Introduction to Role:
This key role reports to the VP Oncology Cell Therapy Development and partners with the wider Cell Therapy Clinical Operations (CTCO) Leadership Team to maximize the efficiency of the delivery of the teams' goals and vision, by establishing a strategy that translates goals into tactical plans, strengthening the culture of the organization while creating growth through digital excellence and data-driven innovation. This role can navigate multiple diverse stakeholders, about key issues affecting the drivers of R&D Operations and demonstrate organizational experience in dealing with senior executives. The Director, Business Planning and Operations (BPO) will coordinate the budget activities for the department ensuring MTP/LTP timelines are met.
You Will:
1. Partner with the wider cell therapy community (including Discovery and Technical Operations Cell Therapy Development & Operations) to develop vision, 3-to-5 years Strategy, to develop and scorecard goals. Track delivery, performance updates and ensuring scorecard reporting is accurate and timely, and department is on track to exceed performance targets.
2. Foster close collaboration and partnerships to monitor projects to see they perform and identify any potential areas for improvement.
3. Coordination and facilitation of CTCO LT calendar to ensure meetings and tracking of required actions to ensure overall delivery of departmental goals. Prepare presentations and content.
4. Partner with the Communication Lead and wider LT to identify and deliver key functional engagements and information sharing to share important achievements, new hires, key events through appropriate channels.
5. Budgeting and Financial Management for CTCO, monitor expenditure against agreed budgets, identifying variances and implementing corrective action if necessary.
6. Collaborate with Finance in compilation of monthly, quarterly, and annual reports, collect financial and operational data. Engage and lead strategic discussions focused on Financial Planning, Budgeting, Resource Planning, and other business operations. Work with partners in Procurement, Legal, Finance and other internal and external stakeholders to ensure carbon/budget targets and cost-reduction goals are achieved. Partnering with LT, manage Quarterly Business Reviews and important meetings.
7. Plan, develop work methods and procedures to increase use of Coupa, SAP, ePay, and Contracts applications.
8. Resource Planning: ensure open roles are tracked and actioned promptly. Working with hiring manager, TA and HR. Coordinate onboarding activities to ensure new hire is oriented. New Talent Training is correctly built, assigned.
9. Lead Transformational change, translates project vision into practical project plans that ensure impactful solutions. Identify and engage with key stakeholders, providing project statuses ensuring deliverables, risks and dependencies, budgets requirements and other success criteria are met.
10. Investigate our Operations needs and make recommendations in partnership with Strategy Lead, communicating them and translating them into specific requirements.
11. Manage the performance of each functional area in Operations, identifying any barriers to delivery or performance issues and taking action to address these challenges with the CTCO LT.
12. Demonstrate a Continuous Improvement mindset, influencing and guiding peer leadership and teams to adopt lean principles, and methodologies.
You Have:
13. Skilled in AI prompting, data analysis, and MS Suite
14. Minimum working experience: 7 years
15. University Degree in a scientific subject ( MSc in biology, biotechnology, pharmacy)
16. Basic knowledge of oncology and immunology, and good understanding of pharmaceutical drug development process
17. Experience in either biotech or pharma, and in general in a matrix environment
18. Experience in resource monitoring and reporting
19. Experience supporting delivery of team's goals and influencing Senior Leaders both internally and externally
20. Collaborative including the ability to engage with a diverse internal and external stakeholders
21. Ability in solving and issues management that is solution focused
Desirable Experience:
22. Desirable working experience: 10 + years
23. Experience in the field of Cell Therapy at any level ( discovery, clinical, quality)
24. Project management experience
25. Direct experience in Operations across multiple processes, organizations and departments
26. Relevant experience in change management
Our Benefits:
• A qualified retirement program [401(k) plan]
• Paid vacation, holidays, and paid leaves
• Health benefits including medical, prescription drug, dental, and vision coverage following 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. The annual base salary for this position ranges from $151,000 to $227,000. 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 (salaried roles), to receive a retirement contribution (hourly roles), and commission payment eligibility (sales roles).
#Celltherapy
Date Posted
06-Jan-2026
Closing Date
18-Jan-2026Our mission is to build an inclusive and equitable environment. We want people to feel they belong at AstraZeneca and Alexion, starting with our recruitment process. We welcome and consider applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of characteristics. We offer reasonable adjustments/accommodations to help all candidates to perform at their best. If you have a need for any adjustments/accommodations, please complete the section in the application form.