AstraZeneca

Director, Regulatory Affairs Strategy - Cell Therapy

AstraZeneca$186K — $279K *
Pharmaceuticals & Biotech
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Advanced degree in a science-related field; typically 5-8 years of relevant experience.
  • Strong understanding of global regulatory science and integration into program strategy.
  • In-depth experience with complex drug/biologic development processes and strategies.
  • Broad regulatory affairs experience across pharmaceutical business.
  • Proven leadership in regulatory and cross-functional teams; adept at managing stakeholders.
  • Strategic and critical thinker with risk evaluation skills.
  • Demonstrated experience leading Health Authority interactions in major markets.

Responsibilities

  • Implement global regulatory strategy for complex cell and gene therapy (CGT) products.
  • Serve as regulatory lead for designated products or programs, potentially in dual capacity.
  • Ensure strategies facilitate efficient approval paths and competitive labeling.
  • Drive strategy for Health Authority meetings and major submission processes.
  • Lead objective assessments of emerging data against program objectives and communicate risks.
  • Support project milestone delivery and probability-of-success assessments.
  • Collaborate cross-functionally to advance product development objectives.

Benefits

  • Minimum in-office work of three days per week promoting team collaboration.
  • Flexibility in work arrangement while maintaining in-office presence.
  • Participation in equity-based long-term incentive programs for salaried roles.
  • Eligibility for retirement contribution and paid vacation/holidays; health benefits provided.
Full Job Description

Job Title: Director, Regulatory Affairs Strategy - Cell Therapy

Available locations:

  • Gaithersburg, MD
  • Boston, MA
  • South San Francisco, CA
  • Santa Monica, CA

Introduction to role:

Are you ready to steer global regulatory strategy for cell therapies that redefine standards of care for patients?

In this Director role, you will shape the regulatory path for programs that span oncology, immune-mediated and rare diseases—translating breakthrough science into timely approvals and competitive labeling that make a tangible difference to patients and markets.

You will join a high-performing, cross-functional environment where regulatory insight is central to program decision-making. Partnering with senior leaders and global teams, you will lead strategy across key milestones—from expedited designations and Health Authority interactions through major submissions and post-approval maintenance—helping the business deliver transformative therapies at pace and with rigor.

Can you see yourself guiding a complex program from pivotal data through approval and beyond while keeping patient value and global needs front and center?

Accountabilities:

Global Regulatory Strategy: Contribute to and implement the global regulatory strategy for a complex CGT product or indication from current stage through key submission milestones; support product maintenance activities as needed.

Program Leadership: Serve as regulatory lead for a product, indication, or defined program component; may serve in a dual role as Global Regulatory Lead and regional regulatory lead.

Approval Path and Labeling: Ensure regulatory strategies enable an efficient path to approval with competitive labeling aligned to product characteristics and business, market, and patient needs; contribute to governance presentations.

Health Authority Engagements: Drive strategy and execution for Health Authority meetings, responses to information requests, expedited pathway designations, and BLA development and submission.

Data-Driven Decision-Making: Maintain strong disease area knowledge; lead objective assessments of emerging data versus program aspirations; communicate risks and mitigation plans to senior management.

Milestone Delivery: Support delivery of all project-related regulatory milestones, including probability-of-success assessments and mitigation strategies.

Core Documents and Labeling: Lead preparation of regulatory strategy documents and target product labeling; support planning and assembly of the global dossier and core prescribing information with the respective teams.

Cross-Functional Collaboration: Operate as a core member of the Global Product Team and Global Regulatory Strategy Team, demonstrating strong strategic, communication, and collaboration skills to advance development objectives.

Process Excellence: Participate in non-project initiatives to enhance regulatory processes, tools, and practices; foster knowledge sharing across locations and therapy areas.

Country and Regional Alignment: Partner with country organizations and regional regulatory colleagues to align on evolving views, local considerations, and regulatory guidance.

Team Development: Provide mentoring and matrix support to less experienced colleagues; may have limited line management responsibilities.

Essential Skills/Experience

  • An advanced degree in a science related field and typically five to eight years of experience and/or appropriate knowledge/experience.
  • Understanding of global regulatory science and integration with program strategy.
  • Long standing experience of overall drug/biologic development processes and strategies for high profile, complex or novel development programs.
  • Broad background of experience working in pharmaceutical business and prior experience in several areas within regulatory affairs.
  • Proven experience leading regulatory and cross-functional teams, and stakeholder management.
  • Ability to think strategically and critically and evaluate risks to regulatory activities.
  • Previous experience in leading Health Authority interactions in major markets.
  • Excellent oral, written, and presentation skills.
  • Strong organizational skills.
  • Ability to work in a fast-paced environment in a hands-on fashion.
  • Flexible and proactive, with the ability to manage multiple projects and successfully adapt to changing business needs and priorities.

Desirable Skills/Experience:

  • Experience in cell therapy regulatory strategy or related regulatory activities.
  • Experience with product development in the following therapeutic areas: oncology, autoimmune, rare diseases, neurology.
  • Experience supporting a global regulatory approval or major submission activity.
  • Experience with FDA advisory committee or EMA oral explanation preparation.
  • Experience working on due diligence activities or in a business alliance environment.
  • Experience mentoring colleagues or contributing to team development. - Contribution to non-project business initiatives or cross-functional improvement activities.

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 unique and ambitious world.

Pay transparency 


The annual base pay for this position ranges from $186,232 - $279,349 USD  USD Annual. 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 salary (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. 

Call to Action: Step into a role where your regulatory leadership accelerates life-changing therapies—seize this opportunity to shape strategy, deliver approvals, and grow your influence today.

Date Posted

10-Jul-2026

Closing Date

23-Jul-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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