Director, Business Planning, Operations
AstraZeneca
full-time
Posted on:
Location Type: Office
Location: Waltham • Maryland, Massachusetts • 🇺🇸 United States
Visit company websiteSalary
💰 $167,772 - $251,658 per year
Job Level
Lead
About the role
- Serve as a thought partner and trusted confidant to the VP and Cancer Biomarker Department Leadership Team, shaping, informing, and challenging business strategy
- Provide expert guidance and recommendations on business planning, operational processes, and organizational priorities
- Support and enable agile, proactive leadership decisions by delivering critical insights, thoughtful business analysis, and objective counsel
- Drive the development of robust business cases for strategic partnerships, investments, or process improvements
- Lead or support high-priority, cross-functional and departmental initiatives and special projects – including non-drug scientific, technical, strategic, and change projects
- Champion new ways of working, leading the evolution of operating models and fostering collaboration across teams
- Lead the development, execution, and monitoring of the department’s budgeting and resource planning processes
- Provide oversight and analysis for man power and non man power forecasting, spend tracking, and variance management; implement corrective actions as needed
- Direct regular portfolio prioritization and resource allocation discussions to address departmental and pipeline needs
- Oversee progress toward annual objectives and budget targets, reporting regularly to the Leadership Team
- Support the Cancer Biomarker Leadership Team through meeting planning, agenda-setting, and action tracking
- Coordinate the development of annual objectives, metrics, and success criteria with departmental leadership
- Work closely with Oncology Portfolio and Capacity Management, facilitating resource discussions and recruitment/onboarding of critical hires
- Support retention, talent development, and succession planning initiatives
- Maintain oversight of all Cancer Biomarker initiatives and BAU activities, ensuring alignment with wider Oncology prioritization
- Strategically partner with Communications to deliver key departmental engagements and share critical updates
- Apply methodologies to translate strategy into actionable plans, ensuring practical and timely execution
Requirements
- Bachelor’s Degree and 7+ years of industry experience in drug or biomarker development, including early phase portfolio management (e.g., goals setting, prioritization)
- Strong experience in business case development and project management
- Excellent collaboration and stakeholder management skills; ability to influence across organization
- Proven ability to partner and communicate effectively with senior leadership
- Broad experience with business, operational, or general processes
- Strategic thinking with demonstrated ability to translate strategy to operational execution
- Experience with applying AI tools to business processes and scientific projects
- Leadership skills, with high integrity and organizational acumen
- Strong analytical skills and ability to simplify/improve business processes
- Excellent written/verbal communication, facilitation, collaboration, and negotiation skills
- Experience dealing with complex, fast-paced, and dynamic environments
Benefits
- short-term incentive bonus opportunity
- eligibility to participate in our equity-based long-term incentive program
- qualified retirement program [401(k) plan]
- paid vacation and holidays
- paid leaves
- health benefits including medical, prescription drug, dental, and vision coverage
Applicant Tracking System Keywords
Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.
Hard skills
business case developmentproject managementportfolio managementoperational processesbudgetingresource planningforecastingvariance managementstrategic planningAI tools application
Soft skills
collaborationstakeholder managementinfluencecommunicationstrategic thinkingleadershipanalytical skillsnegotiationfacilitationorganizational acumen
Certifications
Bachelor's Degree