Therapy Area Lead (Oncology - GI Cancer) – Mumbai - HO

Designation: Therapy Area Lead (Oncology - GI Cancer)

About AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca is a global, science-led, patient-focused biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery, development and commercialization of prescription medicines for some of the world’s most serious diseases. But we’re more than one of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies.

Job Description / Capsule

Office based medical leader who can be a single contributor as well as be responsible for a team within a given Therapy Area or for a significant product to ensure the company business unit goals are achieved. Accountable for strategic Therapy Area direction, establishing standards of medical capability, business/resource planning, scientific leadership within the Medical Affairs Team.

Embeds a deep healthcare system practices and gaps understanding (environment, priorities, clinical and patient pathways, etc) that can translate into actionable strategies within the local Medical Plans. Accountable for developing and execution of the Therapy Area/Product Medical Affairs Plans composed of confidence and evidence generation activities, as well as fundamental and sustainable clinical practice transformations that strengthen healthcare ecosystems, improve treatment outcomes, drive meaningful changes in patient care and treatment paradigms and enable access to quality care in alignment with the company’s portfolio. Recognizes and incorporates innovation wherever appropriate into Medical Affairs strategic plans and lead in execution to drive strategic and sustainable impact internally and externally to support the adoption of evidence-based practices, guidelines, and treatment approaches. Acts as a catalyst of sustainable healthcare ecosystem change, enhancing access to quality care for patients and enabling the adoption of our innovative medicines.

Ensures that all local medical requirements are met for all product/TA material and will use medical expertise to contribute to the marketing direction of the product/TA. Recognised as a medical expert within the local marketing company and be responsible for providing medical leadership, expertise, and strategic input to ensure that the Medical Affairs plans align with the broader business objectives. As a Medical Leader, collaborate with leaders from relevant cross-functional teams identify, activate and measure scalable healthcare practice shaping initiatives with integrated partnership engagement plans composed of key traditional (e.g. HCPs) and non-traditional (e.g. policy and decision makers, PAGs, government, innovative solution providers) stakeholders. Able to lead a significant cross functional, projects. For example, projects like RWE, pre-launch, post-launch clinical trials or market access projects. Works to ensure operational excellence and collaborates with compliance to ensure adherence to company standards.

Typical Accountabilities

Medical strategy and clinical input

• Drive Medically led/co-led, based initiatives, on an identified gap in collaboration with CFTs, that contributes to an overarching plan mapped to drive positive patient outcomes.

• Leverage medical expertise to design, implement, and oversee real-world evidence (RWE) projects. Identifies reliable suitable data sources and ensure the scientific rigor and integrity of real-world studies.

• Responsible for interpreting and communicating the findings from RWE projects with a strong focus on translating RWE into actionable insights that can internally inform medical and commercial strategies and externally ultimately improve patient outcomes and inform healthcare decision-making.

• Establish AstraZeneca as a scientific leader through proactive medical inputs.

• Lead educational initiatives, developing clinical support tools, and providing scientific expertise to support the integration of new medical advancements into clinical practice.

• Puts in place measures to showcase the impact of initiatives.

• Agile adoption of innovation through win-win partnerships within the healthcare ecosystem that are scalable and can enable sustainable patient outcomes.

Team Leader

• Enhances medical effectiveness by building a performance driven team with robust systems and processes with the right capabilities in place to meet current and future needs of the AZ Medical team.

• Fostering a collaborative and inclusive team environment, where individuals are supported in their professional development and empowered to contribute their expertise to the broader goals of the organization.

• Responsible for setting clear expectations, goals, and priorities for the team, and ensuring alignment with the overall medical and business strategies.

• Promotes a culture of scientific excellence, integrity, and continuous learning within the team.

• Organises and delivers education and training to cross-functional employees to ensure scientific knowledge is kept up to date within the local organization.

• Will often guide and mentor more junior Medical Affairs colleagues providing ongoing coaching and feedback to team members, as well as support their career growth and skills development.

Medical Governance Oversight

• Leads a team that ensures all product materials for a specific therapy area are kept up to date and accurate.

• Personally, provides expert scientific support and approval on product materials involving large or more complex drugs, or documents and reports for more important conferences/symposiums.

• Has signatory authority on outgoing therapy area materials.

• Advises the marketing team as a medical healthcare expert ensuring the medical and scientific accuracy of outgoing marketing materials.

• Ensures that all branding work is carried out in accordance with AstraZeneca standards and external regulation.

• Governance and overall adherence to processes and regulations including but not limited to: clinical trials, promotional activity (e.g. Local country Code of Ethics), patient safety (ensure that pharmacovigilance activities meet internal SOP and local regulations e.g. RMPs, PI updates, oversight of safety profile of products registered in the local country)

Education, Qualifications, Skills, and Experience

Essential

• Science degree and or master’s degree in a scientific discipline

• Extensive experience of Medical Affairs function within a pharmaceutical industry

• Strong understanding of medical, clinical development, and regulatory requirements

• Extensive experience in stakeholder management

• Strong project management and organizational skills

• Excellent oral and written communication

• Extensive team management experience

• Ability to work effectively in a matrix cross-functional environment

Desirable

• Doctoral degree in a scientific discipline (e.g. M.D., Ph.D., Pharm.D.)

• Extensive knowledge of the latest technical and regulatory developments

• Innovative and solution-oriented mindset

• Experience with basic research, drug discovery and development and drug lifecycle management

• Ecosystem scaled project experience

Key Relationships to reach solutions

Internal (to AZ or team)

• Commercial Function (Marketing & Sales)

• May need Senior local management relationships

• Corporate Affairs (GA & Communications)

• Market Access (Pricing, Patient Programs, etc)

• Medical Function (RA, PV, MI, NS, etc)

• Compliance Team

• HR Function

• Other local, regional, and global stakeholders

External (to AZ)

• Healthcare professionals

• Government (i.e. Regulatory, Reimbursement, Policy)

• Innovation ecosystem stakeholders (i.e. Research Institutions, Startups, Incubators)

• Other local and regional stakeholders

Why AstraZeneca?

At AstraZeneca we’re dedicated to being a Great Place to Work. Where you are empowered to push the boundaries of science and unleash your entrepreneurial spirit. There’s no better place to make a difference to medicine, patients and society. An inclusive culture that champions diversity and collaboration, and always committed to lifelong learning, growth and development. We’re on an exciting journey to pioneer the future of healthcare.

You can find alternative messaging to use in the ‘Global Talent Attraction Story messaging’ section of the Global Playbook on the Employer Brand Portal - try to use other examples in order to make it different for candidates!

So, what’s next?

• Are you already imagining yourself joining our team? Good, because we can’t wait to hear from you.

• Are you ready to bring new ideas and fresh thinking to the table? Brilliant! We have one seat available and we hope it’s yours.

• If you’re curious to know more then please reach out to (contact person) We welcome with your application, no later than (Month) (XX)

Where can I find out more?

Our Social Media, Follow AstraZeneca on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/1603/

Follow AstraZeneca on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/astrazenecacareers/

Follow AstraZeneca on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/astrazeneca_careers/?hl=en

If you have site, country or departmental social media then feel free to switch any of the above links.

Date Posted

25-Feb-2026

Closing Date

24-Feb-2026

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.

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.