Associate Director, Global Project Management
Location: Barcelona, Spain (on-site: 3 days/week working from the office)
The Associate Director of Global Project Management (GPM)is a key leadership position and global role responsible for managingglobal,cross-functional, drug development teamsand sub-teams towards achieving key strategic objectives and deliveringsignificant development, regulatory and commercial milestones. The GPM holds a central position, with a complete view of the drug project, working across all functions. This role complements the Global Project Leader, by providing top level oversight and integration of the entire development process and into commercialization.
Depending on the stage of development and project complexity, the GPM will work on one or more cross-functionalearly or late Global Project Teams (GPTs).The GPM is accountable for ensuring that the team operates in a way that represents best practice for project management within AstraZeneca. Stage and project complexity will define to what extent the GPM will work with other Project Managers to drive project delivery. The GPM is a strategic partner to the Global Project Leader/Global Franchise Head and the entireGPT.
The Associate Director GPM role is highly visible and is critical to the delivery of strategic and operational objectives. It plays a role ensuring successful delivery of innovative medicines to patients throughout the drug development process.
Typical Accountabilities
Strategic Business Partnership
• Provides input into the project strategy & vision through expertise in project management, and navigates the therapy area and corporate governance processes
• Ensures alignment of the project and operational deliverables to the team’s strategy
• Shares lessons learned and communicates those where relevant
• May manage or lead elements of the team’s development plan or strategy as delegated by the Global Project Leader
• Ensures appropriate linkages between project strategy and key internal processes (TA strategy, TA prioritization, corporate scorecard) and updates the relevant enterprise systems
• Where applicable, interface with alliance partners
• May partner with Business Development to provide project input to potential deal cases (investment & divestment)
Cross-functional Team Leadership and Delivery
• Manages cross functional drug development teams and sub teams and ensures an accurate and achievable project plan
• Acts as a core GPT member and drives efficient operation of early and/or late-stage GPTs including overall plans, priorities, budget and risk management
• Accountable for driving an effective, efficient team environment and helping the Global Project Leader to build a cohesive, high performing team
• Facilitates GPTand sub-teams towards successful decision making and issue resolution. Focuses the GPT on the right activities at the right time and can handle the majority of challenging project situations.
• Creates and manages effective communication processes with in the team
• Proactively ensures the set-up and maintenance of information management practices in lines with AZ best practice and with support of the Information Management Lead
• Ensure project data quality as per agreed standards
Governance and Investment Decisions
• FacilitatesGPTtowards effective governance decisions (e.g. Phase IDs, project revisions, etc.) and is responsible for leading development of investment decision documentation
• Integrates and provides information to both the team and senior management / governance bodies that allows efficient (timely and informed) decision making
Planning, Monitoring and Delivery
• Ensures that the overall GPT deliverables, budgets, schedules, and performance standards are realistically set, governance approved and attained, and that the project effectively fulfills all information management and business reporting requirements.
• Maintains plans of the highest data quality, accountable for all project management deliverables associated with GPTsor sub-teams covered
Entrepreneurship
• Seeks opportunities to drive positive change and remove barriers within and outside the team.
• Advocates company best practices
• Applies business knowledge to drive cross-functional and cross-project learning
Education, Qualifications, Skills and Experience
Essential/Required
Bachelor’s degree with 5+ years of experience supporting cross-functional drug development teams or leading sub-teams
Project Management experience with successfultrack record of delivering projects within agreed time, quality and cost.
Experience with project management tools and processes.
Ability to manage high performing teams with expertise in developing effective team operations
Ability to work effectively with senior stakeholders
Experience ensuring high quality data in enterprise systems
Strong information management skills, including use of modern collaboration tools such as SharePoint, Microsoft Teams and OneNote
Experience ensuring high quality data in enterprise systems
Desirable
Advanced degree in a scientific discipline and / or MBA
7+ years’ relevant experience
In-depth knowledge of drug development process with therapeutic area specific knowledge and experience
Project Management (PMP) Certification
Date Posted
20-nov-2025Closing Date
09-dic-2025AstraZeneca 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.
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 authorisation and employment eligibility verification requirements.
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