US Executive Director, Early Assets

Introduction to role:

Are you ready to turn ideas into life-changing medicines? At AstraZeneca, scientific innovation drives everything we do to address unmet patient needs. In this role, reporting directly to the VP US Medical Affairs, the US Executive Director, Early Assets will lead the development of bold US medical strategies for our early pipeline, provide scientific input to cross-functional teams, and build an influential external network across US disease areas where AstraZeneca has pipeline programs. This is a chance to develop, design, and influence across a complex matrix so that US perspectives are embedded in global development plans and future launches. Want to be at the point where early science meets real-world impact?

What You'll Do:

• Lead the US medical strategy for early pipeline assets, ensuring alignment with portfolio priorities, disease area strategy, and long-term business objectives.
• Act as the internal US medical authority for emerging assets, providing authoritative mentorship on scientific, clinical, and real-world considerations across cardiovascular, metabolism, and related therapeutic areas.
• Partner closely with global medical and R&D teams to shape robust translational and early clinical development plans, integrating US medical insights, health system realities, and real-world data opportunities.
• Influence study builds and development strategies by collaborating with Clinical, Global Commercial, and medical teams on endpoints, comparators, inclusion/exclusion criteria, and real-world evidence plans that enable future US access, labelling, and promotion.
• Craft clear and compelling scientific narratives that differentiate early assets, support value propositions, and underpin impactful launch and lifecycle strategies.
• Drive evidence generation plans across the product lifecycle, including clinical trials and real-world evidence initiatives that support practice change and guideline evolution in the US.
• Build and coordinate comprehensive external engagement strategies with US authorities, professional societies, policy influencers, and patient groups to inform development plans and accelerate adoption of innovation.
• Play a key role in medical advisory boards and scientific exchanges, ensuring high-quality insight generation that shapes both global and US strategies.
• Build and nurture a strong external network across all relevant programs and disease areas, positioning AstraZeneca as a trusted scientific partner in obesity/weight management, cardiovascular disease, metabolism, and adjacent fields.
• Champion cross-functional collaboration within a complex matrix environment, connecting stakeholders across Medical, R&D, Commercial, Market Access, HEOR, and Policy to drive coordinated decision-making.
• Identify and act on opportunities to accelerate early asset development, de-risk key decisions, and prepare the US market for first-in-class or best-in-class launches.

Essential Skills/Experience:

• Sophisticated Scientific Degree (MBBS, PharmD, PhD, or MD) or international equivalent
• A minimum of 5 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry (medical, marketing, R&D, market access roles), or working in a relevant health system setting (clinical, pharmacy, pathway design etc.)
• Deep medical, clinical or scientific expertise in CV and metabolism (especially in obesity/weight management). Experience/knowledge in immunology and/or cell therapy also preferred.
• Experienced business leader able to deliver results in a complex matrix environment
• US regulatory strategy knowledge including product approval, label requirements/negotiation
• Validated ability to build internal/external networks and to collaborate internally/externally
• Substantial evidence generation/data expertise, e.g. clinical trial experience (conducted Ph2, Ph3 or Ph4 studies), and/or substantial RWE experience

Desirable Skills/Experience

• Global and/or R&D experience, or consistent record of supporting early asset or first-in-class product development
• Relevant experience beyond medical affairs (e.g. in a marketing/R&D/market access role)

When we put unexpected teams in the same room, we unleash bold thinking with the power to inspire life-changing medicines. In-person working gives us the platform we need to connect, work at pace and challenge perceptions. That's why we work, on average, a minimum of three days per week from the office. But that doesn't mean we're not flexible. We balance the expectation of being in the office while respecting individual flexibility. Join us in our unique and ambitious world.

At AstraZeneca, medical leaders sit at the intersection of cutting-edge science and real