Senior Director – Oncology Strategic Toxicology Leader (Immune Cell Engagement) – Clinical Pharmacology and Safety Sciences

Senior Director – Oncology Strategic Toxicology Leader (Immune Cell Engagement) – Clinical Pharmacology and Safety Sciences

Locations: Cambridge (UK), Gothenburg ( Sweden), Gaithersburg ( USA), Waltham (USA)

Competitive Salary & Excellent Company Benefits

At AstraZeneca, it is our bold ambition to eliminate cancer as a cause of death. This is underpinned by our rich pipeline aimed to deliver innovative treatment options for patients.

Oncology Immune Cell Engagement (ICE) Safety colleagues contribute to this ambition by accelerating innovative and expert non-clinical safety science. We are now looking to recruit a Senior Director,

Oncology Toxicology Strategy Leader.

As an empowered leader at AstraZeneca, you will work at the forefront of toxicology and safety science, operating in a multidisciplinary, diverse, and global environment. You will play a key role in progressing our rich Oncology R&D pipeline. The Strategic Safety / Toxicology Leader will provide critical insight and judgement to enable successful non-clinical development of oncology projects for the AstraZeneca portfolio, with a focus on immune cell engagers and immuno-oncology therapeutics. You will combine your experience in toxicology, drug safety and drug development with strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills to communicate across all levels of internal and external partners.  This position is preferably based in Cambridge, UK; Gaithersburg, MD (Washington DC metro area) US or in Waltham,.

This role will report to the Global Head of Immune Safety and will be a member of the Immune Safety department leadership team.

Main responsibilities

• Ensure the optimal toxicology strategy is delivered to support the Oncology R&D portfolio, including early and late-stage development, enabling first-time in human and subsequent clinical development, and supporting marketing applications.

• Coach project toxicologists on technical/operational aspects of project toxicology: ensuring line of sight from discovery through to licensure.

• Partner with Discovery Safety leaders, Safety Innovation, Advanced Cell Models and Regulatory Toxicology Safety Pharmacology departments to secure peer input on investigative safety work across the Oncology ICE portfolio.

• Conduct due diligence activities aligned to Oncology ICE Safety

• Critical review of Oncology ICE Safety data and communications, prior to key governance presentations and health authority interactions.

• Ensure quality and scientific rigor of non-clinical summaries of high-level regulatory documents for internal decision-making bodies and external health authorities.

• Take accountability for non-clinical safety strategies and decisions, e.g. as a voting member of non-clinical safety review board or active contributor to Oncology portfolio governance on relevant topics.

• As a member of the Immune Safety Leadership Team, identify, set, and deliver on overall department objectives, to support our strategy to Deliver growth and TA leadership, accelerate innovative science and be a great place to work.

• Engage with key internal and external partners anticipating scientific and portfolio trends to ensure adequate resourcing (e.g. budget forecasting) and capability development.

• Proactively contribute to our inclusive culture and provide the right support/challenge balance to enable engaged colleagues to develop their skills and deliver on their objectives.

Skills and qualifications:

• Extensive Drug Safety / Toxicology experience  (approximately 10 years) within a pharmaceutical R&D environment (Pharma, biotech, CRO) and deep knowledge and experience of all phases of drug development from discovery to marketing, from a non-clinical perspective, with good understanding of key partners such as Clinical and Regulatory functions.

• A strong scientific track record, with a PhD in a relevant life-science (e.g. Toxicology, Immunology, Biology, Pharmacology, Pharmaceutical Science), or equivalent experience with proven track record of publications.

• Significant experience in providing expert design and interpretation of toxicology programs, with a particular focus on immune cell engagers and immuno-oncology therapeutics. 

• Ability to operate with sensitivity and flexibility within an ever-evolving organizational matrix of project and line management, both functionally and across the business.

• Excellent communication and effective influencing skills and ability to navigate in a complex partner matrix.

• An inclusive leadership and collegiate working style that contributes to our Great Place to Work objectives. Experience with (or interest in) working with teams across geographies including awareness of subtle cultural differences.

What is next?

Are you ready to make a difference? Apply today and join us in our mission to improve global public health!

We welcome your applications not later than 25th February 2025.

Where can I find out more?

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

Are you ready to make a difference? Apply today and join us in our mission to improve global public health!