Medical Director Translational medicine

The Medical Director of Translational Medicine will play a critical role in bridging the gap between preclinical research and clinical application. This position involves leading efforts to develop and implement strategies that ensure the effective transition of therapies from the lab to clinical trials. This individual will lead translational aspects of clinical studies, collaborating with cross-functional teams to support translational and experimental medicine.  The role will focus on rare diseases across the therapeutic areas of interest for Alexion.  The ideal candidate will have a strong background in translational medicine, with a focus on rare diseases.

ResponsibilitiesCreate and execute plans translational science and experimental medicineDevelop, in collaboration with other members of the cross functional team clinical and scientific aspects of translational studies from preclinical through Proof-of-Concept studies supporting:Human target validationCandidate indication selectionPreliminary clinical plan developmentCollaborate with early clinical development leaders within the DRS organization to support the transition from Research to the DRS organization in preparation for INDSupport the design of early clinical trials through Proof-of-Concept, including experimental medicine studiesPartner with translational science team to drive connectivity between the research and DRS organizationsDesign and execute translational plans, to support clinical development programs.Develop and implement patient enrichment strategies to support the core aspects of the programServe as a scientific and medical expert in translational medicine, providing guidance and insights to internal teams and external partners.Collaborate with cross-functional teams during the design, execution, and reporting of early-stage clinical trials to ensure that biomarker and other translational data is available at the time of clinical trial result readout.Lead or participate in cross-functional working groups and engage in external interactions with academic institutions and scientific expertsPrepare and review study protocols, clinical study reports, and translational medicine sections of plans, abstracts, and technical reportsPresent results and updates of projects at department, project, corporate, and scientific meetingsStay updated on the latest advancements in translational medicine and rare disease research, incorporating new knowledge into ongoing projects.QualificationsA medical degree (MD) or Advanced Degree in Life Sciences is requiredMinimum of 3 years in translational medicine or translational research in an industry settingIn-depth knowledge in a core specialty area with broad understanding of the wider scope translational medicine diseases is strongly preferredProven competence in clinical therapeutics, drug development, and strategic resource managementThorough understanding of FDA and ethical guidelines relevant to the pharmaceutical industryExcellent communication skills and ability to interact professionally with individuals at all levels of experience and across worldwide culturesConscientious, enthusiastic team player with excellent collaboration and teamwork abilitiesStrong analytical and evaluative skillsProficiency in MS Office and ability to interface effectively with technical platforms for medical information

Typical Accountabilities:
• Designs or manages the implementation of the Physicians strategy within Clinical Development both regionally and globally

• Uses expertise and knowledge of global issues to develop strategic Physicians objectives for inclusion into AstraZeneca’s annual business objectives

• Defines strategies or leads AstraZeneca’s response to complex technical issues for specific medical aspects in relation to current projects, new projects and various plans

• Provides expert advice in the area of specialism, influencing the development of statistics to the global business and Global Clinical Development

• Closely follows medical developments within assigned areas and disseminates new information within Clinical Development to transform trends and emerging data into new plans

• Liaises with the internal and external medical community to follow developments within areas of expertise

• Ensures an adequate number of qualified physicians is available for clinical testing to satisfy AstraZeneca’s objectives in the clinical testing area

• Maintains a high degree of understanding and awareness on new and emerging medical development

• Contributes to or manages the development of the senior management team in area of expertise

• Follows important developments and trends in scientific literature and develops contacts with opinion leaders

• Leads regulatory communication and preparation of higher level documents


Typical People Management Responsibility (direct / indirect reports):
• Approximate number of people managed in total (all levels) - 30-50
• Manager of a team

What is the global remit? (how many countries will the role operate in?):
• 2 or 3 countries at a minimum of 40% of time

Education, Qualifications, Skills and Experience:
• Essential: Bachelor's degree in medicine and experience as a physician or academic; Extensive experience in designing, monitoring and implementing clinical trials and interpreting trial results; Significant experience in advanced research and development; Therapeutic area expertise and commercial understanding; Thorough understanding of pharmaceutical safety, reporting and surveillance processes
• Desirable: PhD in scientific discipline; Extensive general medical knowledge

Key Relationship to reach solutions:
• Internal (to AZ or team): Senior Physician Team and Development function; Development leaders; Pharmacology; Pharmaceutical Development; Regulatory Department; Quality
• External (to AZ): External service providers and regulatory bodies

Date Posted

23-Oct-2024

Closing Date

30-Dec-2024Alexion is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. We are committed to fostering a culture of belonging where every single person can belong because of their uniqueness. The Company will not make decisions about employment, training, compensation, promotion, and other terms and conditions of employment based on race, color, religion, creed or lack thereof, sex, sexual orientation, age, ancestry, national origin, ethnicity, citizenship status, marital status, pregnancy, (including childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), parental status (including adoption or surrogacy), military status, protected veteran status, disability, medical condition, gender identity or expression, genetic information, mental illness or other characteristics protected by law. Alexion provides reasonable accommodations to meet the needs of candidates and employees. To begin an interactive dialogue with Alexion regarding an accommodation, please contact accommodations@Alexion.com. Alexion participates in E-Verify.

AstraZeneca requires all US employees to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 but will consider requests for reasonable accommodations as required by applicable law.