Senior Director, Business Planning and Operations (Functional Chief of Staff) – IO and Cell Therapy Discovery

Senior Director, Business Planning and Operations (Functional Chief of Staff) – IO and Cell Therapy Discovery Location: Gaithersburg, MD or Waltham, MA

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. We have a bold ambition to provide cures for cancer in every form. We are following the science to understand cancer and all its complexities to discover, develop and deliver life-changing treatments and increase the potential to save the lives of people around the world. Join the team dedicated to Oncology, with an ambition to eliminate cancer as a cause of death. It’s our big vision that unites and inspires us.

Position Summary

The Senior Director, Business Planning and Operations (Functional Chief of Staff) is responsible for the management of departmental business planning, product portfolio, and departmental operations. The position will also work in a consultative manner to the SVP, IO and Cell Therapy Discovery as a functional Chief of Staff to identify and execute against strategic priorities.

The ideal candidate for this role will be curious, creative, analytical with a natural leadership drive to bring solutions beyond immediate challenges; challenge the status quo and will have outstanding communication and influencing skills. They will share frequent interactions with senior leaders across Early Oncology and Cell Therapy, as well as close collaboration with leaders of the IO & Cell Therapy discovery units. Success in this role will result in improved business decision-making, accelerated innovation, and enhanced productivity. A passion for transformation, combined with relationship-building, leadership, and communication skills will be key to success.

The position will report into the Senior Vice President, IO & Cell Therapy Discovery. 

What You’ll Do

• Provide consultative support to SVP, identifying and solving complex problems as needed

• Support creation of executive level briefings and presentations as required

• Be a key contributor to strategic planning and opportunity assessment with an eye to new opportunities, risks and the broader market while maintaining an enterprise mindset

• Accountable for defining and driving business transformation strategies which will enable outstanding quality, effectiveness and efficiency of the business whilst ensuring delivery of top priority objectives

• Build the departmental business plan and ensure preparation for critical business processes or meetings, such as LTP / MTP and SET or TA presentations

• Oversee leadership team and program/portfolio governance meetings

• Work with senior leaders within the function to ensure the effective development and monitoring of strategy and annual goals, and ensure the function is resourced to deliver on its strategy.

• Drive leadership team operations, including LT and F2F meeting planning/management

• Monitor expenditure against agreed budget targets, identifying variances and implementing corrective action in partnership with Finance if necessary.

• Track delivery, produce performance updates, and report on and communicate the scorecard.

• Partner with HR and the Portfolio & Capacity Management team to support workforce planning/forecasting

• Strategically partner with the functional Communication Lead to identify and deliver key functional engagements and events through appropriate channels

• Ensure adherence with agreed CO2 budget targets for air travel

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree with 7 plus years of experience in consulting, banking, and/or pharmaceutical business operations

• Master’s degree with 5 plus years of experience OR

• PhD degree with 3 plus years of experience

• Scientific background

• Financial background and understanding of forecasts, budgets, financial activities and tools

Preferred Qualifications:

• STEM PhD preferred

• Demonstrated curiosity and/or experience in deploying AI tools to enhance business processes

• Strong analytical and communication skills

• Effective interpersonal and relationship management skills with consultative approach and ability to interact and build trust

• Operational effectiveness, highly organized process with follow through

• Strong initiative to understand our core business goals and establish processes or programs to set direction, generate alignment and push forward

• Resourceful, motivated, influential and proactive; able to prioritize in a fast-growing organization

• Experience in strategic planning processes and tools

• Understanding of the pharmaceutical business (including R&D)

• Experience in translating business needs into a coordinated plan from cross-functional senior leadership team

• Ability to develop creative and simple solutions to complex problems

Why AstraZeneca?

At AstraZeneca, we 're dedicated to being a phenomenal Place to Work. Where you are empowered to push the boundaries of science and unleash your entrepreneurial spirit. There is no better place to make a difference to medicine, patients and society. An inclusive culture that champions diversity and collaboration. Always committed to lifelong learning, growth and development.

Competitive Benefits

This opportunity offers access to a flexible employee benefits fund, including holiday purchase and flexible time off, pension contributions, Share Save Plans, A performance recognition scheme and a competitive, generous remuneration package.

So, what’s next?

A place built on courage, curiosity and collaboration – we make bold decisions driven by patient outcomes. Empowered to lead at every level, free to ask questions and take calculated risks that write the next chapter for our pipeline.

If you are swift to action, confident to lead, willing to collaborate, and passionate about the possibilities, then we are keen to hear from you!

Date Posted

07-Aug-2025

Closing Date

31-Aug-2025

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.

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.