Associate Director, Precision Medicine Oncology

At AstraZeneca, we pride ourselves on crafting a collaborative culture that champions knowledge-sharing, ambitious thinking, and innovation – ultimately providing employees with the opportunity to work across teams, functions, and even the globe.

Recognizing the importance of individualized flexibility, our ways of working allow employees to balance personal and work commitments while ensuring we continue to create a strong culture of collaboration and teamwork by engaging face-to-face in our offices 3 days a week. Our head office and BlueSky Hub in downtown Toronto are purposely designed with collaboration in mind, providing space where teams can come together to strategize, brainstorm, and connect on key projects.

Our dedication to sustainability is also central to our culture and part of what makes AstraZeneca a great place to work. We know the health of people, the planet, and our business are interconnected which is why we’re taking ambitious action to tackle some of the biggest challenges of our time, from climate change to access to healthcare and disease prevention.

Are you excited about Precision Medicine? Would you like to have an impact on patients’ lives and contribute to eliminating cancer as a cause of death? If so, then join us!

We’re investing like never before in our people, in growth, and in new diagnostic techniques and technologies. There are opportunities at every turn, with a variety and breadth that is uncommon to find and an industry-leading pipeline in oncology. Scientists at AstraZeneca are working every day to turn science fiction into science fact. Our ambition - to develop innovative, targeted medicines for every patient that needs them - and to match those treatments to patients most likely to benefit from them – is now a reality. This approach, known as Precision Medicine, is based on those individual characteristics that make some patients respond to treatment better than others. We use this knowledge to develop diagnostic tests that doctors can use to help prescribe the best treatment for each patient. Indeed, it’s now become common practice for patients with cancer to be offered such diagnostic tests before their treatment plan is agreed.

The AstraZeneca Precision Medicine Oncology team within the Precision Medicine and Biosamples function drives scientific leadership through the delivery of innovative companion diagnostics approaches enabling our oncology ambition to transform the lives of patients living with cancer, and ultimately eliminate cancer as a cause of death.

We do this by:

1. Leading the development of diagnostics across AstraZeneca’s early and late-stage oncology portfolios through close collaborations with our external diagnostic partners.
2. Leading the development and implementation of patient selection strategies to deliver companion diagnostics programs in support of our business priorities.
3. Leading companion diagnostic regulatory interactions to secure companion diagnostic approvals in major markets.
4. Collaborating across AstraZeneca with colleagues in multiple partner functions to help drive market uptake.
5. Developing strategies for early cancer detection, near patient testing, and implementing testing options for minimal residual disease and early treatment interventions.
6. Utilising artificial intelligence diagnostic solutions and seeing software as a medical device.
7. Developing specific disease area strategies (e.g. lung cancer, breast cancer, or haematological malignancies) and new diagnostic modalities.
8. Collaborating closely with fellow pharma companies on joint assets.

Join this fantastic, collaborative team and be part of our success; we have already delivered over 60 innovative and impactful companion (or complementary) oncology diagnostic approvals across the major markets of the US, EU, Japan, and China since 2014 and we need you to help us take the next steps in patient-centric diagnostic development.

If this sounds like the type of organisation where you would like to grow your career and make a real difference to patients, then we would like to hear from you!

Typical Accountabilities, what you will be doing:

As an Associate Director you’ll be a member of the Precision Medicine Oncology team. Your objective will be to ensure that innovative companion diagnostic tests are delivered to our oncology drug projects. This will entail developing and implementing the diagnostic strategy agreed by the respective development teams, and planning and executing Precision Medicine activities from a technical, financial, risk, regulatory, IP, and partnering perspective. You will work collaboratively with colleagues at all levels in the Precision Medicine and Biosamples function to deliver this expertise to drug project teams.

Providing expert advice on strategic and innovative Precision Medicine approaches and companion diagnostic developments to cross-functional teams, you’ll be instrumental in ensuring that we adopt world-class practice in the field.

Education, Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

Essential:

1. Master’s degree in a relevant subject.
2. 3 years of experience in companion diagnostic tests in clinical development OR experience of Precision Medicine approaches and diagnostic development.
3. Effective communication, stakeholder, influencing skills, and programme management.
4. Understanding of the functions involved in companion diagnostic development and how they contribute.

Desirable:

1. PhD or equivalent experience in a relevant subject.
2. 5 years of experience in a similar role in different companies or academia.
3. Delivery of clinical testing, diagnostic, regulatory preparation.
4. Scientific expertise in the Precision Medicine field or relevant therapeutic area as evidenced by publications.

If this sounds like the type of organisation where you would like to grow your career and make a real difference to patients, then we would like to hear from you; apply today!

Great People want to Work with us! Find out why:

1. GTAA Top Employer Award for 10 years
2. Top 100 Employers Award
3. Canada’s Most Admired Corporate Culture
4. Learn more about working with us in Canada
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Are you interested in working at AZ, apply today!

AstraZeneca is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion and providing a workplace that is free from discrimination. AstraZeneca is committed to accommodating persons with disabilities. Such accommodation is available on request in respect of all aspects of the recruitment, assessment, and selection process and may be requested by emailing AZCHumanResources@astrazeneca.com.

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