Senior Manager – Publications Delivery (Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Disease Unit)

Introduction to role:

The Publications Delivery Lead (Senior Manager) willestablishand lead the Alexion Publications Delivery team, overseeing a multi-tier organization of publication writers, graphic designers,InVision specialists, andeditors. This role blends people leadership and operations management, with accountability for end-to-end delivery excellence in scientific publications, operational rigor, stakeholder engagement, and continuous improvement. The ideal candidate is a seasoned publications professional with substantial experience in global capabilitycentres(GCCs) or service agencies, and a demonstrated record of building teams from the ground up, defining KPIs, implementing SOPs, and driving quality and metrics at scale.

Key Responsibilities:

Team Leadership and People Management

• Teambuild-out:Establishand scale a high-performing publication delivery team; define roles, levels, and career pathways.

• Coaching and mentorship:Provideongoing guidance, feedback, and development plans for Publication Writers, Graphic designers,and Editors

• Performance management:Set clear goals, conduct regular check-ins and annual reviews, manage underperformance, and recognize high performance.

• Workforce planning:Forecast demand, plan capacity, and manage hiring, onboarding, and succession.

Operations Management and Delivery Excellence

• End-to-end delivery:Oversee planning, drafting, review cycles, approvals, and finalization of publications to meet timelines and quality standards.

• Ways of working and SOPs:Design, implement, andmaintainSOPs, RACI matrices, workflows, and operating models across therapy areas and publication types.

• Process optimization:Identifybottlenecks, drive continuous improvement (e.g., Lean, Kaizen), and standardize best practices across teams.

• KPI/metrics management:Define and track SLAs, KPIs, and OKRs (e.g., on-time delivery, first-time-right quality, cycle-time, rework rates, stakeholder satisfaction).

• Quality management:Implement robust QA/QC processes, editorial standards, checklists, and audit readiness; ensure compliance with GPP and internal policies.

• Risk and issue management:Proactivelyidentifyrisks,maintainRAID logs, and drivetimelymitigations and escalations.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Partnerships:Build strong, transparentrelationships with Alexion Publication teams. and strong relationships withexternal vendors/agency partners.

• Intake and prioritization:Run structured request intake, triage, resourcing, and scheduling to balance portfolio priorities and work volume.

• Governance:Lead cadence meetings (stand-ups, sprint reviews, monthly governance calls, QBR), publish dashboards, and present performance to leadership.

Resource and Vendor Management

• Resourcing:Allocate work across internal teams and approved vendors; manage flexible capacity models.

• Vendor oversight:Define scopes, performance metrics, and quality gates for agencies; ensure cost-effectiveness and compliance.

• Budget and productivity:Track effort,utilization, and unit costs; drive productivity improvements and ROI. Support invoicing, PO,Realizationand recharge.

Publication Delivery Domain Responsibilities

• Provide structured, high-impact review, mentoring, and coaching to Expert Publication Writers and Senior PublicationWriters.Serve as the trusted, go-to advisor for publication-related queries, and support the team in resolvingconflictingauthorcommentsandchanging stakeholder requirementsthrough clear guidance, facilitation, and stakeholder alignment.

• Align with GPP (Good Publication Practice), ICMJE, CONSORT/PRISMA where applicable, medical-legal-regulatory standards, and internal policies.Should be aware of the guidelines in Equator Network and should be an advocate to implement then as needed.

Tools, Technology, and Documentation

• Systems:Champion publication management tools (e.g., Pub planning platforms, content repositories, reference managers), collaboration suites, and workflow trackers.

• Templates and playbooks:Create andmaintaintemplates, checklists, SOPs, and training materials to ensure consistency and scalability.

• Artificial intelligence:Demonstratedunderstanding of AI tools in medical publications, with a strong inclination to pilot, implement, and scale solutions that enhance efficiency, quality, and consistency. 

• Reporting:Build automated dashboards and monthly business reviews; deliver actionable insights to stakeholders and leadership.

Required Qualifications

• Education:Advanced degree in life sciences, pharmacy, medicine, or related field; PhD/MD/PharmD/MSc preferred.

• Experience:15+ years in medical publications/medical writing, including 5+ years in people management and operations leadership.

• Proventrack record:Setting up new teams/functions in GCCs or service agencies, implementing SOPs, KPIs, and delivery governance.

• Domainexpertise: Strong knowledge of GPP, ICMJE, CONSORT/PRISMA, ethical authorship, data standards, and journal/congress processes. ISMPPCMPPCertification is preferred.

• Operational excellence:Demonstratedability to run large-scale delivery with metrics, QA, and continuous improvement.

• Stakeholder management:Experience partnering with global cross-functional teams and external agencies;strong communicationand influence skills.

• Global experience:Working across time zones and cultures; experience in global capabilitycentresor offshore/nearshore models.

Core Competencies

• Leadership:Team building, coaching, and empowerment.

• Operational rigor: Process design, SOPs, KPIs, and compliance.

• Scientific rigor:Data accuracy, sound data interpretation, correct comprehension, and robust scientific understanding of rare diseases.

• Quality mindset:First time-right delivery, audit readiness, and continuous improvement.

• Strategic thinking:Aligning publication delivery with asset and portfolio goals.

• Communication:Clear, concise, and influential with senior stakeholders.

• Problem solving:Data-driven, pragmatic, and resilient under pressure.

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 challengeperceptions.That'swhy we work, on average, a minimum of three days per week from the office. But thatdoesn'tmeanwe'renot flexible. We balance the expectation of being in the office while respecting individual flexibility. Join us in our unique and ambitious world.

At AstraZeneca's Alexion division,you'llfind a unique opportunity to grow and innovate within a rapidly expanding portfolio. Our entrepreneurial spirit fosters autonomy while our energizing culture encourages connections that lead tonew ideas. As part of our commercial team,you'llmeet the needs of under-served patients worldwide. With tailored development programs designed for skill enhancement and empathetic understanding of patient journeys,you'llalign your growth with our mission. Supported by exceptional leaders and peers,you'lldrive change with integrity in a culture celebrating diversity and innovation.

Ready to make a difference? Apply now to join our team!