Senior Director, TA Strategy and Portfolio Delivery (R&I) · Global Head Business Strategy & Portfolio, SMM

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 14:19:03 GMT
Engineering

Global Head Business Strategy & Portfolio, SMM · Gaithersburg, Maryland, United States of America · The annual base pay (or hourly rate of compensation) for this position ranges from $206,993.60 - $310,490.40 USD. · hybrid

Ready to influence how complex respiratory and immunology studies are brought to life worldwide?

The Senior Director, TA Strategy and Portfolio Delivery (R&I) leads the development and implementation of global Site Management & Monitoring (SMM) Therapeutic Area strategies, shaping how the portfolio is delivered across all phases. Working closely with Indication Program Leads, Directors and Associate Directors of Strategic Feasibility, and Study Operation Leads, this role aligns strategic objectives, builds end-to-end capability and drives operational excellence across countries and geographies.

Acting as a key member of the global SMM Business Strategy and Portfolio team, this leadership role connects SMM insights with global TA strategy. It coordinates portfolio performance and ensures that SMM countries are equipped to deliver against critical achievements while embracing innovation in digital health and patient-centric solutions.

Key Responsibilities:

Lead the establishment and implementation of global SMM TA strategies, ensuring alignment of capacity and capability in the short and long term across the clinical portfolio.

Develop and integrate end-to-end capability for early to late phase clinical portfolio execution, ensuring seamless transition and delivery across phases.

Interface with global teams to shape TA strategy and translate it into clear, actionable plans at market level.

Maintain strong awareness of emerging trends in strategic portfolio management and development, both internally and externally at a global level, and apply these insights to SMM strategy.

Build indication landscaping and future portfolio plans with Indication Program Leads, Directors and Associate Directors of Strategic Feasibility to ensure teams are prepared for delivery.

Ensure alignment between Global SMM and Country Heads by communicating projected study volumes, timelines and strategic priorities to support tailored local strategies and accurate resource planning.

Act as the subject matter expert for SMM within global cross-functional workstreams and taskforces, providing strategic insights and guidance to drive collaborative decision-making and project outcomes.

Provide robust global SMM insights to support indication landscape assessments, study design evaluation and protocol/site feasibility, ensuring country feasibility outcomes are embedded into operational plans.

Collaborate closely with IPLs, DSFs, ADSFs, SOLs and relevant global teams to optimise country and site selection for TA studies.

Use bottom-up country strategy combined with TA expertise to advise on optimal countries and sites for feasibility participation.

Define and standardise optimal feasibility processes in collaboration with IPLs, DSFs and Study SOLs to drive consistency and quality.

Drive delivery, review and discussion of the TA portfolio within SMM and with global teams, ensuring transparency on progress and priorities.

Escalate issues and mitigate risks for new and ongoing studies to secure business-critical milestones such as recruitment completion, database lock and reduced study cycle times.

Provide ongoing visibility of the TA portfolio and organisational capacity, influencing decisions through Regional Directors to optimise resources within SMM in both the near and longer term.

Champion digital health solutions, patient-centric approaches, and recruitment and retention strategies for TA studies, aligned with global initiatives.

Engage internally and externally to identify potential new investigators, expanding the global footprint in line with TA clinical development plans.

Drive standardisation within SMM for feasibility conduct, site selection, operational projections and processes to enable consistent high-quality delivery.

Demonstrate cultural sensitivity, effective communication, negotiation and collaboration across diverse teams and geographies.

Essential Qualifications:

Bachelor degree in related discipline, preferably in life science, or equivalent qualification aligned to the knowledge and skills of the role and ensures successful conduct of responsibilities and appropriate interactions with internal and or external stakeholders.

Previous experience in the pharmaceutical industry.

Strong leadership and management skills, with the ability to motivate and develop a high-performing team.

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret complex data and develop effective solutions.

Ability to travel nationally/internationally as required.

Relevant knowledge and ability to fulfil key responsibilities, including but not limited to: drug development process and related GxP processes, international guidelines ICH-GCP, relevant country regulations, medical knowledge and ability to learn relevant AZ Therapeutic Areas, clinical study management, strategic portfolio management, functional management of resourcing, budget planning and functional level activities.

Preferred Qualifications:

Clinical Operations experience.

When we put unexpected teams in the same room, we unleash bold thinking with the power to inspire life-changing medicines. In-person working gives us the platform we need to connect, work at pace and challenge perceptions. That's why we work, on average, a minimum of three days per week from the office. But that doesn't mean we're not flexible. We balance the expectation of being in the office while respecting individual flexibility. Join us in our outstanding and ambitious world.

The annual base pay (or hourly rate of compensation) for this position ranges from $206,993.60 - $310,490.40 USD. Our positions offer eligibility for various incentives,an opportunity to receive short-term incentive bonuses, equity-based awards for salaried roles and commissions for sales roles. Benefits offered include qualified retirement programs, paid time off (i.e., vacation, holiday, and leaves), as well as health, dental, and vision coverage in accordance with the terms of the applicable plans.