Executive Director, Regulatory Affairs Strategy - Cell Therapy
AstraZenecaAbout the role
Job Title: Executive Director, Regulatory Affairs Strategy - Cell Therapy
Available locations:
- Gaithersburg, MD
- Boston, MA
- South San Francisco, CA
- Santa Monica, CA
Introduction to role:
- Are you ready to set the global regulatory direction for first-in-class cell therapies and turn science into approved medicines? Do you see yourself steering complex programs to competitive labels and rapid, global patient access?
- This role leads the strategy for our most visible and complex cell therapy programs, translating breakthrough science into timely approvals and meaningful labels that unlock lifecycle value.
- You will work across discovery through commercialization, bringing clarity and pace to decision-making and ensuring our therapies reach patients with unmet needs.
- You will directly shape how we engage with health authorities, define target product labeling, and accelerate submissions across multiple indications and modalities.
- As a senior leader, you will build capability, coach regulatory talent, and influence policy and guidance to sustain a competitive edge for our pipeline and portfolio.
Accountabilities:
Global Regulatory Strategy Leadership: Own the end-to-end global regulatory strategy for a cell therapy product or franchise of exceptional complexity and strategic importance, from current stage through BLA submission, approval, and lifecycle management; may serve in a dual role as Franchise GRL and regional Regulatory Affairs Director.
GPT Representation and Strategic Influence: Represent Regulatory Affairs on Global Product Teams, provide strategic regulatory advice, and be accountable for all regulatory activities that shape development plans, risk management, and commercialization outcomes.
Health Authority Engagement: Lead strategy for major health authority interactions, responses to critical information requests, expedited pathway designations, BLA development and submission, major post-submission interactions, and complex labeling negotiations to secure competitive labels and timely approvals.
External Insight and Policy Shaping: Maintain a deep and current working knowledge of relevant disease areas, evolving scientific evidence, regulatory policy, and the external environment; establish senior external relationships to influence perspectives and maintain competitive advantage.
GRST Leadership and Talent Development: Lead one or more Global Regulatory Strategy Teams focused on indications, programs, or franchise priorities; provide leadership, coaching, and performance feedback; line-manage 3–7 regulatory team members; contribute to succession planning, capability building, and development of senior regulatory talent.
Data-Driven Governance and Risk Management: Deliver objective executive-level assessments of emerging data against program and portfolio aspirations; update senior management on risks, mitigation activities, probability of success, and strategic options.
Milestone Delivery and Dossier Excellence: Be accountable for delivery of all project-related regulatory milestones, including probability of regulatory success assessments, mitigation planning, approval strategy, lifecycle planning; lead preparation of regulatory strategy documents and target product labeling; ensure strong strategic planning and construction of the global dossier and core prescribing information; oversee maintenance and compliance for marketed brands where applicable.
Innovation and Ways of Working: Lead, participate in, and promote major non-project functional or cross-functional initiatives; drive the development and implementation of novel regulatory tools, technologies, and modern ways of working that improve quality and speed.
Cross-Functional and Regional Partnership: Partner with marketing companies, regional regulatory affairs teams, and senior cross-functional stakeholders to influence developing views, guidance, and regulatory policy interpretation; coordinate across therapeutic areas and regulatory teams to deliver our cell therapies to patients.
Essential Skills/Experience:
- An advanced degree in a science-related field and at least ten or more years of experience and/or appropriate knowledge/experience.
- Demonstrated extensive success in cell therapy regulatory strategy.
- Deep understanding of global regulatory science and
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