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

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 in R&D journey incorporating 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, reimagine clinical trials to improve patient 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 – futuristic, 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 play an important role in these efforts across Oncology pipeline of new and approved therapies, Oncology is the largest therapeutic area in Astrazeneca in the future and is growing at significant pace, with a portfolio that will make AZ top player in the industry in the next decade

Major Duties and Responsibilities

• Review and ensure the scientific rigor of all new oncology DH solutions
• Co-Lead the design and mobilisation of a new team to support oncology
• Link to data team on internal data re-use to optimize endpoint design
• Build a digital health infrastructure to enable seamless measurement of clinical benefit of our medicines and delivery of personalized care from bench/research to clinical setting/routine care.
• Influence the co-system (regulators, payers, guidelines) towards acceptance of digital evidence as a compliment to traditional measures of clinical benefit and treatment tolerability
• Develop and performance manage a team of direct reports – ensuring a constructive balance between challenge and coaching.
• Performance manages senior managers and identifies skill development opportunities for direct reports, together with appropriate succession planning
• Ensure direct reports maintain their scientific and technical knowledge in order to bring transformational digital opportunities to the R&D Digital group and to the R&D Therapy Area leadership team
• Manage Deliver global solutions across R&D to enable usage of Electronic Health Records or Real World Evidence instead of placebo arms
• Deliver strategy  and product development for digital health solutions and execution together with the Oncology teams, these solutions should be Intellectual capital with market potential for AZ future growth for Oncology

Required Skills, Knowledge and Experience

• PharmD, PhD or Master’s Required
• Extensive, relevant experience in pharmaceutical industry with strong knowledge of Drug Development in Oncology
• Very strong Oncology background in research and development
• Passionate to improve patients experience and outcomes
• Strong network and understanding of the rapidly changing external environment including new innovative treatments and cutting edge digital health technology innovations
• Strong leadership skills and influencing skills
• Ability to challenge the status quo, take ownership and holds self and others accountable
• Proven leadership on building high performing teams, strong team player
• Experienced people manager
• Prior experience on driving global change in complex organisations, covering multiple cultures and significant number of employees across more than 20 countries
• Organizational agility -- builds consensus through formal and informal channels and relationships; organizationally savvy
• Unwavering commitment to Patients -- dedicated to transforming the delivery of healthcare and improving the evidence available for oncology drugs to improve patient outcomes
• Integrity and trust -- unwavering commitment to "doing the right thing"
• Ability to work globally including international travel
• Sophisticated Project management skills, including managing vendors, budgets, timelines and risks

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.