Director, Cell Therapy Logistics Operation

Introduction to role:

Are you ready to build and scale a vein-to-vein logistics engine that turns cutting-edge cell therapies into real outcomes for patients? In this director role, you will lead end-to-end scheduling and logistics across autologous, allogeneic, and in vivo therapies and critical raw materials, ensuring chain of identity and chain of custody through robust digital systems and quality management. Your work will enable compliant, reliable patient scheduling, collection, and delivery to clinical sites, aligned to manufacturing realities and release windows.

You will sit at the center of a connected network spanning manufacturing, clinical, quality, digital, and external partners, aligning operations so the entire enterprise can move faster and smarter. How will you design a logistics operating model that is compliant on day one and scalable for the next wave of indications? Do you thrive in high-stakes, real-time environments where your decisions protect patients and unlock speed at scale?

Accountabilities:

• Logistics Operating Model: Define and evolve the operating model across patient and material flows to enable scalable, compliant vein-to-vein execution, covering slot scheduling, shipment booking, real-time monitoring, exception management, escalation SLAs, and COI/COC controls. Align design with manufacturing cycle times, validated hold times, and site capacity plans.
• Slot Allocation and Scheduling: Execute and enforce slot management rules to maximize utilization and patient access; lead cross-functional escalations with Planning, Manufacturing, Clinical and Commercial to protect priority cases and timelines.
• Quality and Compliance: Ensure logistics processes comply with GxP and internal quality system requirements; lead and support audits, inspections, CAPAs, and training; publish and maintain SOPs, work instructions, and playbooks.
• EU Depot Operations: Partner with depot teams on EU receiving, storage, pick/pack, QP handoffs and GDP controls; coordinate EU shipment monitoring to safeguard product integrity.
• Trade Compliance: Ensure compliant import and export movements, permits and licenses, documentation, and adherence to regional requirements in partnership with Legal, Compliance and customs brokers.
• Digital Systems and Orchestration: Define business requirements and UAT for the cell orchestration platform; partner with IT to deliver a roadmap that improves real-time visibility, exception monitoring, and customer experience.
• Daily Execution and Patient Interfaces: Oversee day-to-day logistics performance for apheresis, drug product, and critical materials, including order booking, COI/COC traceability, and handoffs to depots and manufacturing; oversee patient scheduling interfaces with clinical sites and collection centers; coordinate pickups, customs clearance, and deliveries to meet release windows; manage exceptions and remediation in real time.
• Data and Analytics: Set service levels and monitor KPIs; drive vendor performance through business reviews and continuous improvement to elevate speed, reliability, and patient experience.
• Exception and Deviation Management: Detect, triage, and resolve shipment exceptions and quality events; lead incident reviews, lessons learned and CAPA effectiveness to reduce recurrence and systemic risk.
• Courier Vendor Leadership: Own courier COPs and qualified lanes (LN2, 2-8 C, OBC), KPIs and QBRs, and vendor RCA/CAPA; ensure consistent performance, governance and business continuity across global lanes.
• Risk Management and Business Continuity: Define and maintain lane mapping and lane risk assessments; document route and risk profiles; build contingency playbooks to keep product moving despite disruptions.
• Change Management: Lead logistics readiness for new indications, capabilities, facilities, and digital or process changes; ensure smooth transitions without compromising compliance or patient timelines.
• People Leadership: Build and lead a high-performing team; define clear roles and objectives, develop talent, and foster a culture of patient-centricity, compliance, and operational excellence.

Essential Skills/Experience:

• At least BS/BA with 10+ years (or MS/MA/MBA with 8+ years) in logistics operations at pharma/biotech or leading clinical supply or logistics providers; cell therapy experience preferred.
• Minimum 5 years of people leadership experience, preferably managing across multiple sites or countries.

Desirable Skills/Experience:

• Proven logistics control tower leadership for critical, temperature-controlled shipments, including, scheduling, COI/COC, and incident response.
• Direct courier vendor management experience (SLAs, KPIs, RCA/CAPA); strong GDP/GMP and international trade compliance knowledge.
• Experience defining requirements for a cell orchestration platform and applying analytics to capacity and network performance.
• Strong people management and stakeholder partnership across internal and external interfaces.

The annual base pay (or hourly rate of compensation) for this position ranges from $141,997.60 to $ 212,996.40 USD. Our positions offer eligibility for various incentives-an 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.


AstraZeneca is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion and providing a workplace that is free from discrimination. AstraZeneca is committed to accommodating persons with disabilities. Such accommodation is available on request in respect of all aspects of the recruitment, assessment and selection process and may be requested by emailing View email address on click.appcast.io.


Why AstraZeneca:
Join a place where you are trusted to take ownership and move fast, combining scientific rigor with data-driven operations to deliver therapies that change lives. You will work shoulder-to-shoulder with unexpected teams in the same room, unleashing bold thinking to solve complex logistics challenges at scale. We champion curiosity and decisive action, value kindness alongside ambition, and empower you with the tools, partnerships, and freedom to shape how living medicines reach patients across the world.

Call to Action:
Lead the global nerve center of cell therapy logistics and build the systems, teams, and partnerships that move cures to patients faster-bring your expertise and make your mark.

Where can I find out more?

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Date Posted
28-Apr-2026

Closing Date
31-May-2026
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.