Title: Forecasting Leader
Location: Cambridge, UK

Salary: Competitive

Opening date for applications: 5th August 2021

Closing date for applications: 6th September 2021

AstraZeneca is a global, science-led, patient-focused biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery, development and commercialisation of prescription medicines for some of the world’s most serious disease. But we’re more than one of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies.

At AstraZeneca we’re dedicated to being a Great Place to Work. Where you are empowered to push the boundaries of science and unleash your entrepreneurial spirit. There’s no better place to make a difference to medicine, patients and society. An inclusive culture that champions diversity and collaboration. Always committed to lifelong learning, growth and development.

Global Insights, Analytics & Commercial Excellence (GIACE) is a strategic function, critical for enabling success in the growth of the BBU business.  Our ambition is to build an industry-leading organization, empowering our Commercial teams through the generation of compelling evidence and insights, while ensuring they have the tools and skills to deliver impactful launches that change the practice of medicine for the benefit of patients.  Within GIACE, the Insights & Analytics function is organized across three teams and supports both the US and Global organizations: Respiratory and Immunology (R&I)  Insights, CVRM Insights (Cardiovascular, Metabolic, Renal), and the Insights & Analytics Center of Excellence (CoE). 

The Forecasting Leader is a critical business partner with the brand team, producing forecasts and consulting with the team on how to manage risks and opportunities for the business.  As a Forecast Leader, you will have responsibility for a brand/brands and play an integral role in understanding performance, setting expectations for performance, and guiding brand strategy. 

Key Responsibilities:

• Proactive identification of portfolio and brand risks and opportunities, and strategies for how to address them to deliver business success.

• Ensuring objectivity of brand/therapeutic area forecasts of internal and external opportunities through establishing objectives aligned around forecast accuracy.

• Monitors the external environment to stay up to date on latest therapeutic area research and clinical development, as well as competitor landscape

• Sensitivity analysis to assist in opportunity identification and risk management.

• Partnership with: GMAP (Global Market Access and Pricing)  and Finance to understand market access and price impact, estimate SMM (Sales, Medical, Marketing), and support development of P&L for the opportunity evaluation

• Develop a deep understanding of internal customers' data and analytical needs focusing on the customer-facing model leadership

• Champion the use of local customer insight in strategic and resourcing decisions across the business.

• Access appropriate information via a variety of tools and sources

• Summarize and present findings through various communication channels

• Capability in applying deeper technical skills and knowledge that is shared across the functional area (e.g., deep knowledge of key data sets, modelling capabilities, etc.)

Essential requirements:

• Solid analytical experience, gained in Health Care Industry including experience in product forecasting.  In-depth knowledge of forecasting techniques and use of different forecast models and approaches.

• Experience in the global Pharma Industry, making decisions on major drivers of product success.

• Excellent financial modelling and forecasting skills, strong market research and analytical expertise.

• Strong written and verbal communication

• Experience utilising a range of analytics involving standard data in the Pharmaceutical Industry e.g. IQVIA (MIDAS, DDD, NPA, Xponent), claims data (LAAD, MarketScan, Optum, Prognos, Symphony), other epidemiological data (Decision Resources, Kantar) etc

• Strong understanding of primary market research, advanced analytics, and competitive intelligence.

• Reportable accomplishments around converting derived insight into strategic guidance and developing this skill among direct reports

• Exceptional business acumen, strategic thinking and understanding of sales and marketing business practices

• Entrepreneurial mindset to impact leadership and high emotional intelligence

• Experience advising senior level executives, strong coaching and problem-solving skills

• Strong ability to influence laterally and vertically

• High degree of creativity and innovation in developing new approaches, processes and methodologies

Educational requirements:

• Bachelor’s Degree in relevant field

• Advanced degree preferred (e.g., PhD / MBA / Masters in areas such as Statistics/Decision Sciences)

Date Posted

05-Aug-2021

Closing Date

06-Sep-2021

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 authorization and employment eligibility verification requirements.