Are you passionate about the role Data Science can make in innovating clinical trials for emerging products?

AstraZeneca is a company that follows the science and turns ideas into life changing medicines. Innovative technologies are allowing us to better capture and harness data, and enabling us to better understand diseases, identify new targets, and recruit for and design clinical trials. We are able to more efficiently analyze, interpret and apply data, maximizing the discovery and delivery of potential new medicines. The Early Data Science group delivers data-driven, actionable insights through the application of computational science to all areas of AstraZeneca Oncology's research portfolio. The group has meaningful expertise and a renowned track record in bioinformatics, computational oncology and data science, undertaking both portfolio applied informatics research and the development of groundbreaking capabilities. Our team plays a unique role in redefining our business and leading the adoption of computational and data driven approaches to the drug discovery process.

What you'll do:

The Executive Director (Head) of Early Data Science is a critical senior leadership position within our Oncology Data Science function, reporting to the Vice President, Oncology Biometrics, Oncology R&D. In this role you will own the strategy and implementation of work aligned to our pre-clinical and early clinical portfolios. Some of your responsibilities will include:

* Leadership and Team Management: Supervise and lead a team of approximately 100 computational scientists across global sites in the UK, US, Canada and Spain, fostering collaboration and innovation.

* Strategy Development and Execution: Devise and implement strategy to generate actionable insights that drive progress in the Early Oncology portfolio.

* Partnership and Collaboration: Nurture effective partnerships across Discovery, Translational Medicine, and Early Clinical functions to ensure seamless collaboration and alignment with organizational goals.

* Resource Allocation and Management: Strategically manage resources to reflect business and portfolio priorities, ensuring optimal utilization to achieve business priorities.

* Innovation and Capability: Sustain a world-leading bioinformatics and computational biology capability, using AI & ML methods to derive novel scientific insights from diverse data types.

* External Engagement and Functional Leadership: Develop a strong external presence, form effective collaborations, and lead the EDS Leadership Team in shaping functional strategy, overseeing daily operations, and promoting career growth and development.

Essential for the Role

* Relevant PhD and 10 years of experience or Masters Degree and 12 years of experience combining technical expertise in bioinformatics, computational biology or data science and in applying informatics to drug discovery, with an outstanding track record of impactful delivery in pharma R&D.

* Experience managing large, multi-layered, diverse and global teams with a focus on performance, coaching and professional development.

* Highly developed communication, presentation, business analytics, and consultancy skills that convey concise, biological stories from complex data and build strong stakeholder relationships across a large organization.

* Proven understanding of the design, development, optimization, and scaling of bioinformatic experiments, applications and solutions.

* Experience developing novel computational approaches (including AI) that advance solutions to key problems is drug discovery and an awareness of key technology trends.

* A deep understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying cancer and the different drug modalities being developed within cancer (small molecules, ADCs, Cell Therapies etc).

* An outstanding publication record.

* Ability to think critically, creatively and to anticipate and solve problems whilst navigating a fast-paced, highly-matrixed work environment.

* Influencing skills of the highest order.

* Significant budget and project management experience.

In Office Requirement:

When we put unexpected teams in the same room, we unleash bold thinking with the power to inspire life-changing medicines. In-person working gives us the platform we need to connect, work at pace and challenge perceptions. That's why we work, on average, a minimum of three days per week from the office. But that doesn't mean we're not flexible. We balance the expectation of being in the office while respecting individual flexibility. Join us in our unique and ambitious world. This role can be performed in our Cambridge (UK), Gaithersburg MD (US) or Waltham MA (US) offices. Remote work and alternative schedules can not be supported for this role.

Date Posted

23-May-2024

Closing Date

06-Jun-2024

Our mission is to build an inclusive and equitable environment. We want people to feel they belong at AstraZeneca and Alexion, starting with our recruitment process. We welcome and consider applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of characteristics. We offer reasonable adjustments/accommodations to help all candidates to perform at their best. If you have a need for any adjustments/accommodations, please complete the section in the application form.