Head of Portfolio Strategy & Management for Respiratory & Immunology, Global Portfolio & Project Management

Job Title: Head of Portfolio Strategy & Management for Respiratory & Immunology, Global Portfolio & Project Management

Global Career Level - Executive Director

Location: This role offers the flexibility to be located in Cambridge, UK - Boston, US - Gaithersburg, US and Gothenburg, Sweden.

Introduction to role

AstraZeneca is a global, science-led, patient-focused biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery, development, and commercialization of prescription medicines for some of the world’s most serious diseases. As a global company in high growth, you will be involved in opportunities across the entire business. We strive to meet our patients’ needs, and our priorities will sometimes fluctuate. This means we are comfortable with change and responding to shifting needs, while being mindful of the impact on other projects and roadmaps across the business. Global Portfolio and Project Management (GPPM) is a global organization of approximately 250 employees that powers the progression of our pipeline, company strategy, and annual business cycle. The focus of the group includes enterprise-wide Portfolio Management, Strategic Planning, R&D Pipeline Project Management, Pipeline Governance (ESPC/LSPC), Data Analytics & Decision Support, Portfolio Systems, and Project Information Management. GPPM touches all aspects of project delivery and decision-making across the entire AZ pipeline.

Accountabilities

As the Head of Portfolio Strategy & Management for R&I, you will work collaboratively with the Therapeutic Area Leadership team (TALT) to develop and implement the TA Strategy for the Respiratory & Immunology TA in BioPharmaceuticals. You will proactively drive strategic engagement with senior leaders across R&D and Commercial to ensure an end-to-end approach from research through early and late-stage development in delivering a compelling and differentiated strategy for our Respiratory and Immunology portfolio. Further, you will work to ensure that GPPM delivery - including project delivery, prioritization, scorecard, governance, and reporting - are aligned to the SET-endorsed R&I strategy. In this role, you will have the opportunity to engage and work with key R&D and in-line brand teams within the R&I TA to ensure strategic alignment with AZ portfolio and help ensure readiness for governance reviews and decisions. Excellent cross-functional leadership experience and strong influencing skills, as well as an extensive knowledge of drug development and commercialization, are key. You must be able to represent strategic portfolio thinking across early, late, and in-market assets. Demonstrably strong skills in critical thinking, decision making, communication, enterprise leadership, problem-solving, influencing, and collaboration across both R&D and commercial are crucial. You will be required to understand and apply a broad range of decision-making and data analytics tools, plus look at opportunities to optimize ways of working in alignment with the broader enterprise.

Essential Skills/Experience

• Partners with the cross-functional Therapeutic Area Leadership Team (TALT) to drive development of the overall R&I TA strategy for AstraZeneca. Ensures the portfolio is prioritized and scenarios around prioritization, risk, and value are considered.
• Drives development of the strategic components that underpin the overall TA strategy. This includes evolution of disease or technology-specific strategies unique to the TA, new LCM opportunities development, BD opportunity development and support.
• Develops deep understanding of key issues within the TA and ensures the R&I portfolio team effectively uses decision-making tools and portfolio assessment/analytics to clarify complex project, product & portfolio issues.
• Works directly with GPT and commercial brand teams as needed to enhance strategic plans and support portfolio perspective, understanding governance expectations, technical/risk reviews, helping teams to have successful interactions with TALT and corporate governance.
• Uses TA and wider enterprise knowledge to help drive quality decision making at the TALT. Actively participates during TALT investment decisions.
• Key understanding of portfolio management systems and tools that enables R&I team to leverage for optimized decision making both at the project and portfolio level.
• Responsible for inputs/outputs for regular portfolio reviews at the TA/Senior Executive Team level. Accountable for portfolio metrics/performance reporting and driving quality of the portfolio information/data in conjunction with project leaders.
• Ensures both risk and opportunities are regularly assessed.

Essential criteria

• A BA/BSc degree with a minimum of 10 years proven experience in healthcare consulting, banking or other strategic roles within the biopharma industry
• A passion for science – with a curiosity about how current scientific advancements will impact patient care in 10-15 years
• Strong strategic thinking, decision making, and problem solving
• Enterprise leadership skills, including demonstrable ability to influence without authority across a matrixed, global environment
• Excellent analytical, organizational and communication skills (written and verbal)
• Proven teamwork ability, routinely facilitating the exchange of ideas
• Demonstrated ability to bring ideas to action and be accountable as required
• Demonstrates the ability to work autonomously with minimal guidance or supervision.

Desirable Skills/Experience

• An advanced degree (MBA or PhD)
• Pipeline experience
• Global experience
• Scientific background

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!

At AstraZeneca, you will be supported by individuals who possess outstanding knowledge and work in close partnership with one another. Agile and collaborative, we work cross-functionally to succeed as one. This is a place of great passion and pride where we build successful, inclusive, and diverse teams that collaborate across the enterprise and beyond. We strive for better by encouraging new ideas and embracing failure as part of our innovation process. Our culture of recognition and reward means we feel supported and empowered to take initiative. With all the tools you need to succeed, including constructive coaching, there’s no better place to take ownership of your career.

Ready to make a difference? Apply now!

Date Posted

23-Jan-2025

Closing Date

30-Jan-2025

Our 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.