Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. · 1 month ago
Executive Director, Strategy, Oncology R&D
Gaithersburg, Maryland, United States of America
Full-time
Hybrid
Lead/Staff, Director/Executive
$270K/yr - $405K/yr
5+ years expAstraZeneca is a leader in Oncology with a strong commitment to transforming the lives of cancer patients. The Executive Director, Strategy, Oncology R&D will develop and deliver comprehensive therapeutic area strategies that integrate clinical, scientific, and commercial insights to shape portfolio decisions and drive innovation.
BiotechnologyHealth CareMedicalTherapeutics
Responsibilities
Develop and prioritize Oncology R&D portfolio strategy: Lead the creation of comprehensive therapeutic area strategies that integrate clinical, scientific, and commercial insights to shape portfolio decisions and investment priorities across assets and platforms
Define strategic direction for growth: Establish and communicate clear strategic direction for near- and long-term growth, ensuring alignment with company-wide oncology objectives and addressing evolving market dynamics
Advise executive senior leadership: Provide disciplined, insight driven recommendations on complex strategic topics to C-suite stakeholders, delivering clear and actionable guidance on portfolio optimization and investment decisions
Partner across the enterprise: Collaborate with leaders across clinical development, discovery, business development, and other key functions to create cohesive long-term strategies that drive innovation and impact
Analyze and generate strategic insights: Conduct rigorous analysis of internal and external data to identify trends, risks, and opportunities for portfolio growth and optimization, translating findings into actionable strategic recommendations
Lead cross-functional collaboration: Foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, and accountability across all stakeholder groups, partnering with internal and external stakeholders to deliver on high-impact strategic objectives
Drive effective communication: Ensure clear and compelling communication of strategy, progress, and priorities to diverse audiences, both internal and external, maintaining transparency and alignment across the organization
Navigate complex strategic landscapes: Integrate understanding of clinical trial design, competitive dynamics, regulatory environments, and market access considerations to inform strategic prioritization and investment decisions
Lead and develop talent: Guide and develop team members, maintaining trusted partnerships with clinical, commercial and strategy leaders, and influencing senior stakeholders across Oncology R&D without formal authority
Ensure strategic excellence: Drive clarity and consistency across key strategic processes, establishing best practices and maintaining rigorous standards for analysis, decision-making, and execution
Qualification
Required
Clear and organized thinking with ability to simplify and prioritize complex problems
Strong understanding of financial evaluation of an asset or brand
Organizational awareness and experience of commercial pharmaceutical business planning
Ability to establish and maintain credibility with senior audiences
Familiarity with the oncology market and key trends with emerging science
Education and experience: BA/BS and 10 years of experience in life sciences or consulting firm with focus in life science programs, OR MS/MBA and 8+ years of experience OR PhD or MD and 5+ years of experience
Oncology expertise: Deep understanding of Oncology Therapeutic Area Strategy which may include a specific disease area and/or platform technologies, with proven experience in the pharmaceutical industry or consulting contributing to strategic planning and portfolio decisions
Executive presence and leadership: Ability to interact and communicate effectively with senior executive teams, with demonstrated ability to lead and influence experienced professionals in a fast-paced, highly matrixed work environment
Strategic thinking: Ability to think critically, creatively and to anticipate and solve problems, with excellent analysis and fact-based decision-making capabilities
Agility and impact orientation: Highly intellectually capable with agility and adaptability, motivated by working in a fast-paced field with clear societal impact
Preferred
Deep Scientific Expertise: PhD in life sciences, MD and/or MBA
Consulting, VC, equity, or finance experience: Background in management consulting, venture capital, private equity, or finance with demonstrated ability to conduct rigorous financial and strategic analyses to inform investment and portfolio decisions
Financial acumen: Strong financial background and understanding of forecasts, budgets, and financial tools to support strategic decision-making
Strategic planning expertise: Experience in strategic planning processes and tools, with ability to translate business needs into coordinated plans and develop creative solutions to complex problems
Deep pharmaceutical knowledge: Understanding of pharmaceutical R&D business including clinical trial design, drug development processes, regulatory dynamics, and pricing landscapes in major markets
Consultative leadership: Strong analytical and communication skills combined with effective interpersonal abilities to build trust, influence without authority, and drive alignment across senior cross-functional teams
Global perspective: Ability to work across global teams and priorities delivering operational effectiveness and prioritization in a fast-growing, highly matrixed organization
Benefits
Qualified retirement programs
Paid time off (i.e., vacation, holiday, and leaves)
Health, dental, and vision coverage in accordance with the terms of the applicable plans
Company
Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Disease is focused on pioneering new possibilities for the rare disease community.
1001-5000 employees
H1B Sponsorship
Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (49)
2024 (57)
2023 (51)
2022 (29)
2021 (27)
2020 (17)
Funding
Current Stage
Public CompanyTotal Funding
$5.8M2020-12-12Acquired
1999-02-12Post Ipo Equity· $5.8M
1996-02-29IPO
Leadership Team
Frederic Chereau
SVP, Strategy and Business Development
Imran Shakur
Director, IRT and Technology Lead
Recent News
BioWorld Financial Watch
2026-01-17
bloomberglaw.com
2025-12-20
Company data provided by crunchbase