Associate Director of Project and Portfolio Management - Biologics Operations

At AstraZeneca we work together across global boundaries to make an impact and find answers to challenges. We do this with the upmost integrity even in the most difficult situations because we are committed to doing the right thing. We continuously forge partnerships that help pursue world-class medicines in new ways, combining our people’s exceptional skills with those of people from all over the globe. 

As a member of the Global Biologics Operations Strategy & PMO leadership team based in Gaithersburg, MD Project & Portfolio Lead will provide expert project management leadership to deliver key strategic projects, coaching and leadership to a team of project managers as well as supporting the Director PMO with strategy deployment, portfolio analytics and scenario planning.  

This role will work closely with the other members of the Strategy & PMO leadership team to drive prioritization, that projects are delivered on-time, on-budget and in adherence with quality and compliance standards. The role will own the Biologics Project Management tools, template, processes and methodology and collaborate closely with Biologics manufacturing site PMOs to share and integrate standard ways of working where appropriate.  The Project and Portfolio Lead will also provide focused and targeted portfolio insights, analyses and recommendations that inform portfolio direction setting, decision-making and prioritization of investments in line with short, medium and long-term Biologic Operations strategy to drive business growth. 

The scope of project management includes strategic drug projects, non-drug projects (Operations 2025) and selective IT initiatives/programs. 

Main Responsibilities: 

Portfolio Management & Analytics: 

• Deliver analyses and scenario planning options that contextualize and support governance decision-making.  Aggregate the portfolio of wait-list projects and develop prioritized options for Sr Director Strategy & PMO. 

• Partner with Project Sponsors and business owners to support project initiation, business case preparation and governance review forums to enable a consistent approach to portfolio review and optimization. 

• Certify that candidate projects meet the correct business case standards. 

• Support the consistent use of portfolio management practices as related to governance preparations, resource capacity management, and utilization/leveraging of project planning & portfolio systems. 

• Ensure data quality for both Product and non-product related projects are fit for purpose to enable robust portfolio analyses and reports, including conducting annual review areas for focus and improvement. 

• Manage the monthly dashboard/KPI portfolio process. 

• Deliver a full and integrated suite of portfolio reports, analyses and communications that collectively track status versus business goals, portfolio progress and efficiency 

• Support external stakeholder reporting activities on the Biologic operations portfolio and performance. 

Strategy 

• Supports the Sr. Director Strategy & PMO with Global Biologics Operations annual strategy deployment process, drives strategic transformation, strategic planning, budget and business planning cycle for function, defines project resources, performance reviews and post implementation evaluations and reviews high-level deliverables across business area. 

• Manages the strategic aspects of large projects. Prepares mitigation plans and reports risk issues. 

• Manages interdependencies between programs and ensures successful delivery and coordination of workstreams. 

Project Management Leadership: 

• Ownership and continued improvement of the biologics PMO project management methodologies, processes, systems and data quality. 

• Ensure alignment of processes with Biologic PMO site networks, looking to simplify and standardize where appropriate. 

• Create, manage and identify opportunities for continuous improvement related to Project management metrics and KPIs and the impacts that will have on the project teams and the portfolio. 

• Develop lean capabilities across the team, meeting the expectations of the Lean Capability Framework. 

• Drive capabilities uplift across the team with a future readiness focus and supporting individual development plans. 

Project Management Delivery: 

• Manages and delivers Global Biologics Operations strategic projects utilizing the PMO project methodology, tools and processes, to meet agreed scopes, timelines, deliverables, budgets, resource estimates, and success criteria. 

• Seasoned professional at leading and managing cross-functional/site project teams to deliver successful projects (can be drug product or non-drug product strategic projects) 

• Creates and executes project work plans and revises as appropriate to meet changing needs and requirements to ensure deliverables are met effectively and efficiently 

• Manages relationships with key business stakeholders and ensures that business requirements are effectively captured and the impact of project/programmes are understood by the business 

• Builds and leads project teams, communicating roles and responsibilities whilst encouraging teamwork and collaboration amongst the team and business stakeholders 

• Applies highly developed specialist knowledge and skills in project management, project planning, budgets, risk management and methodologies 

Essential Requirements: 

• Bachelors Degree in an appropriate discipline 

• Professional qualification - PMP 

• Mastery of project management with an ability to lead cross functional working groups and team of project management professionals. 

• Proven leadership capabilities and experience promoting, motivating and empowering others to accomplish individual, team and organizational objectives. 

• Significant understanding and proven use of the project & portfolio management process & tools (MS Project, Smartsheet, Planisware, Qlikview) 

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

• Demonstrate strong communication and relationship building skills with experience of collaborating and sharing knowledge between teams. 

• Strong networking/consulting skills with good internal/external connections of project management professionals. 

• Strong analytical, organizational and communication skills (written and verbal) required. 

Desirable: 

• Masters in appropriate discipline 

• Experience of working in a global organization with complex/geographical context 

• Experience of preparation, planning and execution of Biologic product launches. 

• Advanced knowledge of Portfolio Management tools/systems 

• Portfolio Management Qualification (PfMP)