Senior Director – Strategic Toxicology Leader (Oncology large molecules) – Clinical Pharmacology and Safety Sciences

Senior Director – Strategic Toxicology Leader (Oncology large molecules) – Clinical Pharmacology and Safety Sciences

Location:Cambridge- UK, Gaithersburg - USA, Waltham-USA

Salary: Competitive

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 Targeted Delivery (OTD) 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 Strategic Toxicology 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 antibody-drug conjugates and radio-conjugates. 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, MA.

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

Main responsibilities:

• Ensuring the optimal toxicology strategy is delivered to support the Oncology R&D portfolio, including combinations, enabling clinical development, including first-time in human.

• Coach/mentor project toxicologists on technical/operational aspects of project toxicology: ensuring line of sight from discovery through clinical development.

• Partner with Discovery Safety leaders, Safety Innovation, Advanced Cell Models, Regulatory Toxicology Safety Pharmacology departments and late-stage biologics strategic toxicology leader to secure peer input on investigative safety work across the antibody-drug conjugates and radio-conjugates portfolio.

• Conduct due diligence activities aligned to OTD Safety

• Critical review of OTD 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 liaising late-stage biologics strategic toxicology leader.

• 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 on an ad hoc basis.

• As a member of the OTD 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.

Essential Skills and Qualifications:

• Extensive Drug Safety / Toxicology experience (~10 years) within a pharmaceutical R&D environment (Pharma, biotech, CRO) and deep knowledge and experience of all phases of drug discovery and development, 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, Biology, Pharmacology, Pharmaceutical Science), or equivalent experience with consistent record of publications.

• Significant experience in providing expert design and interpretation of toxicology programs, focusing on antibody-drug conjugates and radio-conjugates.

• 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.

Desirable Skills:

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 28th 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/

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