The Senior Director, TA Strategy and Portfolio Delivery (R&I) leads the development and implementation of global Site Management & Monitoring (SMM) Therapeutic Area strategies, shaping how the portfolio is delivered across all phases. Working closely with Indication Program Leads, Directors and Associate Directors of Strategic Feasibility, and Study Operation Leads, this role aligns strategic objectives, builds end-to-end capability and drives operational excellence across countries and geographies. Acting as a key member of the global SMM Business Strategy and Portfolio team, this leadership role connects SMM insights with global TA strategy. It coordinates portfolio performance and ensures that SMM countries are equipped to deliver against critical achievements while embracing innovation in digital health and patient-centric solutions. Ready to influence how complex respiratory and immunology studies are brought to life worldwide?

Accountabilities

• Lead the establishment and implementation of global SMM TA strategies, ensuring alignment of capacity and capability in the short and long term across the clinical portfolio.  
• Develop and integrate end-to-end capability for early to late phase clinical portfolio execution, ensuring seamless transition and delivery across phases.  
• Interface with global teams to shape TA strategy and translate it into clear, actionable plans at market level.  
• Maintain strong awareness of emerging trends in strategic portfolio management and development, both internally and externally at a global level, and apply these insights to SMM strategy.  
• Build indication landscaping and future portfolio plans with Indication Program Leads, Directors and Associate Directors of Strategic Feasibility to ensure teams are prepared for delivery.  
• Ensure alignment between Global SMM and Country Heads by communicating projected study volumes, timelines and strategic priorities to support tailored local strategies and accurate resource planning.  
• Act as the subject matter expert for SMM within global cross-functional workstreams and taskforces, providing strategic insights and guidance to drive collaborative decision-making and project outcomes.
• Provide robust global SMM insights to support indication landscape assessments, study design evaluation and protocol/site feasibility, ensuring country feasibility outcomes are embedded into operational plans.  
• Collaborate closely with IPLs, DSFs, ADSFs, SOLs and relevant global teams to optimise country and site selection for TA studies.  
• Use bottom-up country strategy combined with TA expertise to advise on optimal countries and sites for feasibility participation.  
• Define and standardise optimal feasibility processes in collaboration with IPLs, DSFs and Study SOLs to drive consistency and quality.  
• Drive delivery, review and discussion of the TA portfolio within SMM and with global teams, ensuring transparency on progress and priorities.  
• Escalate issues and mitigate risks for new and ongoing studies to secure business-critical milestones such as recruitment completion, database lock and reduced study cycle times.  
• Provide ongoing visibility of the TA portfolio and organisational capacity, influencing decisions through Regional Directors to optimise resources within SMM in both the near and longer term.  
• Champion digital health solutions, patient-centric approaches, and recruitment and retention strategies for TA studies, aligned with global initiatives.  
• Engage internally and externally to identify potential new investigators, expanding the global footprint in line with TA clinical development plans.  
• Drive standardisation within SMM for feasibility conduct, site selection, operational projections and processes to enable consistent high-quality delivery.  
• Demonstrate cultural sensitivity, effective communication, negotiation and collaboration across diverse teams and geographies.

Essential Qualifications

• Bachelor degree in related discipline, preferably in life science, or equivalent qualification aligned to the knowledge and skills of the role and ensures successful conduct of responsibilities and appropriate interactions with internal and or external stakeholders.
• Previous experience in the pharmaceutical industry
• Communication & Teamwork: Storytelling, Influencing, Business Partnering, Business Acumen, Collaboration  
• Scientific Concept & Research Design: Industry Awareness, Applying Disease & TA knowledge, Study Feasibility  
• Effective, risk-based thinking: Problem Solving, Critical Thinking, Decision Making, Long-term Planning
• Deliver Priorities Results & Impact: Recruitment/Retention Planning & Action, Empowerment & Delegation, Financial Acumen, Cultivates Innovation  
• Leadership:  Enable Change, Feedforward & Coaching, Drives Vision & Purpose, Drives Engagement & Development, Building Effective Teams, Values Difference, Manages Conflict. 
•  Ability to travel nationally/internationally as required

Relevant knowledge and ability to fulfil key responsibilities, including but not limited to:

Drug development process and related GxP processes, International guidelines ICH-GCP, relevant country regulations, medical knowledge and ability to learn relevant AZ Therapeutic Areas, Clinical Study Management, Strategic portfolio management, Functional management of resourcing, budget planning and functional level activities. Workforce planning, collaboration and leadership to implement company objectives and drive business outcomes.  

Preferred Qualifications

• Clinical Operations experience

When we put unexpected teams in the same room, we unleash bold 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 three 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 outstanding and ambitious world.

The annual base pay (or hourly rate of compensation) for this position ranges from $206,993.60 - $310,490.40 USD. 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.

At AstraZeneca, science guides every decision. Teams push boundaries from discovery to late-stage development. They transform complex disease understanding into life-changing medicines. Curiosity is encouraged. Data science and AI work alongside modern biology. Partnerships include academia, biotechs, and industry. Careers grow through lifelong learning and varied portfolios. Resilience develops by tackling tough scientific challenges together. Bold ideas have a chance to be published and improve patient outcomes worldwide.

Ready to shape global TA strategy and portfolio delivery that truly impacts patients’ lives? Apply now!

Date Posted

22-Apr-2026

Closing Date

08-May-2026

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.