Location: Central Cambridge (UK)/Gaithersburg (USA)

Salary: Competitive with Excellent Flexible Employee Benefits

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.

Our Medical Affairs function ensures the best patient outcomes by providing healthcare decision-makers around the world with the evidence and confidence they need on AstraZeneca (AZ) therapies and supports our internal partners with medical insight and expertise.

Reporting directly to the VP Medical Head of Vaccines and Immune Therapies, the Head of External Scientific Relations will deliver an external scientific engagement strategy for AstraZeneca across the Vaccines and Immune Therapies portfolio. This will include leading and managing AZ Infectious Diseases engagement with Key External Experts, medical society partnerships and sponsored research networks. You will also represent AstraZeneca at key industrial consortia, lead strategic advocacy initiatives and define and lead the strategy for AZ’s Global Infectious Diseases Leadership Forum and all V&I congress activities.

Typical Accountabilities:

Advances reputation of AstraZeneca and the V&I Medical Affairs organization:

• Build, lead and manage V&I Medical Affairs’ external engagement strategy in partnership with the Medical Leads for the asset / disease area

• Drive strategic advocacy initiatives Globally, including ensuring local & regional activities are aligned to Global strategy

• Define AZ’s involvement with all relevant Medical & Scientific societies, research networks, including NITAGs (National Immunization Technical Advisory Groups)

• Represent AZ in strategically-relevant industrial consortia partnerships/collaborations and at corporate Boards of Professional societies and organisations

• Co-ordinate GMA activities with regional Medical Affairs congresses and internal events

• Enhance the reputation of AZ, communicate therapeutic area medical strategy

• Initiate and drive new Academic/Clinical collaborations

• Chair/Co-Chair/Moderate AZ V&I Global Advisory Boards

• Support and develop Medical Education initiatives including congress symposia and standalone scientific events

2) Supports therapeutic area in development of External Medical Relations

• Drives AZ leadership through collaborative relationships with external organizations and professional bodies

• Representation at key congresses and professional meetings

3) Manage scientific projects agreed by the V&I Medical Leadership team

4) Pro-active member of V&I Medical Affairs leadership team and leads the External Scientific Engagement team

Minimum Requirements:

• Significant experience and expertise in the relevant Therapy Area required (Infectious Diseases; Immunology; Vaccinology; Microbiology)

• Strong working relationships with Global leaders in Vaccines and Immune Therapies.

• Experience leading project teams with a track record of delivering results.

• Strong demonstration of strategic and scientific presentations at therapeutic area meetings

• Demonstrated track record in executing scientific engagement plans, delivering new initiatives, capabilities and leading large scale impactful medical initiatives desired

Preferred:

• MD or PhD with clinical expertise in the relevant Therapy Area (Infectious Diseases, Clinical Microbiology, Clinical Immunology, Haematology)

• Demonstrated success in building and implementing strategic roadmaps

• Experience in medical/scientific affairs, product and portfolio strategy, working with clinical development, life cycle management, business development and/or early assets

• Experience leading and managing in a global, matrix environment

Skills and Capabilities

• Strong executive presence and ability to work collaboratively with global executive teams and leadership

• Significant experience of presenting to senior leadership; persuasive oral and written communication skills, including the ability to develop and deliver executive presentations

• Proven ability to collaborate with internal and external colleagues in various geographies, cultures, roles, and hierarchic levels – enterprise leadership mentality

• Understanding of the complex and evolving Medical Affairs space with insights about trends, opportunities, risks, and an understanding of external partners (payers, patients, physicians)

• Ability to fluidly flex between high level strategy and detailed tactics as required

• Strong analytical mind-set and ability to quickly assess large amounts of information and distil into key messages and actions

• Integrity and high ethical standards

So, what’s next!

Are you already imagining yourself joining us? Good, because we can’t wait to hear from you!

Additional information

Our Company Values & Behaviors underpin everything we do so please take a moment to familiarize yourself with them. You may also want to check out our new R&D Video showing how we turn Science into Medicines. Covid-19 Resources

More information about our sites:

Cambridge, UK

Gothenburg, Sweden

Gaithersburg, US

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

Date Posted

Closing Date

AstraZeneca embraces diversity and equality of opportunity. We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse team representing all backgrounds, with as wide a range of perspectives as possible, and harnessing industry-leading skills. We believe that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be. We welcome and consider applications to join our team from all qualified candidates, regardless of their characteristics. We comply with all applicable laws and regulations on non-discrimination in employment (and recruitment), as well as work authorization and employment eligibility verification requirements.