Director, Global Oncology Data Strategy

Do you have expertise in and curiosity for delivering impactful real-world evidence to Medical Affairs teams in Oncology? Apply your experience to change the way cancer is treated at AstraZeneca, a company that follows the science and turns ideas into life-changing medicines. Help advance our incredible pipeline by applying your talents in accelerating our pathway to finding a cure for cancer.

The Centre for Oncology Data Excellence [CODE] focuses on delivering outstanding scientifically meticulous research to support the Global Medical Evidence Generation organization. Oncology Data Strategy [ODS] is a crucial team within the CODE organization that operates globally. We are responsible for developing “above brand” data strategies and, where required, tumor-level data strategies for assets/brands.

Data strategies define the most cost-efficient, research-grade, and timely data assets to use in real-world evidence -generation studies across AstraZeneca’s oncology portfolio.

The Director of ODS will have a comprehensive understanding of pharmaceutical drug development (from R&D to Commercial), understand how pharmaceutical companies use data to drive important decisions, have validated knowledge of the data ecosystem, and have a technical understanding of observational research (including authorship of good publications in the space).

What You'll Do:

• Responsible for driving resource strategy meetings and connecting with cross-functional teams.
• Ensure that all Medical and business activities are carried out in compliance with AZ standards, standard operating procedures, and external regulations
• Identify data needs across the Global Medical Affairs (GMA) Oncology Portfolio by crafting data narratives, the value proposition of data, and the impacts of the narratives on brand/tumor strategies and the patient care experience.
• Demonstrate up-to-date knowledge of the external data ecosystem by commissioning annual/bi-annual landscape assessments for RWE teams in GMA. These assessments will include current offerings by data vendors, technologies used to link data across different data sources, and developments in the acceptance of RWE by key health technology assessment and regulatory agencies.
• Develop a Global Oncology Data Strategy while contributing to Global Medical Strategies.
• Contribute, as a crucial member, to the Oncology Data Tumor Board, a forum that includes members from R&D, Commercial, and Medical Affairs and evaluates data assets relevant to AstraZeneca.
• Collaborate with key partners including the Head of Oncology Outcomes Research (O2R), RWE tumor leads, and scientists to craft, develop, and drive the execution of data strategies for specific tumor types and oncology portfolio assets.
• Identify and evaluate data assets and develop an annual data strategic plan for key regions in partnership with key internal collaborators.

Technical Skills Required:

• Minimum 6-8 years of validated experience in the healthcare industry paired with an MS or doctoral degree (PharmD, Ph.D., MD) in epidemiology, outcomes research, statistics, and/or related subject areas.
• Research skills, and a significant understanding of research methodologies and statistics. Proven experience in conducting outcomes research studies, including areas such as health economics, patient-reported outcomes, retrospective data analyses, epidemiology, and/or health services research.
• Significant experience and a consistent track record in navigating multiple types of datasets to understand the pros and cons and best uses of each. Hands-on experience with multiple large and diverse (e.g. EMR, claims, registry, and survey data) datasets globally.
• Engagement/project leadership experience including leading multi-disciplinary teams and handling partner relationships.
• Clinical knowledge across multiple therapeutic areas (traditional and specialty areas), healthcare reimbursement environments, economic evaluations, or patient-reported outcomes, preferably including data analysis and statistics.
• Scientific and business expertise in oncology with a strong understanding of key trends and challenges in RWE.

Leadership Skills Required:

• Ability to lead cross-functional working groups and teams within a sophisticated matrix organization.
• Extensive experience in partner management & situational leadership.
• Excellent presentation and communication skills with the ability to convey key messages to scientific, commercial, internal, and external partners and understand their needs.
• Ability to influence without authority.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills as well as strong leadership and interpersonal skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Operational expertise in risk management and prioritization
• Extensive knowledge of the latest RWE related technical and regulatory environment.
• Ph.D. in a scientific subject area such as epidemiology, outcomes research, and statistics or an MD.

Why AstraZeneca?

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. But we’re more than one of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies.

At AstraZeneca, we’re dedicated to being an outstanding Place to Work. Where you are empowered to push the boundaries of science and fuel your entrepreneurial spirit. An inclusive culture that champions diversity and collaboration. Always committed to lifelong learning, growth, and development.