Director Study Management
About this role
Are you ready to lead global study delivery and turn complex operational challenges into repeatable, high-quality execution that moves medicines to patients faster? Do you thrive on building high-performing teams and creating consistency across locations while embracing new processes and technology? As Director Study Management, you will lead a team of experienced Study Management leaders who enable delivery of clinical and non-clinical projects across our portfolio. Your impact will be felt in how efficiently and reliably our studies run, how quickly our programs progress, and how confidently our teams navigate change. You will build capability, set clear direction, and ensure our ways of working are consistent, compliant, and future-ready—so our science can reach patients with speed and quality.
Typical Accountabilities:
1. Line management of Global Study Associate Directors
Recruit, Retain & Develop personnel • Demonstrate AZ values
Provide skills and capability training to SM personnel to support their development • Ensure personnel have been trained and work within compliance of ethics, company policies and standard procedures
Role model and embed a performance driven culture and coach staff for optimum performance
Develop and nurture capabilities of our present and future AZ leaders
Manage performance including feedforward and rewards
Provide expertise and direction to support direct reports with proactive problem/risk identification, solution building and issue resolution to facilitate achievement of objectives on time and to appropriate quality.
Timely assignment of capable Study Management resources to meet the clinical study team demands, in collaboration with other members of Study Management Leadership team, and the Capacity Management Team
2. Study Management
Participate in setting, and responsible for implementing, the vision & strategy for Study Management, aligned with Clinical Operations Vision & Strategy
Work with Senior Director(s) Study Management and Director(s) Study Management to contribute to business strategy and streamline processes for drug/non-drug projects or departmental activities
Lead and support change by encouraging diversity of solutions and implementing process changes consistently across Study Management
Act as a change agent, with local and global impact, to ensure adoption of global initiatives
Promote and encourage innovation and creativity
Work within Study Management Leadership Team to achieve accurate resource forecasting and develop solutions to efficiently and flexibly resource study teams
Promote and encourage communication within and across Study Management, Clinical Operations
Ensure quality and compliance to External Regulations and AZ Standards
Work across the locations to develop global efficient ways-of-working
Provide expert input into functional and cross-functional global processes
Foster the sharing of study delivery knowledge, information, and best practice
Education, Qualifications, Skills and Experience
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree required, preferably in medical or biological science, or related subject or equivalent qualification or experience.
- 10 or more years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry
- Comprehensive experience with ICH-GCP and clinical and Drug Development process within a pharmaceutical or clinical background
- Proven leadership and ability to promote motivation and empower others in order to accomplish individual, team and organizational objectives
- Thorough knowledge of Study Management processes in both local regulation and global environment
- An understanding of the therapeutic areas related to AstraZeneca’s products
- Strong leadership, problem solving, stakeholder management and conflict resolution skills
Nice to have
- Advanced degree in a scientific discipline
- Line management experience
- Ability to look for and champion more efficient and effective methods/processes of delivering quality clinical trials with reduced budget and in less time.
- Date Posted
- 19-may-2026
- Closing Date
- 02-jun-2026
- 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.