks and communicate status clearly to partners; drive decisions that safeguard timelines and compliance.


• Continuous Improvement: Analyze review cycle data to identify bottlenecks, refine operating mechanisms and scale best practices that make the process more efficient and predictable across brands.

Essential Skills/Experience

• Bachelor's degree


• 5 – 7 years of relevant professional experience, with a focus on pharmaceutical marketing operations or healthcare related agency roles


• Demonstrated success in People leadership


• Experience with managing supplier partners


• Independent self-starter with demonstrated program management skillset


• Demonstrated strong oral and written communications


• Ability to effectively work in a cross-functional team environment


• Experience using various PM platforms to plan, manage and communicate project risks / progress


• Ability to lead and influence without formal authority


• Demonstrated success leading program management of strategic and/or business critical initiatives without formal authority

Desirable Skills/Experience

• Knowledge of the MLR process that ensures timely reviews and approval of assets that are accurate and compliant


• Experience with Digital and Omnichannel campaigns


• Understanding of scientific and/or commercial marketplace respective to biopharmaceutical therapeutic area(s)

The annual base pay for this position ranges from $151,081 to $226,662. 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.

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.

Why AstraZeneca

Here, your expertise turns transformative science into market-ready communications that benefit patients worldwide. You will work with talented colleagues across disciplines, using modern tools, automation and data to simplify processes and speed decisions. We bring diverse perspectives together to solve tough problems, value kindness alongside ambition, and back bold ideas with practical support—so you can lead complex launches, refine how we work and see the real-world impact of your decisions.

Step into this pivotal role and lead the engine that converts science into timely, compliant communications that shape brands and improve patient outcomes!

Date Posted: 09-Nov-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.