AstraZeneca Posted July 29, 2026

Global Clinical Head- Executive Director

Gaithersburg, Maryland, United States of America Full time
Clinical Development Executive/VP

AstraZeneca is the source of truth for this posting and owns the application process. We surface normalized context and market comparison you won't find on the original listing.

About this opportunity

Job Description: Global Clinical Head- Executive Director Infectious Disease

Are you a clinical research expert ready for new opportunities? Would you like to play a pivotal role in the development of potential medicines? If you are passionate about being a medical leader for a cross-functional team in a group that drives action towards the improvement of global public health– join us! As Global Clinical Head you will have a unique opportunity to further elevate the Infectious Disease Therapy Area in one of the world’s most respected biopharmaceutical companies.  The role holds a significant development opportunity for the successful candidate whilst contributing to the positive journey that AstraZeneca is on.

Accountabilities:

The Global Clinical Head (GCH) will have overall clinical leadership of one or more global products in the Infectious Disease pipeline. The GCH is also responsible for medical/scientific strategies for the clinical components of the Target Product Profile (TPP), Clinical Development Plan (CDP), and regulatory documents (e.g., briefing documents, CTD/BLA, core labelling texts). Within the Clinical Project Team, the GCH has accountability for the clinical, scientific, and value content and delivery of the medical components for the program to time and quality. The GCH will be the team’s voice and representative on the Global Project Team that oversees the overall strategy of Infection products.

Essential Skills/Experience:

Graduate of a recognized school of medicine with an MD degree or equivalent

• Demonstrated clinical research expertise in Infectious Diseases and vaccines

• At least 10 years of pharmaceutical industry knowledge and experience

• Experience in early and late stage program development and trial conduct

• Demonstrated ability to lead the development of a program strategy and be accountable for project plans, timelines, progress, and outcomes

• Global regulatory submissions, interacting with major Health Authorities, and experience with regulatory document writing and filings (e.g., NDA/BLA submissions, benefit/risk assessment)

• Demonstrated ability leading and motivating teams in a matrix environment

• Demonstrated ability to lead, coach, and mentor physicians and clinical scientists

• Significant hands-on clinical drug development experience and scientific credibility

• Developed/delivered in parallel, composed of multiple complex and large studies (e.g., including but not limited to multinational, pivotal Phase 3 efficacy studies)

• Clinical experience as a practicing physician in the hospital and/or clinic setting

• Demonstrated ability to cultivate excellent cross-functional collaborations

• Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate at multiple levels of the organization with excellent verbal and written communication skills (including giving presentations) in English

• Must demonstrate high integrity

• Organize and deliver Advisory Boards with international Key External Experts

• Demonstrated AI/digital mindset and experience applying AI-enabled and generative AI tools to support clinical development activities (e.g., data analysis, medical writing, clinical trial operational efficiency)

• Be office based at the Gaithersburg AstraZeneca site at least 3 days a week

Desirable Skills/Experience:

• Named Investigator on a number of clinical trials

• Regulatory affairs expertise with a major health authority

• Progressed compounds into first time in human Phase 1 studies and Phase 2 delivery of proof of principle studies

• Significant and consistent peer-reviewed publication track record

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?

We are a changemaker on the world stage at an exciting frontier of medicine. This is backed by deep knowledge and experience in our field. Building on this, we lead the way into the future with energy and drive. We are helping to transform healthcare and build pandemic preparedness to protect against future health crises and to bring lasting immunity to people around the globe. We are committed to our central role in addressing pandemic and endemic diseases and ensuring our products continue to reach and benefit millions of people around the world.

The annual base salary for this position ranges from USD 331,873.60 – 497,810.40. 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) or to receive a retirement contribution (hourly roles). 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

29-Jul-2026

Closing Date

16-Aug-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.

Job details

Seniority
Executive/VP
Function
Clinical Development
Therapeutic area
Not listed
Location
Gaithersburg, Maryland, United States of America
Employment type
Full time

How this role compares

Computed from every other active Clinical Development role in our database, not just this employer's listings.

We currently track 53 comparable Executive/VP Clinical Development roles across 16 biopharma companies.

53Comparable roles tracked
49Currently active
16Companies hiring similar roles
6Countries represented

Salary context

32 of 53 peers report a salary range (USD, annualized)

Peers share this role's job function and a matching or adjacent seniority level -- not necessarily the same therapeutic area or country.

This roleSubject $331,874/yr – $497,810/yr
Lowest disclosed · Sr Director CDOS Process Owner - Clinical Trial Foundations · Lilly $156,000/yr – $228,800/yr
Peer group range $192,400 – $400,335 (median $329,250)

Where these roles are based

Top locations among the 53 comparable roles

United States47
China2
United Kingdom1
Switzerland1
India1
Denmark1

Seniority mix

53 of 53 peers have a known seniority level

Executive/VP32
Senior Director21

Therapeutic area mix

32 of 53 peers have a known therapeutic area; the rest are genuinely unlabeled, not hidden

Oncology11
Respiratory5
Immunology5
Neuroscience4
Vaccines & Infectious Disease3
Cardiovascular / CVRM2
Gastroenterology1
Ophthalmology1

Similar opportunities

The closest matches from our peer group, ranked by how similar they are, not how well you'd qualify for them -- treat this as market context, not a guaranteed shortlist; a weak match is labeled as one below.

60%similar
AstraZeneca Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America Executive/VP
Same function Same seniority Same country
60%similar
Alexion Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America Executive/VP
Same function Same seniority Same country
60%similar
AbbVie Executive/VP
Same function Same seniority Same country

Open in 5 locations

North Chicago, United StatesCambridge, United StatesFlorham Park, United StatesSouth San Francisco, United StatesIrvine, United States
60%similar
AbbVie North Chicago, IL Executive/VP
Same function Same seniority Same country
60%similar
AstraZeneca Gaithersburg, Maryland, United States of America Executive/VP
Same function Same seniority Same country
60%similar
AstraZeneca Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America Executive/VP
Same function Same seniority Same country

How we calculate "similar"

No black box, no LLM guesswork: a deterministic score built from four normalized attributes. Here's this role's own peer group at different match levels, so you can see the mechanism, not just the result.

Every comparison starts from the same 100-point budget: 25 for working in the same function, 40 for the same therapeutic area, 20 for the same or adjacent seniority, 15 for the same country. A dimension we can't confirm on both sides contributes nothing, never a guess, never a free pass.

60%
Executive Medical Director, Gastroenterology, Early R&I Clinical Development
AstraZeneca · Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America · Executive/VP
Function Therapeutic area Seniority Country
60%
Executive Medical Director, Immunology Clinical Development - Respiratory/Pulmonary
AbbVie · Cambridge, MA · Executive/VP
Function Therapeutic area Seniority Country
60%
Executive Medical Director, Immunology Clinical Development - Respiratory/Pulmonary
AbbVie · Irvine, CA · Executive/VP
Function Therapeutic area Seniority Country
60%
Executive Medical Director, Clinical Development, Hematology
AstraZeneca · Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America · Executive/VP
Function Therapeutic area Seniority Country
Unmatched or unknown dimensions score exactly the same: 0 points, never a partial guess. A role we know almost nothing about beyond its function bottoms out at 25%; it never inflates to 100% just because there's little to compare against. Seniority uses a defined ladder (Associate → Manager → Associate Director → Senior → Principal → Director → Senior Director → Executive/VP) so "Director" and "Senior Director" count as adjacent, but "Director" and "Executive/VP" do not.