Director of Early Commercial – Respiratory

Director of Early Commercial – Respiratory
Location: Gaithersburg US, Wilmington US, Cambridge UK

We need outstanding people who share our passion for science and have the drive and determination to meet the unmet needs of patients around the world.

Working here means being entrepreneurial, thinking big and working together to make the impossible a reality. We bring new kinds of teams together across business areas and geographies, to pursue discoveries beyond envisioning. We commit to those areas where we believe we can really change the course of medicine and bring big new ideas to life.

The Biopharmaceutical Business Unit (BBU) bridges science and commercial, integrating corporate, portfolio, therapy areas and product strategies, providing strategic direction from early-stage research through to commercialization.

Within the Global Respiratory & Immunology (R&I) Therapeutic Area, reporting to the Head of Early Commercial - Respiratory, you will help craft AZ’s future Respiratory portfolio by leading the commercial evaluation of early internal and external opportunities and then their integration or externalization. You will be responsible for the strengthening and acceleration of the portfolio (including business development) and developing and implementing ambitious brand and clinical development strategies, operational plans and business cases for assets in clinical development up to and including Phase 3 investment decision (Ph3ID). You will work cross functionally with colleagues in AZ R&D units to craft the development of the early respiratory portfolio, ensuring that AZ resource is passionate about the most promising drug candidates.

What you’ll do:

• Provide strategic commercial input into the product development teams to ensure alignment of asset vision, product strategy, Target Product Profile and clinical development plan
• Setting the commercial strategy and business case for investment decisions up to and including Phase 3 investment decision.
• Presentation of the commercial strategy to governance bodies (e.g. TA leadership team, Early and Late stage product committees)
• Represent the commercial voice within the global cross functional product team

• Collaborating closely with Business Development functions and coordinating global commercial evaluations of external in-licensing opportunities that could support the TA portfolio strategy
• Engaging with Key External Experts (KEEs) to gather input to inform the respiratory strategy and activities plan including advocacy development
• Continue to drive patient centricity and innovation through all aspects of Early Asset Commercial strategy

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree is required in Business, Medical or Life sciences
• 10 years’ experience in healthcare or biopharma industry
• Significant and in-depth understanding of global commercial strategy, methodologies and tools (product profiling and positioning, forecasting, pricing and reimbursement, market research techniques, competitive intelligence resources)
• Experience of crafting brand strategy whilst the understanding of product profile was incomplete and evolving
• Detailed ‘hands-on’ knowledge of building TPPs, generating sales forecasts and business cases
• Thorough understanding of the drug development process and the need for commercial line of sight throughout
• Understanding of future healthcare market challenges
• Strong interpersonal and team leadership skills, demonstrating flexibility and a validated ability to deal with complexity under time pressure
• Proven strong influencing skills and stakeholder management
• Experienced and comfortable working in a matrix environment

Preferred Qualifications:

• An advanced degree (MBA, MSc or PhD)
• Experience in respiratory
• Experience leading commercial evaluation of BD projects

Why AstraZeneca?

At AstraZeneca when we see an opportunity for change, we seize it and make it happen, because any opportunity no matter how small, can be the start of something big. Delivering life-changing medicines is about being entrepreneurial -finding those moments and recognizing their potential. Join us on our journey of building a new kind of organization to reset expectations of what a bio-pharmaceutical company can be. This means we’re opening new ways to work, pioneering cutting edge methods and bringing unexpected teams together. Interested? Come and join our journey.

So, what’s next!

Are you already imagining yourself joining our team? Good, because we can’t wait to hear from you.

The annual base pay for this position ranges from $229,303 to $343,955. Hourly and salaried non-exempt employees will also be paid overtime pay when working qualifying overtime hours. Base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. In addition, our positions offer a short-term incentive bonus opportunity; eligibility to participate in our equity-based long-term incentive program (salaried roles), to receive a retirement contribution (hourly roles), and commission payment eligibility (sales roles). Benefits offered included a qualified retirement program [401(k) plan]; paid vacation and holidays; paid leaves; and, health benefits including medical, prescription drug, dental, and vision coverage in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable plans. Additional details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment. If hired, employee will be in an “at-will position” and the Company reserves the right to modify base pay (as well as any other discretionary payment or compensation program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, Company or individual department/team performance, and market factors.