Senior Global Medical Affairs Leader, CardioRenal

About the role

Reporting to the Global Medical Head of CardioRenal, the Senior GMAL is a highly experienced Medical Affairs leader with proven vision and impact. This individual develops and leads bold medical strategies within the CardioRenal therapy area, expertly guiding cross-functional and cross-regional teams to deliver and exceed ambitious goals. The Senior GMAL’s influence is enterprise-wide—shaping global medical agendas through Global Medical Team, Global Product Team, and Disease Area Team leadership, and deep partnership with Medical and Commercial functions in markets and regions worldwide.

This role demands a leader who champions innovative, disruptive thinking—identifies and shapes breakthrough opportunities, reimagines market dynamics, and accelerates high-impact evidence generation and medical change initiatives. The Senior GMAL navigates and transforms health systems, leverages digital and advanced analytics, drives stakeholder engagement, and ensures AstraZeneca’s science leads externally and internally through world-class medical evidence and strategic partnerships.

Responsibilities

• Strategy & Transformation: Design and lead the implementation of product and disease area strategies, as well as ambitious practice change initiatives, at a global level. Requires deep understanding of healthcare system pathways, regulatory landscapes, market access, and competitive dynamics. Deliver innovative, disruptive solutions to shape markets, challenge status quo thinking, and use digital proficiency to identify data-driven opportunities, preparing for launch and life cycle management.
• Medical Evidence Leadership: Own the evidence generation strategy—demonstrating advanced experience in clinical research, interventional trials (Phases 2–4), and real-world evidence (RWE) programs. Shape and drive groundbreaking clinical trials, registries, and RWE studies aligned with brand, access, and practice-changing objectives. Guide the optimization, communication, and strategic roll-out of data across scientific platforms, ensuring AstraZeneca delivers differentiated evidence that supports the needs of regulatory, payer, and healthcare providers. Address evolving evidence requirements with clinical research, patient outcomes expertise, and deep understanding of treatment protocols.
• Advanced Scientific & Digital Engagement: Blend scientific expertise with strong digital acumen. Leverage digital health tools, advanced analytics, and data platforms to transform evidence communication, personalize stakeholder engagement, and enhance patient outcomes. Craft compelling narratives, drive digital dissemination of evidence, and ensure accurate, impactful, and compliant scientific communications.
• Guiding and Influencing Stakeholders: Build and sustain powerful relationships across the healthcare ecosystem—including global and regional KOLs, professional societies, regulators, payers, patient organizations, digital innovators, and health systems. Mobilize support for medical strategy, evidence generation, and healthcare change initiatives. Mentor and guide cross-functional teams, championing scientific leadership and strategic collaboration.
• Regulatory Insight & Compliance: Possess keen regulatory understanding and ensure clinical trial and evidence generation initiatives are designed for both scientific and regulatory success. Anticipate evolving regulatory and payer requirements for evidence, ensuring high quality, compliant data generation and communication at every stage.

Requirements

• Doctoral-level degree (MD, PhD, PharmD) in a relevant discipline with at least 5 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry (Medical, Marketing, R&D, Market Access), or extensive experience within a health system (clinical, pharmacy, pathway design, etc.).
• Demonstrated leadership in complex, global healthcare environments, including leading franchise/TA business in key markets, driving brand performance, and managing large, diverse teams.
• Significant expertise and strategic insight into healthcare system pathways, regulatory landscapes, market-shaping, and external stakeholder engagement.
• Strong track record of internal and external network building, collaboration across geographies and matrix teams, and effective mentoring of junior colleagues or peers.
• Digital proficiency, leveraging digital health tools and data platforms to advance evidence generation and communication.
• Deep understanding of patient care pathways, evolving treatment protocols, scientific literature, and contemporary approaches to healthcare transformation.
• Proven ability to guide, influence, and align diverse stakeholders—including thought leaders, regulatory bodies, patient groups, and payer organizations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Recognized expertise in the relevant or related therapeutic area, often evidenced by a history of clinical practice, research leadership, or significant external engagement.
• Advanced experience designing, leading, and interpreting clinical research programs, including pivotal clinical trials (Ph2–Ph4), practice-changing RWE studies, and implementation of innovative evidence generation approaches.
• Broad experience beyond Medical Affairs; for example, prior roles in Marketing, R&D, or Market Access.
• Long-standing relationships with global KOLs, societies, regulators, digital health partners, and innovative healthcare organizations.
• Track record of launching new products or indications in multiple, diverse markets (e.g., US, China, EU), and successfully developing and executing global medical strategies.

Pay

The annual base pay for this position ranges from $243,586.40 to $365,379.60 USD. Base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. In addition, this position offers a short-term incentive bonus opportunity and eligibility to participate in our equity-based long-term incentive program.

Benefits

• Qualified retirement program (401(k) plan).
• Paid vacation and holidays.
• Paid leaves.
• Health benefits including medical, prescription drug, dental, and vision coverage in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable plans.

About AstraZeneca

When we put diverse cross-functional teams in the same room, we unleash bold thinking with the power to inspire life-changing medicines. Join us in our unique and ambitious world. AstraZeneca offers an environment where you can be at the forefront of healthcare innovation. With opportunities to shape medical practices and contribute to groundbreaking changes in asthma treatment strategies, you'll find yourself immersed in a fast-paced, collaborative atmosphere. Our commitment to improving patients' lives drives us to leverage science and technology efficiently. Here, you'll be part of a thriving team that encourages development without borders.