AstraZeneca

Global Study Associate Director

AstraZeneca$137K — $206K *
Pharmaceuticals & Biotech
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in medical sciences or a related discipline
  • 5 years of clinical experience in the pharmaceutical industry
  • 2 years of project management experience
  • Extensive knowledge of ICH-GCP and regulatory requirements
  • Solid project management skills with relevant tools
  • Strong leadership and conflict management abilities
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

Responsibilities

  • Lead cross-functional study teams to ensure timely and quality study delivery
  • Communicate effectively across functions and vendor partners
  • Own and manage essential study documentation from protocol to report
  • Oversee CRO and vendor contracts for quality and timelines
  • Develop and implement risk-based quality plans
  • Ensure data integrity and accurate study-level systems
  • Monitor operational KPIs and report on study progress

Benefits

  • Qualified retirement programs
  • Paid time off including vacation and holidays
  • Health, dental, and vision coverage
  • Eligibility for short-term incentive bonuses
  • Incentives for equity-based awards
Full Job Description

Job Title: Global Study Associate Director

Location: Durham, NC

Introduction to role:

Are you ready to lead global clinical studies that turn cutting-edge science into evidence that changes patients’ lives? In this role, you will own the end-to-end delivery of complex studies, guiding cross-functional teams and external partners from handover to close-out and archiving, so our medicines can reach those who need them faster.

You will operate at the center of study execution—aligning strategy with action, translating risk into robust plans, and making data-driven decisions that safeguard quality, timelines, and budget. Working with knowns and unknowns, you will champion clarity, pace, and accountability while shaping how we use digital, data, and technology to advance clinical development.

What could you accomplish by uniting diverse experts around a clear plan—and keeping a global study inspection-ready, on budget, and ahead of schedule?

Accountabilities:

  • Study Leadership and Delivery: Lead and empower a cross-functional study team and/or oversee outsourced partners to deliver against agreed timelines, budget, and quality standards; hold accountability for one or several studies and drive milestone achievement.

  • Cross-Functional and External Communication: Orchestrate clear, timely communication across functions and vendors; plan and lead investigator meetings and key study forums to maintain alignment and momentum.

  • Study Documentation Ownership: Provide input to and hold accountability for essential study documents from Clinical Study Protocol through Clinical Study Report in line with SOPs and regulatory requirements.

  • Vendor Strategy and Oversight: Ensure CROs and other vendors (e.g., central labs, IXRS, ePRO) deliver to contract, timeline, and budget; document oversight, escalate issues, and support vendor selection when needed.

  • Quality and Risk Management: Build and maintain risk-based quality plans, proactive risk and contingency strategies, and clear escalation pathways; champion a culture of issue prevention and rapid resolution.

  • Data and Systems Integrity: Ensure accuracy and currency of study-level systems (e.g., ACCORD/ABACUS, PharmaCM); use operational data to drive decisions and transparency.

  • Performance and KPI Management: Monitor operational and quality KPIs, track progress against plans, and communicate risks, mitigations, and impacts to study leadership and the Clinical Program Team.

  • Issue Management and CAPA: Identify, report, and resolve quality issues; coordinate corrective and preventive actions with stakeholders and communicate outcomes to CPT, QA, and functional leaders.

  • Trial Master File Excellence: Oversee TMF strategy, plan, and Expected Document List; ensure ongoing QC and continuous inspection readiness.

  • Compliance and Governance: Secure timely compliance with governance controls (e.g., Delegation of Authority, Sunshine Act, clinical trial transparency) and uphold ICH-GCP, SOPs, policies, and best practices.

  • Budget Ownership: Re-forecast and manage the study budget throughout the lifecycle; provide clear budget status, risks, and mitigations to the CPT and drive disciplined change control.

  • Inspection Readiness: Serve as the primary Study Management point-of-contact during audits or inspections; maintain a constant state of readiness with robust documentation and processes.

  • People Development and Mentoring: Provide ongoing feedback to team members and line managers; mentor less experienced colleagues to build capability across the organization.

  • Continuous Improvement and SME Contributions: Lead or contribute to non-drug project work, process enhancements, and act as a subject matter expert for Study Management systems or processes.

Essential Skills/Experience:

  • Bachelors degree (or equivalent), preferably in medical or biological sciences or discipline associated with clinical research

  • 5 years of relevant clinical experience in the pharmaceutical industry, including 2 years’ project management experience, or equivalent combination of education, training and experience

  • Extensive knowledge of ICH-GCP, clinical research regulatory requirements and demonstrated abilities in clinical study management processes and clinical/drug development

  • Demonstrated solid project management skills and knowledge of relevant tools

  • Strong, demonstrated abilities/skills in team leadership

  • Strong abilities in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with internal and external co-workers and stakeholders, along with strong conflict management skills

  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

  • Strong strategic and critical thinking abilities

  • Strong organizational and problem-solving skills

  • Ability to manage competing priorities

Desirable Skills/Experience:

  • Advanced degree, Masters level education (or higher)

  • Project management certification

  • Proven project management experience on a global level

  • Experience in all phases of a clinical study lifecycle

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.

The annual base pay (or hourly rate of compensation) for this position ranges from $137,937.60 - $206,906.40 USD Annual. Our positions offer eligibility for various incentivesan 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.

Date Posted

28-Aug-2026

Closing Date

14-Sep-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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