Are you an experienced Molecular Biologist with a passion to apply your skills andbring technical expertise and scientific innovation to develop early disease diagnostics for usein aclinicalsetting?If so, this could be the role for you!

AstraZenecadelivers companion and complementary diagnostic assays that match medicines to those patients who are most likely to benefit from them. This approach, known as Precision Medicine, is based on those individual characteristics that make some patients respond to treatment better than others. We use this knowledge to develop diagnostic tests that doctors can use to help prescribe the best treatment for each patient.

As a Manager,Molecular Diagnostics Sciencein ctDNA Diagnostics, you will use your knowledge of ctDNAand other ground breakingtechnologies and approaches(Next Generation Sequencing (NGS), Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS), Whole Exome Sequencing (WES), Minimal Residual Disease (MRD)etc.) to provide scientific andtechnical expertise to deliver innovative ctDNAdiagnostic approaches to AstraZeneca’s clinical portfolio, through strategic partnerships with leading diagnostic companies.

The role holder will be accountable for:

• Being responsible for the delivery ofctDNAdiagnostic science and innovation projects, through close collaboration withthe cross-functionalctDNAteam

• Building and maintaining a knowledge of current and new technologies in ctDNA diagnostics, with a particular focus on oncology, and seeing opportunities for innovation and internal/external collaborations

• Evaluating the performance of novel ctDNA diagnostics for prognosis and Minimal Residual Disease, through delivery of diagnostic feasibility and harmonisation studies

• Developing innovative ctDNAdiagnostic science proposals across core therapeutic areas

• Providingscientific and strategic feedback into ctDNA-basedprecision medicine approaches for diagnostic and drug product teams

• Ensuring that all activities are delivered demonstrating behaviours and values aligned to AstraZeneca Code of Conduct and supporting policies, standards and procedures, including compliant management of Budget, Safety, Health and Environment

Typical Accountabilities, what you will be doing:

Strategic direction

• Make a marked contribution to overall ctDNA diagnosticstrategy toidentifyand evaluate diagnostic partners who can further the mission of AZ diagnostic and drug product teams

• Deliver scientific and strategic advice to the development and execution ofctDNAdiagnostic science projectsand feasibility studies to advise internal decision-making, as well asaddress barriers to meet the needs of patients, physicians, regulators and payers and give to AZ drug products

• Obtain and lead investment to enable ctDNAdiagnostic innovation and science work packages

• Deliver advice of high scientific quality on ctDNA diagnostic testing options for precision medicine approaches and companiondiagnostic development to relevant product teams

Leadership

• Provide leadership for delivery of ctDNAdiagnostic science within AstraZeneca’s Precision Medicine and Biosamples department, including communication of a clear and inspirational vision forctDNAdiagnostic science strategy

• Draw upon previous experience and knowledge to provideand maintaina relevant knowledge base of ctDNAdiagnostic development and new technologies for the Molecular Diagnostics, Precision Medicine and project teams

Planning, Monitoring and Delivering

• Ensure delivery of objectives and milestones for ctDNAdiagnostic innovation andscience projects, including sourcing and tracking of human biological samples for feasibility studies and managing collaborations

• Accountable for the delivery of ctDNAdiagnostic innovation and science projects to time, budget and quality

Assessing and Handling Risk

• Provide regular updates on progress, risks, issues and opportunities to Molecular Diagnostic team, ctDNA team, governance bodies or leadership teams as the need arises

• Work with Molecular Diagnostics leadership team

• Masters / PhD or equivalent experience in a relevant subject

• Record of delivery in a scientific capability

• Leadership ability and global team working

• Excellent molecular biology skills including experience in Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS), ctDNA, DNA and RNA handling methodsand other relevant molecular biology, genomics and/or epigenomics techniques

• Excellent knowledge of current technology trends in ctDNAdiagnostics

• Excellent knowledge of scientific literature with deep understanding in molecular biology, ctDNAdiagnostics,demonstrated through publications in peer reviewed journals

• Experience of leading projects within a molecular biology, diagnostic or drug development organisation

• Experience of working with external partners or collaborators (ideally academic investigators and diagnostic companies)and in large cross-functional teams to drive timely and successful outcomes, through effectively working across internal and external boundaries.

• Ability to communicate with cross-functional stakeholders for project updates through oral presentations and progress reports

• Ability to identify risks and escalate appropriately

• Good interpersonal skills and ability to act as an ambassador for Precision Medicine internally and externally

• Can work in multidisciplinary teams/projects and can influence across disciplines

• Ability to manage change and uncertainty

• Good understanding of epigenomics and methylation-based diagnostics

• Demonstrable experience of analytical diagnostic assay validation and use in a clinical testing setting

• Demonstrable experience of successful scientific proposal applicationsincluding resource and budget planning

• Good computational and data analysis skills enabling automated/semi-automated analysis of large datasets (e.g. using software and programming languages such as R, Python, knime or equivalent)

• Good understanding of oncology

• Knowledge of requirements related to handling of Human Biological Samples

• Proven experience of delivery and use of data for diagnostic projects for regulatory submissions

• Experience of leading projects within a diagnostic or drug development organisation.

Next steps, if you feel you are suitable for the role please apply!

Why AstraZeneca?

At AstraZeneca when we see an opportunity for change, we seize it and make it happen, because any opportunity no matter how small, can be the start of something big. Delivering life-changing medicines is about being entrepreneurial - finding those moments and recognizing their potential. Join us on our journey of building a new kind of organization to reset expectations of what a bio-pharmaceutical company can be. This means we’re opening new ways to work, pioneering innovative methods and bringing unexpected teams together. Interested? Come and join our journey.

So, what’s next?

A place built on courage, curiosity and collaboration – we make bold decisions driven by patient outcomes. Empowered to lead at every level, free to ask questions and take calculated risks that write the next chapter for our pipeline. If you are inspired by the possibilities, don’t hesitate in submitting