Director, Global Project Management

The Director of Global Project Management (GPM) 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 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 relevant to early or late stage  

Depending on the stage of development and project complexity, the GPM will work on one or more (early or late) Global Project Teams (GPTs).  Collaborating closely with the GPL and functional leads, the GPM is accountable  integrating best in class project management standards and practices within the GPT and AstraZeneca. The GPM is a strategic partner to the Global Project Leader/Global Franchise Head and the entire GPT.  Projects are likely to be more complex and may include new or multiple disease areas, new modalities, strategic partner alliances/acquisitions/in-licensing and multiple parallel clinical studies 

The Director GPM is highly visible and influential and is critical to the delivery of strategic and operational objectives.  It plays an important role ensuring successful delivery of innovative medicines to patients throughout the drug development process .

Role Responsibilities:

Strategic Business partnering 

• 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 with operational delivery  

• Shares lessons learned and communicates those throughout the GPM community to ensure integration of knowledge beyond the GPT 

• May manage or lead the drug project strategy as delegated by Global Product Leader  

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

• Where applicable, interface with alliance partners and manage joint alliance forums  

• Partners with Business Development to provide strategic input to potential deal cases (investment & divestment)  

Cross-functional Team Leadership and Delivery  

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

• Acts as a core GPT member and drives efficient operation