Associate Director – Territory Operations Manager

Introduction to role:
Are you ready to pioneer cell therapy trial operations across a dynamic region and help transform outcomes for people with cancer? This role sits at the intersection of science, operations, and patient care—where robust clinical execution and smart, data-informed decisions accelerate both trials and future commercial delivery.

As a regional expert, you will guide treatment centers through complex cell therapy workflows, from site strategy and activation to ongoing operational and clinical oversight. You will connect frontline teams with internal experts, turning standards into daily practice and removing barriers that slow patient access. Can you envision yourself setting the pace for how advanced therapies are introduced and sustained across multiple sites?

This is a remote, regional role reporting to a Regional Operations Director and partnering closely with cross-functional leaders to build scalable, patient-centered service lines that uphold the highest quality and compliance standards.

Accountabilities:

• Regional Site Strategy: Partner with regional leadership to shape site selection and expansion plans that accelerate patient access and trial readiness while ensuring sustainable operations.

• Site Activation and Certification: Lead risk-based activation, certification, and training programs to bring new treatment centers online efficiently and compliantly.

• Clinical Workflow Excellence: Guide end-to-end cell therapy workflows—including apheresis, product handling, infusion, and documentation—to deliver consistent, high-quality patient care.

• Quality and Compliance Leadership: Operate within relevant regulatory and accreditation frameworks (e.g., FACT), driving audit readiness, deviation management, CAPA execution, and continuous improvement.

• Cross-Functional Leadership: Align with Program Management, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Quality, Medical, Market Access, Compliance, and Commercial to ensure integrated delivery across clinical and commercial phases.

• Collaborator Engagement: Build positive relationships with investigators, physicians, nurses, apheresis teams, cell therapy labs, and site leadership to establish patient-centered service lines.

• Logistics and Supply Chain Coordination: Act as the primary operations readiness liaison, aligning site needs with supply chain timelines, COI/COC processes, and regional account changes.

• Training and Mentorship: Design and deliver training for site staff and junior team members to elevate capability and consistency across the region.

• Issue Management and Continuous Improvement: Respond constructively to SOP deviations, implement corrective actions, and share guidelines to strengthen system-wide performance.

• Reporting and Insights: Lead research and internal reporting on standards, performance, and guidelines to inform governance and strategy across multiple countries and local contexts.

• Travel: Travel up to 50% to engage with sites, support activations, and maintain ongoing operational oversight.

Essential Skills/Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience with detailed knowledge/hands-on experience in Cell Therapy (preferred: nursing, Life Sciences, healthcare administration, Business).

• 8+ years in cell therapy with progressive leadership.

• Expertise in service lines (infrastructure, resourcing, costs, quality metrics).

• Proven delivery to timelines, cost, and quality; collaboration with internal/external providers.

• Excellent knowledge of cell therapy standards/regulations.

• Experience selecting/overseeing external providers and developing contracts.

Desirable Skills/Experience:

• Advanced scientific degree or equivalent experience; broad understanding across patient operations, manufacturing interfaces, quality, regulatory, market access; project management experience.

• Program/Quality qualifications (e.g., PMP, CPHQ).

• Experience across academic/Sponsor settings and countries.

• Early-phase delivery across product lifecycle and multiple therapeutic areas.

• Salesforce or similar CRM experience.

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, science meets action to change how cancer is treated. You will work with colleagues across disciplines—clinicians, data scientists, engineers, operations leaders—using advanced analytics, novel biomarkers, and innovative trial designs to move breakthroughs from concept to clinic. With a deep, fast-evolving pipeline and unparalleled data resources, we empower you to take smart risks, learn quickly, and deliver for patients. We value kindness alongside ambition, encourage every voice at the table, and give you the platform, technology, and partnership network to turn bold ideas into measurable impact for people worldwide.

Call to Action:
If you are ready to lead regional cell therapy execution and help deliver the next wave of oncology breakthroughs, step forward and shape what patients will experience next!

Date Posted

Closing Date

AstraZeneca embraces diversity and equality of opportunity.  We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse team representing all backgrounds, with as wide a range of perspectives as possible, and harnessing industry-leading skills.  We believe that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be.  We welcome and consider applications to join our team from all qualified candidates, regardless of their characteristics.  We comply with all applicable laws and regulations on non-discrimination in employment (and recruitment), as well as work authorization and employment eligibility verification requirements.