Advances in digitalization, data and advance analytics are changing industries at pace with the pharma industry showing signs of movement

The Digital Health Market will grow exponentially over the next 3 years, with new applications in digital showing in phase 3 studies significant benefits for patients including overall survival in Cancer

AstraZeneca would like to leap frog in this area and has prioritized digital in R&D as a critical strategic area of focus by 2025, as part of the overall company strategy.

Digital Health R&D’s ambition is to transform healthcare, powered by digital, science and collaborations,
to deliver the healthcare outcomes and experience that patients care about the most.

The Digital Health R&D journey incorporates 3 key stages:

• Stage 1 – foundational, reimagine how we work, by maximizing the use of digital, data and analytics transform processes within R&D to gain significant benefits on speed of the portfolio (goal 9 months acceleration) productivity (goal -20% reduction in cost per patient per year) quality at source, patient experience and probability of success.
• Stage 2 – advanced, redefine clinical trials and digital health to improve overall patient experiences and outcomes, example redefining patient populations, remote clinical trials, patient apps to reduce/manage adverse events and improve patient outcomes (OS), using data from EHMr and RWE instead of control arms, and through PROs and continuous patient monitoring, creating new end points enabling studies in earlier stages of disease (ctDNA changes) prolonging significantly patients’ lives
• Stage 3 – future-readiness, reimagine healthcare, examples, AZ as a healthcare provider beyond medicines for certain indications (example: Breast Cancer, proving monitoring, predictive analytics and therapies for improved outcomes), full integration of Multiomics (imaging, genomics, proteomics …) to better predict and significantly improve patients’ health

This role will lead a Product Team across the Oncology Digital Health R&D space. Oncology will be the largest therapeutic area in AstraZeneca and is growing at significant pace, with a portfolio that will make AstraZeneca a top player in the industry in the next decade. It’s vision is to push the boundaries of science to change the practice of medicine, transform the lives of patients living with cancer and ultimately eliminate cancer as the cause of death.

This role’s focus is to develop and maximize the value of Oncology digital therapeutic product(s) and digital health solutions resulting from work in all three stages (with initial prime focus on Stage 2) working alongside the Technology Development Team and the Oncology R&D Team.

Primary Responsibilities for this role will include (but not limited to):

• Lead the creation and development of a digital therapeutic requiring you to build a team, define product specifications, define objectives and motivate a cross-functional team to build-it.
• Identify and manage required partnerships to ensure cutting-edge capabilities in the intersection of data science, technology and healthcare.
• Ensure coordination so that the design, engineering, quality management systems and data teams inform product direction and coordinate closely with clinical and commercial to ensure the final product meets all clinical and engagement goals.
• Champion, for digital therapeutics, an agile, iterative development process driven by design thinking, frequent end-user input, constant insight generation from data.

Who You Are 
 

• Someone who thrives in a fast-paced work environment, comfortable with complexity and uncertainty at times, lots of humour, dedication to deliver outcomes and motivated by the opportunity to rethink our approach to healthcare. 
• A graduate degree in behavioral science related field, medical/ pharmaceutical degree, or proven ability to lead teams in the intersection of technology, data science and healthcare.
• Background in leading Agile teams, product backlog prioritisation, progress reporting, budgeting while delivering a product.
• Comfort and skills operating in a heavily matrixed organizations with excellent skills and intuition to manage the needs of various stakeholders.

Ability to rapidly grasp concepts and excellent ability to handle complexity by simplifying it and providing clear directions to the team.

Education, Qualifications, Skills and Experience

Essential

• Bachelor Honors' Degree in scientific or technical field
• 5+ years of relevant experience in pharmaceutical industry with strong knowledge of Drug Development Processes, and experience of developing products to treat diseases in related Therapy Area
• Proven delivery track record in Digital Health with solid understanding of Healthcare
• Ability to manage and influence strategically and persuade tactfully, to obtain desired outcomes while maintaining effective, positive, organizational relationships
• Ability to challenge the status quo, take ownership and holds self and others accountable
• Well-developed communication skills, able to create clarity from ambiguity
• Proven leadership abilities and experience promoting, motivating and empowering others to accomplish individual, team and organizational objectives
• Passion for Patients and Customers, representing the needs of multiple customers in decision making

Desirable:

• Master’s or PhD in a scientific or technical discipline
• Professional qualification
• Strong Scientific and Medical understanding of the Therapy Area that this role will represent
• Experience on bringing innovation that is solving complex and multi-dimensional issues from an operational, technical, financial and human perspective
• Experience on patient reported outcomes solutions approved by a major regulator
• Familiarity with the latest research and thinking and understanding of dynamics affecting the pharmaceutical industry and needs for transformation
• Ability to work globally including international travel
• Agile product owner training and certification
• Solid Project management skills, including managing vendors, budgets, timelines and risks
• Experience leading a development team and working in a global environment

Date Posted

Closing Date

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.