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As one of the world's premier Biopharmaceuticals companies, AstraZeneca’s mission is centered on delivering life-changing products that advance world health, and help fight and cure disease.  As a Senior Director of Biopharma Project Management you'll play a pivotal role and make a positive impact on our mission to find lifesaving solutions for all patients.

In this role, you will be a part of the Global Portfolio & Project Management organization (GPPM) for Biopharma.  You will be responsible for managing a team of ~75-80 Global Project Managers who ensure that drug development projects achieve strategic objectives and deliver key development, regulatory and commercial milestones.  Further, you will need to lead the team to simplify ways of working, enhance the quality/cost/risk associated with our drug project operating model, and ensure that AstraZeneca is a great place to work.  A number of deliverables associated with this role will expand beyond GPPM and will require a close partnership with key stakeholders, including the VP of Biopharmaceuticals. 

The role may be based in either Gaithersburg, MD - US, Cambridge - UK, or Gothenburg - SE.

Responsibilities

Project Management and Enterprise Leadership

• Takes a visible leadership role within GPPM and Biopharma organizations
• Lead team of Project Managers and team leaders (manager of managers) and identifies development opportunities of direct reports, together with planning effectively for succession
• Creates a great place to work environment via expectation setting, goal development, recruiting/staffing, mentoring, and leading a highly effective team of experienced PMs
• Partners with stakeholders across Biopharma to ensure effective collaboration, project efficiencies and sharing of best practices
• Works closely with leaders across Biopharma R&D and Commercial to drive integrated management their portfolios and resources.

Excellence in Project Management

• Provides Biopharma drug development experience, including project timelines and resource management expertise across all Biopharma projects, ensuring consistent application of project management processes, standards, systems and tools.
• Ensures best methodologies are in place to develop comprehensive project plans, deliver key project management milestones on time and within budget, identify and resolve project issues, and further refine project risk management plans.
• Drives excellence in project team information management and project data quality

Cross Portfolio Project Leadership

• Organizes and leads regular reviews of project progression, timelines, budgeting, risk management and cross-functional operational issues.
• Works closely with the Portfolio Management and Business Management teams within GPPM-Biopharma to advise or support on portfolio-wide timelines, management of read-outs, project budgets, project and emerging opportunity management and reporting, risk and resource management
• Contributes to improvements in project management methodologies and drives reductions in costs and increased effectiveness across the portfolio

Leads GPPM and Enterprise Wide Initiatives

• Leads or oversees a diverse range of initiatives to improve quality, compliance, cost or speed of projects across AstraZeneca and, where appropriate, leads the development of new methodologies or process to provide business benefit
• Instilling an organization-wide dedication to project delivery, process efficiency/simplicity and operational excellence.

Entrepreneurship

• Serves as a role model for cross-functional collaboration and effective conflict resolution.
• Leads by example in learning, innovation seeking opportunities to change paradigm and removes barriers within and outside the team.
• Uses business knowledge to drive cross-project learning, champion and embed better ways of working across the enterprise, helping to establish new company best practices.

Skills and Experience

Essential Requirements

• Advanced degree in in a scientific or technical drug development subject
• 8 plus years of relevant experience
• Extensive experience in Project Management with an track record of success in leading  cross functional working groups and teams
• Broad business perspective and acumen, goal-oriented approach, process orientation and strategic focus
• Demonstrated ability to lead and coordinate multiple projects concurrently.
• Sophisticated demeanor, bearing and approach sufficient to position the incumbent for interaction with senior level executives in delivering effective presentations and providing information to influence major decisions.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills and ability to develop strong relationships with senior leaders and other key stakeholders.
• Excellent management and matrix team leadership skills that include the ability to provide direction and lead multi-disciplinary teams on highly collaborative efforts resulting in successful implementation.
• Ability to partner with senior leaders to develop and implement a strategic vision.
• Willingness and proven ability to function in a hands-on capacity when necessary to achieve milestones, resolve issues and build an organization/function capable of driving toward measurable objectives.

Desirable

• Experience in organizational leadership, manager of managers
• Direct experience within drug discovery and development; familiarity with product development, product launch and exposure to life cycle management in Biopharma
• Cross functional, multi-cultural, and global work experience preferred
• Strong internal network and track record of success within AstraZeneca

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.