Associate Director, Emerging Innovations Unit

Location: Cambridge, UK

Competitive salary and excellent company benefits

Are you passionate about finding and implementing cutting-edge science and technology? Would you like to apply your expertise to impact the science and strategy of a company that follows the science and turns ideas into life changing medicines? If so AstraZeneca might be for you!

At AstraZeneca, we put patients first and strive to meet their unmet needs worldwide. Working here means being entrepreneurial, thinking big and working together to make the impossible possible.

In the Emerging Innovations Unit (EIU), within Discovery Sciences, we find and catalyse novel science and technology that could become the ‘Next Big Thing’ in drug discovery and development, with the aim of bringing new medicines and solutions to patients. We do this by working entrepreneurially with internal and external collaborators on new ideas that could have a big impact in Life Sciences.

We are now offering an exciting opportunity for a dedicated and highly motivated individual to join us in the role of Associate Director, Emerging Innovations Unit. The role is placed at AstraZeneca’s dynamic R&D site in Cambridge, UK. We believe that our success comes from the diversity of the people and experience in our team, and as such we welcome candidates from a diverse range of backgrounds. We will also consider bringing in a talented but less experienced member of the team who can grow and develop into this role.

What you’ll do

You will work on finding and catalysing some of the most exciting ideas at the cutting edge of science and technology. Reporting into the Director of Emerging Innovations you will manage the complex innovation process, finding and catalysing new ideas and leading impactful projects. As a specialist in your own field you will be able to identify a wide range of science, technology platforms and capabilities at the periphery of our current knowledge, and delve deep into the science behind them, quickly becoming an authority and teaching others. You will take ideas and create projects that teach us about their value, run a portfolio of innovation projects and lead small teams of internal and external colleagues, bringing in appropriate expertise where needed. You will also lead our flagship internal entrepreneurship programme to help your colleagues shape and execute their own innovative ideas.

You will be an adept verbal and visual communicator, explaining the science and strategy behind your projects to a varied audience, and pitching to senior leaders to get them excited about new ideas that will transform our business. You will need to be entrepreneurial, remaining open to new ways to get ideas off the ground and positive in driving exciting change.

Accountabilities include:

• Scouting to find the most exciting, cutting-edge science and technologies that will impact the global life sciences and healthcare industries
• Take a lead on developing new proposals and business cases to secure financial and scientific support ideas
• Managing a portfolio of projects, including our internal entrepreneurship programme designed to help colleagues fund and execute their innovative ideas
• Grow a network with the global entrepreneurial ecosystem and build relationships with key academic institutions, accelerators and specialists
• Communicate and educate the organisation on new science and technology trends, building awareness at all levels of the organization
• Manage risks and compliance at project level, ensuring research qualities aligns with AstraZeneca standards and policies
• May manage a team as responsibilities/team grows

Essential for the role:

• Strong scientific knowledge and experience, with an undergraduate or PhD degree in a relevant scientific field, or equivalent professional experience
• Business-relevant experience (e.g. management/strategy consulting, business development, tech transfer, VC etc.) with exposure to the Life Sciences and/or pharma industry
• Experience running and prioritising global projects or collaborations with impact at a functional level, involving multiple internal and external partners
• Evidence of ability to learn quickly, develop expertise, and initiate new projects in novel areas
• Excellent communication skills demonstrated through interactions with senior leaders (up to CEO-3 level)
• High proficiency with Microsoft Office applications

Desirable for the role:

• Experience scouting, analysing or working with disruptive science/technologies
• Experience structuring large amounts of information from a range of sources, including experience in due diligence or market analysis
• Experience working with start-ups, establishing a new company, technology transfer office or a start-up accelerator
• Existing network of VC or investment contacts in Cambridge/London

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 recognising their potential. Join us on our journey of building a new kind of organisation to reset expectations of what a bio-pharmaceutical company can be. This means we’re opening new ways to work, pioneering cutting edge methods and bringing unexpected teams together. Interested? Come and join our journey.

So what’s next?

Are you ready to bring new ideas and fresh thinking to the table? Brilliant! We have a seat available and we hope it’s yours.

This role is open from May 19th, 2022 and we welcome your application (including CV and cover letter), no later than June 12th, 2022.

Where can I find out more?

Our Social Media, Follow AstraZeneca on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/1603/

Follow AstraZeneca on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/astrazenecacareers/

Follow AstraZeneca on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/astrazeneca_careers/?hl=en

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.