Senior Director, Portfolio Excellence and Transformation

Senior Director, Portfolio Excellence and Transformation 

Gaithersburg, MD

Global Portfolio & Project Management

Hybrid Work- on average 3 days/week in office

Gaithersburg is the preferred location for this role, however, applicants from Cambridge, Boston, Barcelona and Mississauga will also be considered. 

AstraZeneca Oncology is leading a revolution to redefine cancer care with a portfolio of launched products providing transformative outcomes for patients around the world and a full suite of modalities fuelling future innovative treatments. In Global Portfolio and Project Management (GPPM), we play a critical role in advancing the pipeline by closely partnering with Research & Development, Commercial and Operations to support decision-making, project management, resource management and governance across the AstraZeneca portfolio. Come join a team-oriented and fast-paced environment that requires integrity, problem solving and agility!

The Senior Director, Portfolio Excellence & Transformation is a senior enterprise leadership role created to fundamentally improve how GPTs deliver at scale to help accelerate the Oncology pipeline. This is a transformation role for someone who can see what is possible, build the case for change, and bring people with them. Reporting to the Head of Oncology Portfolio Strategy and Management, this individual will lead the Portfolio Excellence and Innovation agenda across GPPM Oncology, defining where AI, advanced analytics, and modern ways of working can create the greatest step-change in GPT ways-of-working, portfolio decision-making, process quality, and organisational efficiency, and expand the impact to other TAs where appropriate. They will translate that ambition into reality through collaboration, influence, and a focus on impact. 

What you'll do

Portfolio Excellence and Innovation Strategy 

• Define and own the Portfolio Excellence and Innovation agenda for GPPM Oncology — setting a clear, prioritised vision for where AI, analytics, and process transformation will deliver the greatest impact 

• Identify high-value opportunities across the drug development and portfolio management lifecycle, from decision support and scenario modelling to process simplification and capability building, and drive the delivery of high-impact initiatives 

• Stay closely connected to the external landscape, bringing in emerging thinking, technologies, and best practice to continuously improve how GPPM can deliver 

AI-Enabled Transformation 

• Lead the design, piloting, and scaling of AI-enabled capabilities that improve the speed, quality, and consistency of GPT ways-of-working and Enterprise portfolio decision-making 

• Partner with Digital, Data Science, IT, Global Business Services and R&D teams to co-develop solutions that are robust, scalable, and embedded into day-to-day ways of working 

• Drive adoption through demonstrated value, clear communication, building genuine enthusiasm for new approaches across the organisation 

• Establish guardrails and governance to ensure AI innovation improves decision quality and accountability 

Process Excellence and Simplification 

• Lead identification and delivery of high-value simplification opportunities across GPT, portfolio and business cycle processes — reducing complexity, duplication, and friction 

• Work with GPPM leads and business partners to challenge existing ways of working and build the case for redesign 

• Embed a continuous improvement approach across the team, creating frameworks that enable ongoing evolution rather than one-time fixes 

Enterprise Influence and Capability Building 

• Operate as an enterprise-level influencer, building partnerships across Oncology, GPPM, and beyond to drive adoption of new approaches at pace and scale 

• Build capability across GPPM and partner teams through coaching, toolkits, and success stories that make innovation tangible and accessible 

• Represent GPPM Oncology in cross-enterprise forums related to digital transformation, AI governance, and portfolio management capability 

Essential for the role

• Bachelor's of Arts or Science degree and 10 years of experience with focus in life science or consulting
  OR

• Master's of Science/MBA and 7+ years of experience with focus in life science or consulting
  OR

• PhD or MD and 5+ years of experience with focus in life science or consulting

• Proven track record of leading and delivering enterprise-level transformation with measurable, lasting impact 

• Proven ability to bridge business and technical domains, credible with both senior business leaders and technical specialists, acting as an effective translator between the two. You'll understand the business deeply, can speak the language of technology without being defined by it, and know how to move a large, complex organisation from where it is to where it needs to be.

• Exceptional influencing skills and ability to mobilise cross-functional teams of various skills and capabilities and drive delivery 

• Strong prioritisation and strategic thinking, ability to identify where innovation creates the most value and build a compelling case for action 

• Excellent communication skills, and ability to simplify complex ideas, tell stories that land, and build organisational energy around a shared vision 

• A catalyst for ideas, for adoption, for lasting change, and the ability to bring stakeholders on a journey from awareness to conviction to action

Desirable for the role

• Direct experience designing or deploying AI or advanced analytics solutions in a drug development or portfolio management context 

• Track record of building and developing high-performing teams in an innovation or transformation context 

Office Working Requirements
 

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 unique and ambitious world.

The annual base pay 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. ​

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