Director, Global Project Management

About AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca is a global, science-led, patient-focused biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery, development, and commercialisation of prescription medicines for some of the world’s most serious diseases. But we’re more than one of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies.

At AZ, we’re proud to have an exceptional workplace culture that encourages innovation and collaboration. Here, employees are empowered to express diverse perspectives – and made to feel valued, energized and rewarded for their ideas and creativity. AZ is a place where passionate people can immerse themselves in their work and make significant contributions to scientific excellence and medicines – does this describe a place where you would like to work?

The Director of Global Project Management (GPM) is a key leadership position and global role accountable for the management of global cross functional drug development teams and sub-teams towards achieving key strategic objectives and delivering significant  research, development, regulatory and commercial milestones. The GPM holds a senior, central position, with a complete view of the drug project, working across all functions. This role complements the Global Project Leader, by providing top level oversight and integration of the entire development process relevant to early or late stage

 

Depending on the stage of development and project complexity, the GPM will work on one or more (early or late) Global Project Teams (GPTs).  Collaborating closely with the GPL and functional leads, the GPM is accountable  integrating best in class project management standards and practices within the GPT and AstraZeneca. The GPM is a strategic partner to the Global Project Leader/Global Franchise Head and the entire GPT.  Projects are likely to be more complex and may include new or multiple disease areas, new modalities, strategic partner alliances/acquisitions/in-licensing and multiple parallel clinical studies

 

The Director GPM is highly visible and influential and is critical to the delivery of strategic and operational objectives.  It plays an important role ensuring successful delivery of innovative medicines to patients throughout the drug development process.

Typical Accountabilities:

Strategic Business partnering

•        Provides global program management leadership and excellence through active input into the project strategy & vision,  and navigates the therapy area and corporate governance processes.

•        Ensuring alignment of the project strategy with operational delivery

•        Shares lessons learned and communicates those throughout the GPM community to ensure integration of knowledge beyond the GPT

•        May manage or lead the drug project strategy as delegated by Global Product Leader

•        Ensures appropriate linkages between project strategy and key internal processes (TA strategy, TA prioritization, corporate scorecard) and updates the relevant enterprise systems

•        Where applicable, interface with alliance partners and manage joint alliance forums

•        Partners with Business Development to provide strategic input to potential deal cases (investment & divestment) 

 

Cross-functional Team Leadership and Delivery

•        Leads project management of cross functional drug development teams and ensures delivery to plan

•        Acts as a core GPT team member and drives efficient operation of early and/or late-stage GPTs including overall plans, priorities, budget and risk management

•        Accountable for driving an effective, efficient team environment, creating a shared sense of purpose, inspiring and energising others to build and maintain a cohesive High Performing Team

•        Coaches GPT towards successful decision making and issue resolution.

•        Focuses the GPT and relevant sub-teams  on the right activities at the right time and can handle most challenging project situations.

•        Designs, implements, and optimizes effective communication within and outside the team. Coordinates with corporate communications and team Comms representative to manage the team’s external communication plan.

•        Accountable for ensuring the team has a good information management system in line with AZ best practice.

•        Responsible for data quality as per agreed standards

 

Governance and Investment Decisions

•        Directs GPT towards effective governance decisions (e.g. Phase IDs, project revisions, etc.)

•        Provides guidance to both the team and senior management / governance bodies that allows efficient (timely and informed) decision making

•        Leverages broad influential network and ensures engagement at all levels prior to key decisions

 

Planning, Monitoring and Delivery

•        Ensures that overall GPT deliverables, budgets, schedules, and performance standards are realistically set, governance approved and attained, and that the project effectively fulfills all information management and business reporting requirements.

•        Maintains plans of the highest data quality, accountable for all Project Management deliverables associated with GPTs  and project teams or sub-teams

 

Entrepreneurship

•        Leads by example in learning, innovation, cross-functional and cross-TA collaboration and conflict resolution; seeks opportunities to change paradigm and removes barriers within and outside the team.

•        Advocates company best practices and adoption of new project management practices.

•        Applies extensive business acumen to drive cross-functional and cross project learning,

•        Champion and embed better ways of working across the enterprise, proactively promote learning and development of peers and more junior colleagues through mentorship and knowledge sharing.  Help establish new company best practices.

Education, Qualifications, Skills and Experience

Essential :

·  Bachelor’s degree with 8+ years of experience supporting cross-functional drug development teams or leading sub-teams

·  Experienced in project management with successful track record of delivering complex/ high business impact drug development projects within agreed time, quality and cost.

·  Ability to motivate, lead and inspire high performing teams

·  Excellent working knowledge of project management tools and processes.

·  Experience ensuring high quality data in enterprise systems

·  Proven track record of effective Senior Stakeholder management, demonstrating strong ability to influence strategically

·  Ability to mentor, develop and educate team members

·  Strong information management skills, including use of modern collaboration tools such as SharePoint, Microsoft Teams and OneNote

Experience ensuring high quality data in enterprise systems.

Desirable :

·  Advanced degree in a scientific discipline and / or MBA

·  10+ years’ relevant experience

·  In-depth knowledge of drug development process with therapeutic area specific knowledge and experience

·  Project Management (PMP) Certification

Our Gaithersburg, Maryland facility creates life-changing medicines for people around the world. This campus employs more than 3,500 experts in our field and is only a short drive from Washington, DC. This modern and vibrant scientific campus is the home of R&D and Oncology in the US. Here, we play host to some of the most cutting-edge technology and lab spaces, all designed to inspire collaboration and cross-functional science. We believe employees benefit from being challenged and inspired at work. We are dedicated to creating a culture of inclusion and collaboration.

The Gaithersburg site offers a variety of amenities to help boost productivity and help keep our employees happy and healthy. This includes a fitness center, employee healthcare clinic, electric vehicle charging stations, dry cleaning, full-service cafeteria and copy center. This is where you’ll find newly-designed, activity-based work spaces to suit a variety of working styles while increasing collaboration between teams.

“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 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 $167,772 to $251,658. 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.

Date Posted

23-Jan-2025

Closing Date

05-Feb-2025Our mission is to build an inclusive and equitable environment. We want people to feel they belong at AstraZeneca and Alexion, starting with our recruitment process. We welcome and consider applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of characteristics. We offer reasonable adjustments/accommodations to help all candidates to perform at their best. If you have a need for any adjustments/accommodations, please complete the section in the application form.