Director, Global Project Management- Late Stage Oncology

Director, Global Project Management, Late Stage Oncology

Gaithersburg, MD 

Global Portfolio & Project Management

Hybrid Work- on average 3 days a week from office

The Global Portfolio & Project Management (GPPM) group is critical for the delivery of AstraZeneca’s 2030 Ambition.  GPPM drives the acceleration of our pipeline while ensuring data-driven and effective R&D and portfolio decisions.  We're currently seeking a Director, Global Project Management (GPM) to support the Late-Stage Oncology team on a key asset in our Immuno-Oncology portfolio.

This 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 Director, 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 for a key asset in our late-stage clinical program.  

What you'll do
 

Program Strategic Alignment

• 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 and operational delivery

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

• Collaborate with alliance partners and manage joint alliance forums
   

Team Leadership and Delivery

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

• Serves as a core team member and drives efficient operation of the project teams including overall plans, priorities, budget and risk management

• Accountable for driving an effective, efficient team environment, creating a shared sense of purpose, inspiring and energizing others to build and maintain a cohesive high-performing team

• Coaches GPT (Global Product Team) 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. 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 standard process
   

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

• Uses 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 with 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 paradigms and removes barriers within and outside the team

• Advocates the company’s standard processes and adoption of new project management practices

• Apply extensive business insight 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 standard processes

Essential for the role

• Bachelor’s degree in a scientific subject

• 8+ years of experience supporting cross-functional drug development teams or leading sub-teams

• 3+ years of experience in the Oncology therapeutic area

• Experienced in pr