AstraZeneca

Associate Director, Research Strategy and Operations, Hematology R&D

AstraZeneca • $159K — $238K *
Pharmaceuticals & Biotech
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Master's degree with 6+ years relevant experience or Ph.D. with 2+ years relevant experience.
  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
  • Strong ability to work independently and collaboratively, with problem-solving skills.
  • Experience in highly matrixed structures in the pharmaceutical or diagnostics industries.
  • Excellent organizational and documentation skills.
  • Proficient in data presentation and analysis.
  • Familiarity with genomic and molecular data management systems.

Responsibilities

  • Serve as a scientific integrator across various teams and stakeholders.
  • Apply deep scientific knowledge to support biomarker strategies and translational efforts.
  • Drive evaluation of external partners and conduct scientific due diligence.
  • Lead internal and external meetings to advance translational deliverables and identify risks.
  • Present and maintain dashboards, coordinating science and reporting progress.
  • Coordinate compliance for sample data management with various departments.
  • Navigate objectives within matrixed teams, influencing without direct authority.

Benefits

  • 401(k) retirement plan with contributions.
  • Paid vacation and holidays.
  • Paid leaves for personal and medical reasons.
  • Comprehensive health benefits including medical, dental, and vision coverage.
  • Short-term incentive bonus opportunities.
  • Eligibility for equity-based long-term incentive programs.
Full Job Description
Associate Director, Research Strategy and Operations, Hematology R&D

Within Hematology R&D, we are committed to advancing the science to deliver life-changing medicines to patients most in need. With a combination-focused pipeline that exploits the power of multiple scientific platforms (Immuno-Oncology, Tumor Drivers and Resistance, DNA Damage Response, Antibody-drug Conjugates, Cell Therapy and Epigenetics) to help address unmet clinical needs in a host of hematological cancers, we are motivated by a dedication to the scientific discovery and collaboration that will one day help eliminate cancer as a cause of death. This unit has responsibility for the value chain from discovery through to late-stage development, enabling rapid acceleration of promising early-stage assets and life-cycle management programs.

The Translational Medicine (TM) function exists within Hematology R&D to ensure effective and strategic biomarker studies for Hematology & Oncology project teams. Closely interacting with the pre-clinical BioScience and Discovery, Early Clinical Development, and Precision Diagnostics Development functions, the Hematology Translational Medicine team is the single point of accountability for delivery of robust, scientifically-driven biomarkers to all Hematology project teams, providing feasibility assessments, technical validation, centralized biomarker analysis capability for clinical samples, delivery of translational science research and early clinical phase engagement.

This is a highly collaborative scientific leadership role for an individual who can connect strategy, data, and execution across Translational Medicine Leads, data scientists, translational research scientists, project teams, and internal and external partners. The successful candidate will translate complex scientific questions into coordinated workplans, ensure that diverse perspectives and datasets are integrated into clear recommendations, and help teams move from insight to decision and delivery.

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities
  • Serves as a scientific integrator across Translational Medicine Leads, data scientists, translational research scientists, project teams, and internal and external stakeholders, connecting scientific objectives, data-generation plans, analytical approaches, and operational execution.
  • Applies deep scientific knowledge of multi-omic and phenotypic markers to support translational efforts and biomarker strategies such as tissue profiling, liquid biopsy, and MRD on an indication basis.
  • Drives evaluation of external partners, conducting scientific and technical due diligence to inform partnership decisions, including MRD strategy.
  • Leads internal and external meetings to drive translational deliverables, identify needs and risks, and develop risk mitigation strategies.
  • Presents and maintains relevant dashboards and associated data, leads coordination of science, and reports progress and projections across data science and the translational research portfolio.
  • Coordinates compliance for samples and associated data moving into and out of internal and external laboratories, partnering with compliance, legal, quality, data science, and biosafety.
  • Successfully navigates objectives within matrixed teams of non-direct reports and influences without direct authority.
  • Other responsibilities as needed.


Qualifications
  • Master's degree with 6+ years relevant experience or Ph.D. with 2+ years relevant experience.
  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
  • Outstanding ability to work independently and with a team, including problem solving, brainstorming, integrating data and helping other team members.
  • Experience in highly matrixed structures in the pharmaceutical industry, diagnostics industry, or similar industries.
  • Excellent organizational and documentation skills.
  • Excellent data presentation skills.
  • Familiarity with genomic and molecular data and the systems used to manage and present it.
  • Ability to critically evaluate scientific data, methods, and validation evidence from external partners.
  • Experience in highly matrixed structures in the pharmaceutical industry, diagnostics industry, or similar industries.


Candidates preferred with one or more of the following:
  • Experience supporting translational research especially in hematologic malignancies, biomarker strategy, genomics, or data science.
  • Knowledge of precision biomarkers such as MRD, ctDNA, and tissue profiling.
  • Experience working with external research partners such as diagnostic vendors, CROs, or academic collaborators.


The annual base pay for this position ranges from $159,180.80 - $238,771.20 USD. 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
05-Oct-2026

Closing Date
18-Oct-2026

About AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca is a British-Swedish multinational pharmaceutical company that specializes in the research, development, and manufacturing of prescription drugs. The company was formed in 1999 through the merger of Astra AB and Zeneca Group plc. AstraZeneca's products are used to treat a wide range of medical conditions, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, and diabetes. The company has operations in over 100 countries and employs more than 76,000 people worldwide. AstraZeneca is committed to developing innovative medicines that improve the health and well-being of people around the world.
Learn more about AstraZeneca
Size
83,100 employees
Market Cap
$211.5 billion
Industry
Net Income
$3.1 billion
Founded
1999
5 Year Trend
+10.2%
Revenue
$26.6 billion
NASDAQ

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