Executive Director, Head of Hematology R&D Translational Medicine

The Executive Director, Hematology R&D Translational Medicine, will report to the SVP, Hematology R&D.

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. We are more than one of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies.

AstraZeneca has a multifaceted environment that cultivates collaboration and innovation. We attract top minds, and we nurture and build talent.

Within Hematology R&D, we are committed to advancing science to deliver life-changing medicines to patients most in need. With a combination-focused pipeline that exploits the power of six scientific platforms (Immuno-Oncology, Tumor Drivers and Resistance, DNA Damage Response, Antibody-drug Conjugates, Cell Therapy and Epigenetics) to help address unmet clinical needs in a host of hematological cancers, we are motivated by a dedication to the scientific discovery and collaboration that will one day help eliminate cancer as a cause of death. This unit has responsibility for the value chain from discovery through to late-stage development, enabling rapid acceleration of promising early-stage assets and life-cycle management programs.

The Hematology Research and Development (R&D) team is accountable for all drug development activities in hematology research from first-in-man studies, all the way to late-stage trials leading to drug approval by regulatory agencies (Phase 1, 2, and 3 trials). The team strives to deliver compelling preclinical, clinical, and translational data packages providing confidence in the dosing strategy, tolerability profile, and therapeutic efficacy of our candidate drugs to support investment in late-stage clinical development, leading to drug approval.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading Hematological-Oncology and Minimal Residual Disease (MRD) initiatives.
• Developing and implementing biomarker strategies and patient selection biomarkers.
• Ensuring data-driven clinical translational strategies for target validation.
• Supporting early and late-stage hematology-oncology projects and developing Hem-Onc biomarker tools.
• Building relationships with senior scientific staff and aligning with AstraZeneca's mission.
• Representing Hematology R&D Translational Team at executive levels.
• Managing and prioritizing the research and early development pipeline.
• Supporting early clinical PoC and development phases.
• Collaborating with the clinical development team to design and execute appropriate phase 1/2a study(s) to generate FIH safety, PK, PD, PK/PD, biomarker or efficacy/PoC data to support continued clinical development or no-go for program
• Building strong relationships with opinion leaders, scientific advisors, alliance partners and patient advocacy groups to help drive the scientific communications program and to ensure that team meets scientific and business objective
• Oversee & manage the Hematology Translational Medicine organization of 40+ Translational Scientists and Translational Medicine Leaders.
  

Experience and Required Skills:

• PhD, MD, or DVM with a minimum of 10 years of relevant experience.
• Strong scientific methodology, communication, and presentation skills.
• Ability to manage multiple research and development programs.
• Ability to constructively facilitate debate across deep technical and broad strategic issues and develop alternative options
• Ability to create an environment where imaginative and constructive dialog can flourish and manage conflict n
• Attract, retain, manage, coach, and mentor scientific staff