Area Medical Director
AstraZeneca
full-time
Posted on:
Location Type: Office
Location: Riyadh • 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates
Visit company websiteJob Level
Lead
About the role
- Medical Leadership: Develop and execute the area medical affairs strategy in alignment with GMA and regional priorities, grounded in identified gaps across local and global plans. Serve as the RD TA lead for the region, guiding local AZ teams and leveraging Alexion know-how in rare diseases. Lead above-country initiatives to amplify the reach and impact of medical education and disease awareness activities.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Build strong relationships with regional AZ leadership, local cross-functional teams, GMA, and Alexion Commercial Area Directors to secure medical representation in decision-making forums at area and local levels. Influence AZ counterparts to ensure the right medical focus, resources, and capabilities are in place to execute the rare disease medical strategy. Lead area-level medical initiatives including congress presence, medical education events, advisory boards, publications, and Centers of Expertise scientific programs.
- Medical Execution: Define the medical capabilities required for success in rare diseases and actively contribute to the development of rare disease team members. Establish medical KPIs aligned with strategy and ensure execution through regular reviews with markets. Drive knowledge sharing and best-practice dissemination across markets to improve consistency, quality, and impact.
- Scientific Exchange and External Engagement: Ensure high scientific expertise within Medical teams and actively maintain an area-level KOL network to establish scientific leadership. Identify and drive high-impact initiatives across the area, such as patient support programs, evidence generation activities (e.g., ESRs, RWE studies, observational research), and expansion of the clinical trial footprint in rare diseases.
Requirements
- Education: M.D., Ph.D., or Pharm.D. degree.
- Area-Level Medical Affairs Experience: 5+ years in an area-level Medical Affairs role, setting medical strategy across multiple markets. Proven experience leading local Medical Affairs teams.
- KOL Network: Demonstrated ability to build and actively maintain an area-level KOL network that can be leveraged for strategic initiatives, scientific exchange, and evidence generation.
- Rare/Orphan Disease Expertise: Proven expertise in orphan diseases or rare diseases, with deep understanding of the unique medical, scientific, and access challenges.
- Compliance and Regulations: Deep understanding of medical compliance and pharmaceutical regulations across the area’s markets, with a strong track record of compliant medical operations.
- Clinical Development and Evidence Generation: Experience in late-stage clinical development, real-world evidence (RWE), and observational studies, including planning, oversight, and dissemination of insights.
- Leadership and Influence: Strong strategic leadership, stakeholder management, and influencing skills to secure resources and align cross-functional teams to medical priorities.
- Execution and Metrics: Proven ability to define medical capabilities and KPIs, drive execution, and conduct regular performance reviews across multiple markets.
- Communication: Excellent scientific communication skills, including experience with advisory boards, publications, congresses, and medical education programs.
Benefits
- AstraZeneca embraces diversity and equality of opportunity. We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse team representing all backgrounds, with as wide a range of perspectives as possible, and harnessing industry-leading skills. We believe that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be.
- We welcome and consider applications to join our team from all qualified candidates, regardless of their characteristics. We comply with all applicable laws and regulations on non-discrimination in employment (and recruitment), as well as work authorization and employment eligibility verification requirements.
Applicant Tracking System Keywords
Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.
Hard skills
medical affairs strategyKOL network managementclinical developmentreal-world evidenceobservational studiesmedical compliancepharmaceutical regulationsmedical KPIsevidence generationrare disease expertise
Soft skills
strategic leadershipstakeholder managementinfluencing skillscross-functional collaborationcommunication skills
Certifications
M.D.Ph.D.Pharm.D.