The Senior Global Medical Affairs Lead (Sr. GMAL) is a pivotal strategic leadership role within AstraZeneca’s Oncology Business Unit (OBU). This position sits at the heart of AstraZeneca’s ambition to deliver 61 new indication launches and transform cancer care globally.
Sr. GMALs drive the scientific and strategic agenda that advances patient experience, closes care gaps, and promotes health equity, ultimately enabling AstraZeneca to be recognized as #1 in Oncology.
As the accountable strategic medical leader for assigned complex indication(s)/asset(s), the Sr. GMAL shapes and delivers the Global Medical Strategy, acts as the critical bridge between R&D and Commercial, and leads the global medical launch readiness journey. The role balances excellence in evidence generation and confidence building, scaling AstraZeneca’s impact without increasing organizational complexity.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Medical Leadership for Launch Excellence
- Lead the development, evolution, and delivery of the Global Medical Plan for assigned oncology indication(s)/asset(s).
- Set strategic direction, prioritize initiatives, and make evidence-based trade-offs to maximize patient and business impact.
- Adjust medical strategy proactively in response to external dynamics, insights, and launch KPI performance.
- Define and track Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to measure medical strategy impact and identify blockers to launch success.
- Represent Global Medical in key cross-functional forums, including:
- Integrated Business Team (IBT) to help shape Commercial strategy
- Global Product Team (GPT) to inform R&D development, evidence requirements, and lifecycle planning
- Lead Medical Integrated Teams (MITs) to align global, regional, and country teams around launch strategy and execution.
- Serve as a medical decision-maker and ambassador in market engagements, resolving misalignment and reinforcing global priorities.
- Represent Global Medical in Launch Readiness Reviews and Strategic Brand Reviews.
- Ensure Medical input shapes:
- Clinical development, including registrational evidence gaps, companion study needs, and Target Product Profiles
- Commercialization strategies, including Tumor Strategic Plans and Business Strategy Plans
- Strengthen global medical capabilities through delegation, coaching, empowerment, and mentorship.
Evidence Generation & Dissemination for Launch Success
- Lead global and regional gap analyses to identify critical clinical, real-world evidence, and mechanistic evidence needs.
- Develop integrated evidence plans spanning clinical, diagnostic, digital, and real-world sources.
- Shape the scientific and strategic design of AZ-sponsored interventional Medical Affairs studies and own relevant protocol elements.
- Conceptualize RWE studies with O2R and align them with the broader evidence strategy.
- Oversee study governance, milestones, and resource allocation to ensure delivery to the highest scientific, ethical, and compliance standards.
- Develop and own the Global Publications Plan from Phase 3 ID onwards in partnership with the publications team.
- Prepare and deliver compelling scientific communications with credibility and compliance.
- Review and approve selected local/regional medical studies and Externally Sponsored Research (ESR).
- Ensure the MARS vision is reflected across evidence activities through cancer networks, innovative study design, and data-driven insights.
Confidence Building & External Engagement
- Own and lead the scientific narrative beginning 4 months prior to Phase 3 ID, ensuring consistency across evidence, publications, congresses, and education.
- Build accountability for the Integrated Confidence Plan, while Centers of Excellence execute.
- Define educational priorities and provide subject matter expertise aligned to the scientific narrative.
- Identify priority audiences, learning objectives, and delivery formats across digital, hybrid, and in-person channels.
- Ensure scientific rigor in global medical education delivered by MedEx and other partners.
- Lead the external engagement strategy for the indication(s)/asset(s), including KEEs, societies, health systems, and global organizations.
- Leverage local and global partnerships to gather actionable insights and shape scientific and clinical practice.
- Influence external experts to advance health outcomes and accelerate guideline adoption.
- Lead congress strategy, including pre-congress preparation and post-congress insight synthesis, dissemination, and follow-up.
Experience & Qualifications
Minimum Requirements
- Advanced degree required: MD, PhD, PharmD, or equivalent scientific degree
- Significant Medical Affairs experience, approximately 10 years, within the pharmaceutical or biotech industry
- Experience ideally spanning country, regional, and global levels
- Demonstrated success leading evidence generation strategies, Medical Plans, publications, or scientific communication programs
- Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders across Commercial, R&D, and Medical Affairs
- Experience engaging external experts and scientific communities
Preferred Qualifications
- Previous global Medical Affairs leadership experience in oncology
- Experience leading cross-functional teams in highly complex, multi-indication environments
- Experience navigating launch environments involving:
- new mechanisms of action
- new companion diagnostics
- complex biomarker landscapes
- challenging safety profiles
- Experience aligned to GMAL complexity criteria
Success Measures
Success in this role will be measured by:
- Quality and clarity of the Global Medical Plan and integrated evidence plan
- Impactful evidence generation and scientific leadership
- Effective external engagement and confidence-building
- Robust launch readiness and successful delivery of new indication launches
- Cross-functional alignment and collaboration quality
- Strong capability building across the Medical organization
- Measurable improvements in guideline adoption, equity, and patient outcomes
- Demonstrated enterprise leadership and culture-building
Why This Role Matters
This is a high-impact leadership opportunity for a senior oncology medical leader who wants to shape global strategy, influence development and commercialization decisions, and help transform outcomes for patients worldwide. The role is designed for an executive-caliber candidate who thrives in complexity, leads through influence, and can connect scientific rigor with launch excellence.
The annual base pay for this position ranges from 248,620.80 - 372,931.20 USD annual. Hourly and salaried non-exempt employees will also be paid overtime pay when working qualifying overtime hours. Base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.
In addition, our positions offer a short-term incentive bonus opportunity; eligibility to participate in our equity-based long-term incentive program (salaried roles), to receive a retirement contribution (hourly roles), and commission payment eligibility (sales roles). Benefits offered included a qualified retirement program [401(k) plan]; paid vacation and holidays; paid leaves; and, health benefits including medical, prescription drug, dental, and vision coverage in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable plans.
Additional details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment. If hired, employee will be in an “at-will position” and the Company reserves the right to modify base pay (as well as any other discretionary payment or compensation program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, Company or individual department/team performance, and market factors.
Date Posted
22-Jun-2026
Closing Date
05-Jul-2026
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