Director, BioPharmaceuticals Medical (BPM) Evidence Operations

Biopharmaceuticals Medical (BPM) organization ensures the best patient outcomes by providing healthcare decision-makers around the world with the evidence and confidence they need on AZ therapies and support our internal stakeholders with medical insight and expertise. BPM provides medical leadership with market participation and connectivity while also impacting the life cycle planning and execution of all our products. BPM aims to lead AstraZeneca in achieving scientific leadership, being a great place to work, and keeping patients at the core of everything we do.

BPM Evidence organization is accountable for the delivery of global strategic studies required to generate the evidence to build the confidence on AZ therapies and additional observational, interventional and externally sponsored research required by Global Product Teams and Global Medical Teams.

Working very closely together with the VP Global Evidence and Head of Evidence Excellence, the Director, Evidence Operations will drive strategic planning, operational effectiveness, business performance management, budget and capacity/capability planning, change management, and program leadership/project management of prioritized initiatives in BPM Evidence and/or cross functionally.

In order to accomplish our goals and enable the best patient outcomes, we look for future AZ medical network leaders to have five (5) core capabilities:

A track record of building and maintaining a deep continued connection to Medical Practice/healthcare delivery

Collaborative/matrix management skills with a focus on leading diverse groups (e.g., cultural, geographical, functional) to achieve excellent results in shared goals

Strong communication skills with the ability to distil complexity down to what matters to our stakeholders

Strong Financial/Budget Management and Project Management skills

Strong business acumen

Typical Accountabilities:

The Director, Evidence Operations will be accountable either through leadership or individual contribution for the following:

• Partner with VP Global Evidence and Head of Evidence Excellence and LT to facilitate the development of short and long-term planning for Global Evidence including resourcing, medical and evidence planning process, other key BPM initiatives.
• Supports the VP Global Evidence and Head of Evidence Excellence to create functional strategy in support of both the Global Evidence and TA strategies, including clear recommendations for resource allocation priorities and capability requirements
• Partner with VP Global Evidence and Head of Evidence Excellence and team to manage dependencies across functions and geographies affecting successful executive of evidence generation.
• To lead complex strategic initiatives for Global Evidence including planning and implementation with minimal direction.  These may involve groups in AZ outside Global Evidence and external vendors, academics or other partners.
• Lead and/or represent Global Evidence in identified, prioritised initiatives, including development of and/or contribution to business cases for prioritised initiatives, potentially leading specific area(s) of expertise or special projects within Global Evidence and/or across BPM.
• Lead communication efforts within and outside of Global Evidence, managing key vendor relationships as needed.
• Lead capability awareness and training initiatives across Global Evidence.
• Identify, develop and implement new processes to facilitate continued evolution of the Global Evidence and BPM function
• Provide direction and leadership to cross-functional project resources (both internal and external). Anticipate, identify and resolve business risks/issues.
• To support Global Evidence in policy, process and people support ensuring consistency where possible with other areas of BPM through coordination with other Strategic Planning& Operations leads in BPM.
• Work closely with BPM, R&D, and Regional operations and strategy teams to ensure connectivity and alignment.   
• To manage the business performance of Global Evidence including scorecard development, metrics and reporting.
• Prepare comprehensive progress reports and program plans for senior management and other stakeholders.  Work with all Global Evidence members to identify, address and resolve issues.  Identify risk areas or barriers that may or are impeding Global Evidence success, driving solutions in partnership with the LT to resolve
• Partner with Finance and the Global Evidence Head, Evidence Excellence to facilitate the budget process including trade-off discussions and on an ongoing basis ensure budgets (including facilitation of annual budget, monthly projections, accruals and variance analysis) are on track
• To serve as a delegate for the VP Global Evidence for specific tasks or activities, as necessary.
• Serve as a liaison between BPM and their Commercial and Clinical Development counterparts
• Supports resource management, recruitment, and people policy and process (e.g. talent management, performance management)
• Manage planning and follow up for Global Evidence LT and other key Global Evidence team meetings; ensure agendas are focused on key deliverables, risk management, issue identification and resolution.  Ensure that key actions and agreements are understood by the team and the team is held accountable for their commitments.

Education, Qualifications, Skills and Experience

Essential:

• Advanced degree(s) in business and/or sciences, or equivalent. 8 -10 years proven experience in the pharmaceutical/medical/healthcare industry, development, research and/or commercial planning, and global coordination issues
• Ability to understand business strategy and goals and generate new strategic options
• Experience in finance, leadership, facilitation, influence, negotiation and conflict resolution
• Interpersonal skills with an ability to deploy a range of influencing styles and facility and comfort in dealing with senior managers - strong strategic influencing and interpersonal skills
• Leadership skills, including the ability to solve problems that involve many decision makers, and develop multiple options/recommendations
• Extensive networking skills, ability to interact widely and effectively both within the company (on both an interdepartmental and interdisciplinary basis) and externally
• Proven ability to work independently, and remotely, from key customers and stakeholders and with little direction.
• Proven project leadership/project management experience from drug and/or non-drug projects, including budget management.
• Recognized expertise in one or more of the following areas: resource management, continuous improvement, change management, compliance, quality management, training, or budget/finance management.
• Ability to develop solutions to complex problems and to formulate approaches and strategies that fall outside historical norms
• Experience, leading, promoting, motivating and empowering others to accomplish individual, team and organisational objectives
• Ability to influence strategically and persuade tactfully, to obtain desired outcomes while maintaining effective, positive organisational relationships
• Evidence of the ability to pull together diverse teams over whom they have no line management responsibility in a matrix environment “Lead without authority”; capability leading cross-functional project teams
• Proven ability to work with multiple customers and on multiple projects simultaneously, illustrating a high degree of flexibility.
• Demonstrated knowledge and very wide understanding of global business context.  Including a broad understanding of industry, particularly Medical, Clinical and Commercial functions (is knowledgeable in how products are developed, approved, launched and commercially developed)
• Persuasive communicator in English with a proven ability to work collaboratively in a multi-cultural environment
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and ability to build strong relationships.
• Level 3 leadership capabilities, working towards level 4:
  • Passion for customers: Manages multiple customer needs and represents the needs of multiple customers in AZ decision making and planning. Starting to ‘apply long-term customer insight’.
  • Thinks strategically: Uses deep insight to impact broadly. Identifies opportunities and develops solutions that impact beyond their role/function. Beginning to ‘anticipate the future’.
  • Acts decisively: Creates clarity for others to make decisions. Creates the climate for others to act decisively by clarifying roles and responsibilities and limits of decision making. Beginning to ‘demonstrate courage to support decisions’.
  • Drives performance: Anticipates and/or removes obstacles for others so that teams/workgroups can deliver results and succeed. Beginning to ‘generate step change in performance of large groups’.
  • Works collaboratively: Creates shared purpose across boundaries to deliver value to the business. Beginning to ‘address blockers to effective collaboration’.
  • Develops people and organisation: Develops others for the long-term by agreeing challenging and relevant development opportunities to prepare them for future roles. Beginning to 'build organisational capability’.

Desirable:

• Prior managerial experience desirable but not required.

AstraZeneca embraces diversity and equality of opportunity. We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse team representing all backgrounds, with as wide a range of perspectives as possible, and harnessing industry-leading skills. We believe that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be. We welcome and consider applications to join our team from all qualified candidates, regardless of their characteristics. We comply with all applicable laws and regulations on non-discrimination in employment (and recruitment), as well as work authorisation and employment eligibility verification requirements.