Senior Director, Business Planning & Operations, SMM

Job Title: Senior Director, Business Planning & Operations, SMM

Location: Boston, US. However, we are also open to considering candidates who would prefer to be based at our sites in Gaithersburg or Durham. We welcome applications from individuals interested in any of these locations.

Introduction to role: Are you ready to translate strategy into decisions, plans and delivery for the global engine of clinical study execution?

As Senior Director, Business Planning & Operations (BPO) for Site Management & Monitoring (SMM), you will help shape how one of the largest functions within BioPharmaceuticals Clinical Operations (BPCO) operates, performs and evolves—supporting the delivery of BioPharma studies at country and site level across a global network.

Reporting to the Executive Director, Portfolio & Enabling Functions (P&EF), you will act as Chief of Staff to the Vice President and Global Head of SMM, as well as the business planning lead for the SMM function. SMM comprises more than 2,300 full-time employees, including Functional Service Provider (FSP) colleagues, and plays a critical role in delivering clinical studies across a diverse, geographically dispersed organisation.

As the SMM Head’s principal adviser and integrator, you will run the operating rhythm of the SMM leadership team, ensuring that strategic priorities are translated into clear plans, informed decisions and effective delivery. You will provide the insight, structure and challenge needed to help steer the function through significant organisational change while maintaining focus on performance, productivity and patient impact.

You will be accountable for the annual business plan and medium-term plan for SMM, including strategic objectives, performance scorecards, budget proposals and capacity planning. You will work closely with the SMM Business Strategy & Portfolio and Finance & Capacity Management teams, which will retain ownership of their respective processes and areas of expertise.

As a senior member of the P&EF leadership team and the wider BPCO Business Planning & Operations community, you will connect SMM with broader BPCO planning, standards and decision-making. You may also lead strategic, cross-functional initiatives across BPCO and Research & Development, helping to align priorities, resources and delivery across the organisation.

This is an individual contributor role requiring influence and leadership through a broad matrix. Success will depend on your ability to build trusted relationships, bring clarity to complexity, connect strategy with execution and enable senior leaders to make effective, evidence-based decisions.

How will you use your judgment, influence and analytical rigor to unlock performance for patients and our business?

Key Accountabilities:

Chief of Staff to the VP & Global Head, SMM:

• Chief of Staff and Leadership Operating Rhythm: Serve as trusted adviser and thought partner to the SMM Head.
• Design and run the SMM leadership team cadence—agendas, pre-reads, decision logs, action tracking and offsites—so meetings end in clear decisions with named owners.
• Triage demands on the Head’s time, prepare decision-ready content for enterprise reviews, represent the Head as delegated, and handle sensitive organizational matters with discretion.

SMM business planning and strategy:

• Strategic Planning and Scorecard: Lead the annual business plan and medium-term plan for SMM.
• Translate Clinical Operations 2030 strategy into SMM goals, a balanced scorecard and actionable annual objectives that align teams on outcomes.
• Budget, Capacity and Productivity: Coordinate SMM budget and capacity proposals with Finance & Capacity Management and R&D Finance.
• Link resourcing to portfolio demand, productivity assumptions and strategic priorities.
• Set and track productivity targets (e.g., active patients and sites per CRA, site performance mix) and ensure benefits are reflected in capacity plans.
• Workforce, Sourcing and Location Strategy: Support strategic workforce, sourcing and location planning, optimizing the balance of internal, FSP and other outsourced resources in line with location strategy.

SMM Business operations and performance:

• Monitor and report progress against the SMM scorecard and objectives. Turn complex performance data into clear insights and recommendations. Own risk reporting and mitigation tracking.
• Coordinate timely, consistent responses to enterprise requests and streamline governance, business reviews and reporting in line with BPCO practices.
• Transformation and Change: Support and monitor transformation initiatives within SMM and across BPCO.
• Ensure SMM is properly represented in defining the transformation agenda and roadmap.
• Lead organisational change and communications for major initiatives, shaping messages and channels so colleagues across regions understand priorities and what they mean for them.
• Engagement and Communications: Shape leadership communications—townhalls, leadership messages and digital channels—to build clarity and alignment. Use employee engagement insights to drive action planning and follow-through with the leadership team.
• Cross-Functional Leadership and Community: Act as a senior member of the Portfolio & Enabling Functions leadership team, contributing to business planning, portfolio and capacity decisions.
• Partner with BPO peers to embed standard processes, tools and best practices across BPCO, owning selected cross-functional processes as needed. Lead or contribute to strategic cross-functional projects across BPCO and R&D and connect SMM with adjacent functions such as Study Management Operations and Clinical Data & Insights.

Essential Skills/Experience:

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in life sciences, business administration, engineering or a related field.

Skills and Experience:

• Clinical operations expertise: at least 12 years’ experience in the pharmaceutical industry or a CRO, including substantial experience in clinical operations and a sound understanding of site management, monitoring and country-level study delivery.
• Chief of staff and business planning: a proven track record in a chief of staff, business planning & operations, strategy or similar role supporting a senior executive in a large, global matrix organisation.
• Strategic planning: experience leading annual business planning and turning strategy into scorecards, objectives and actionable plans.
• Financial and capacity competence: solid understanding of budgeting, FTE and capacity modelling, and the connection between portfolio requirements, efficiency, and resourcing.
• Executive communication: outstanding written and verbal communication, including concise, decision-ready materials for senior leadership audiences.
• Influence without authority: strong influencing and stakeholder leadership skills, with a record of aligning senior leaders across organisational and geographical boundaries.
• Judgement and discretion: a high level of maturity and integrity, and discretion in handling confidential and sensitive information.
• Analytical rigour: ability to synthesise complex data into clear insight and recommendations.
• Adaptability: comfortable with ambiguity and rapid change, with a practical and hands-on approach.

Desirable Skills/Experience:

• Advanced degree (e.g. MBA, MSc or PhD)
• Experience leading operating model change, organisational design or restructuring in a global clinical operations setting
• Experience of AI, digital or data-driven transformation of clinical trial delivery
• Familiarity with outsourcing and FSP models and CRO partnerships
• Management consulting experience, particularly in strategy or transformation
• Project management and/or process improvement certifications (e.g. PMP, Lean Six Sigma)
• Experience working across multiple nationalities and cultures, including regional and country organisations

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.

Why AstraZeneca: Here you will power the enterprise behind the science, joining a global community that blends critical thinking with hands-on delivery to make a tangible difference for patients. We bring together diverse experts to tackle complex challenges, using data, predictive analytics and smart automation to reimagine how work gets done. You will find the freedom to challenge the norm, make quick, informed decisions and see them through—supported by dedicated peers who value kindness alongside ambition. With strong investment in your growth, access to pioneering tools and the chance to move across problems and teams, you can build momentum in your career while shaping how clinical operations perform at scale.

Call to Action: Ready to turn strategy into outcomes that accelerate trials and improve patients’ lives—at global scale and pace? Apply now to start the conversation and lead what comes next!

The annual base salary for this position ranges from $189,232.80 - $283,849.20 USD Annually. However, 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. 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.

Date Posted

Closing Date

Our mission is to build an inclusive environment where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and employees. In furtherance of that mission, we welcome and consider applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of their protected characteristics. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please complete the corresponding section in the application form.