Are you ready to build a world-class lab ecosystem that frees scientists to focus on discovery and accelerates breakthroughs for patients? As Senior Director, R&D Lab Operations, you will shape how our laboratories run, scaling services, systems, and partnerships that directly speed our pipeline and help move life-changing medicines to those who need them!

You will lead a multidisciplinary team and a network of strategic suppliers to deliver safe, efficient, and responsive lab services across sites. Your work will turn strategy into execution: aligning people, process, and technology; optimizing cost and quality; and creating space plans that anticipate growth and new ways of working. How will you redesign services to give time back to scientists and fast-track the next generation of treatments?

The Senior Director, Lab Operations Leads a multidisciplinary organization to deliver consistent, high quality laboratory services across North America & EU Oncology R&D sites. Partners with R&D leadership, BPOs, scientific groups, Site Operations, Procurement/Finance, and strategic suppliers to translate business needs into service models, long term space strategies, and resourcing plans that enable science, accelerate delivery, and optimize value.

This role oversees a multidisciplinary Lab Operations team to develop and implement site Lab services (equipment maintenance/calibration, data and utilization analytics, consumables) to meet current and future requirements, focusing on innovation and best practice which add business value in partnership with critical suppliers. This position manages a central team (Site Master Planning, PMO, Standards). It aligns governance, important metrics, and roadmaps with internal strategy partners. This supports scalable, resilient, and efficient operations.

Accountabilities

Manage & Measure Services

• Establish Lab Operations vision and policy to ensure the team provides essential laboratory support services that enable scientists to focus on Research and Development activities which further the pipeline
• Assemble an appropriate set of multidisciplinary specialized staff which integrates support of people, processes and technology to ensure safe and effective delivery of services
• Mentor staff to develop high-performing work teams within their functional areas and to maintain good working relationships with internal and external enterprise functions
• Integrate ways of working across departments and sites, and facilitate implementation of new initiatives
• Lead strategic relationships with relevant service providers, collaborating with strategic supplier partners to drive business results
• Monitor, audit and ensure service providers operate in accordance with approved management controls
• Improve metrics & Key Performance Indicators to focus the various outside service providers on consistency, safety and responsiveness

Processes & Capability Improvements

• Influence and promote deployment of new service offerings and improvements, including work in support of GxP activities when applicable.
• Define and drive to execution projects which improve capability and capacity
• Manage the LabOps budget and indirectly, R&D budgets, for consumables and services, by working with service providers to optimize costs while improving service delivery
• Actively solicit the necessary feedback from R&D to obtain insight into projected growth and new ways of working. Use this data to inform long term lab space requirements so as to directly contribute to Site Master Plan development
• Partner with senior R&D and functional leaders to co-create site master plans and operational blueprints that translate strategic needs into executable roadmaps, proactively shaping upcoming initiatives and programs, and coordinating with Site Operations to deliver
• Oversee implementation of services; set objectives and targets; establish roles and responsibilities for service programs; review, evaluate, and report on Lab Operations performance
• Periodically assess R&D Lab Operations to identify problem areas, generate potential solutions and services, lead organizational changes and continuous improvements as required to support overall service offerings
• Partner with other Lab Operation leaders to share standard methodologies and incorporate as required in spirit of continuous improvement
• Streamline processes and create solutions which provide value and time savings across all LabOps’ service areas to decrease risk and increase compliance
• Develop and maintain long-term business relationships with key service providers

Customer & Strategic Focus

• Continuously manage customer expectations and monitor customer satisfaction levels of all applicable key collaborator groups for each service area
• Create clarity and communicate proactively across boundaries to ensure shared purpose and clear accountabilities across internal/external organization
• Ensure cross-functional leads set proactive, customer-facing deliverables so that LabOps can more effectively support the evolving needs of R&D
• Contribute actively to ensure the overall successful delivery of the R&D sites’ operational strategy as part of the NA Site Operations leadership team
• Integrate R&D Lab Operations Services with other Gaithersburg Site Operations strategic efforts, and with other sites as appropriate. Work closely with Site Leadership Team to implement key initiatives
• Provide primary interface to R&D Site Leaders for all R&D Lab Operations service areas
• Seek team member feedback from multiple levels of the R&D organization on matters concerning different functional areas to advise on new projects and initiatives
• Apply knowledge and communication skills to influence or gain acceptance for sensitive situations that require change management

Essential

• Bachelor’s degree in lab based biomedical, pharmaceutical, or biological science
• 15+ years of relevant (lab and/or operations) experience
• demonstrated ability in a management position
• Successful previous work in a matrix organization
• Proven People Management capability – to Lead an inclusive, high‑performing organization by coaching managers, and fostering cross‑site collaboration, transparent communication, constructive challenge, and continuous learning to attract, retain critical talent.
• Interpersonal and problem-solving skills
• Highly organized, efficient, and self-motivated
• Strong aptitude for customer service
• Financial Management: Budget ownership, forecasting, portfolio prioritization, and benefits realization.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Microsoft Office, database and data analysis software packages

Desirable

• Master’s degree highly preferred; MBA a plus
• Strong critical and analytical problem solver
• Strategy setting & execution skills

The annual base pay for this position ranges from $185,843.20 to $278,764.80. Our positions offer eligibility for various incentives—an opportunity to receive short-term incentive bonuses, equity-based awards for salaried roles and commissions for sales roles. Benefits offered include qualified retirement programs, paid time off (i.e., vacation, holiday, and leaves), as well as health, dental, and vision coverage in accordance with the terms of the applicable plans.

When we put unexpected teams in the same room, we ignite ambitious thinking with the power to inspire life-changing medicines! In-person working gives us the platform we need to connect, work at pace and challenge perceptions. That's why we work, on average, a minimum of four days per week from the office. But that doesn't mean we're not flexible. We balance the expectation of being in the office while respecting individual flexibility. Join us in our unique and ambitious world.

Why AstraZeneca:

Here, your leadership will tangibly accelerate the fight against cancer by giving scientists the time, tools, and services they need to push the boundaries of biology and technology. You will partner across an energized, well-funded pipeline spanning multiple indications, work shoulder-to-shoulder with experts from academia and industry, and help shape how we deliver trials earlier and smarter. We bring unexpected teams together to solve hard problems, value kindness alongside ambition, and back ambitious ideas with the resources to scale them—so the systems you design today enable breakthroughs for patients tomorrow.

Date Posted

02-Feb-2026

Closing Date

Our mission is to build an inclusive environment where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and employees. In furtherance of that mission, we welcome and consider applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of their protected characteristics. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please complete the corresponding section in the application form.