Associate Director, Business Planning & Operations - Infectious Disease
AstraZeneca
Summary
As Associate Director, Business Planning & Operations for Infectious Disease within Late Research & Development, you will serve as Deputy to the Director of Business Planning & Operations and help shape the future of the Infectious Disease organization and broader Late R&D enterprise. You will lead strategic planning, workforce and capability strategy, organizational effectiveness, leadership enablement, and employee onboarding and engagement.
Job description
Key Accountabilities
Deputy Leadership and BPO Integration
- Serve as Deputy to the Director of Business Planning & Operations, acting on the Director's behalf when required and representing the function in leadership forums.
- Provide leadership and coordination across the Business Planning & Operations organization.
- Align priorities and delivery across strategy and organizational effectiveness, operations and transformation, functional business partnering, and executive enablement.
- Coach and develop Business Planning & Operations team members to strengthen performance and build future leadership capability.
- Provide continuity support to the Director and, when necessary, limited administrative coverage for Business Support Coordinators.
Strategic Planning and Enterprise Prioritization
- Coordinate annual business cycle activities, including long-term planning, mid-term planning, workforce planning, and operational reviews.
- Develop strategic analyses, recommendations, and decision-support materials for senior leaders.
- Enable strategic decision-making by supporting cross-functional prioritization and resource planning.
Workforce and Capability Strategy
- Lead workforce planning, capability planning, and organizational readiness, including effective onboarding and offboarding.
- Partner with Human Resources and Capacity Management on succession planning, talent reviews, and workforce forecasting.
- Translate workforce and talent strategies into clear implementation plans and coordinated actions.
Organizational Effectiveness and Leadership Enablement
- Lead initiatives that strengthen leadership team effectiveness, decision-making, and organizational performance.
- Design and facilitate strategic planning workshops, leadership offsites, and business reviews.
- Support organizational design assessments and implementation.
- Establish cross-functional ways of working that clarify decision rights, strengthen collaboration, and improve organizational cohesion.
Communications and Engagement
- Lead organizational communication and engagement planning.
- Develop clear narratives that connect strategy, culture, and business priorities.
- Deliver initiatives that strengthen employee engagement and organizational health.
Organizational Change and Transformation
- Lead the implementation and project management of transformation initiatives, coordinating plans, dependencies, risks, and stakeholder actions.
- Support the adoption of new ways of working through clear change, engagement, and implementation plans.
- Track transformation benefits, outcomes, and follow-up actions.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in business, life sciences, organizational development, healthcare, or a related discipline
- At least 5 years of experience in strategy, business operations, management consulting, organizational effectiveness, or business planning
- Demonstrated experience supporting senior executives and leadership teams
- Outstanding communication, facilitation, and stakeholder management skills
- Ability to influence without authority across multiple business areas
- Strong strategic thinking, analytical, and problem-solving capabilities
- Experience navigating ambiguity and delivering outcomes in a complex, matrixed organization
Benefits
- Retirement programs
- Paid time off
- Health insurance
- Dental coverage
- Vision coverage
- Short-term incentive bonuses
- Equity-based awards
Company overview
AstraZeneca is a global, science-led, patient-focused pharmaceutical company dedicated to accelerating the delivery of life-changing medicines that create enduring value for patients, society, and shareholders. With a workforce of over 94,300 employees worldwide, the company operates across three core therapy areas: Oncology, BioPharmaceuticals (including Cardiovascular, Renal & Metabolism, Respiratory & Immunology), and Rare Disease. Headquartered in Cambridge, UK, AstraZeneca maintains strategic R&D centers in Cambridge, Gaithersburg (US), Boston (US), Gothenburg (Sweden), Shanghai, and Beijing. The company generated $54.1 billion in total revenue in 2024 and invested $13.6 billion in scientific research and development. AstraZeneca's bold aspiration is to be pioneers in science, lead in disease areas, and transform patient outcomes, with a goal to launch 20 new medicines and achieve $80 billion in total revenue by 2030. The company is recognized for its commitment to sustainability, health equity, and creating an inclusive work environment where diverse perspectives drive innovation.