Job is based either in Gaithersburg, MD or Boston, MA and requires to be in the office 3 days a week.
Role Summary:
Reporting to the Medical Head the Senior Global Medial Affairs Lead Cardiovascular is a highly experienced Medical Affairs leader with proven vision and impact. This individual develops and leads bold medical strategies within the CVRM therapy area, expertly guiding cross-functional and cross-regional teams to deliver and exceed ambitious goals. The Senior GMAL’s influence is enterprise-wide—shaping global medical agendas through Global Medical Team, Global Product Team, and Disease Area Team leadership, and deep partnership with Medical and Commercial functions in markets and regions worldwide.
This role demands a leader who champions innovative, disruptive thinking—identifies and shapes breakthrough opportunities, reimagines market dynamics, and accelerates high-impact evidence generation and medical change initiatives. The Senior GMAL navigates and transforms health systems, leverages digital and advanced analytics, drives stakeholder engagement, and ensures AstraZeneca’s science leads externally and internally through world-class medical evidence and strategic partnerships.
Expectations of a Senior GMAL include:
Strategy & Transformation: The Senior GMAL designs and leads the implementation of product and disease area strategies, as well as ambitious practice change initiatives, at a global level. This requires a deep understanding of healthcare system pathways, regulatory landscapes, market access, and competitive dynamics. The Senior GMAL consistently delivers innovative, disruptive solutions to shape markets, challenges status quo thinking, and uses digital proficiency to identify data-driven opportunities, preparing for launch and life cycle management.
Medical Evidence Leadership: Senior GMALs own the evidence generation strategy—demonstrating advanced experience in clinical research, interventional trials (Phases 2–4), and real-world evidence (RWE) programs. They shape and drive groundbreaking clinical trials, registries, and RWE studies aligned with brand, access, and practice-changing objectives. They guide the optimisation, communication, and strategic roll-out of data across scientific platforms, ensuring AstraZeneca delivers differentiated evidence that supports the needs of regulatory, payer, and healthcare providers. Clinical research, patient outcomes expertise, and deep understanding of treatment protocols underpin their ability to address evolving evidence requirements.
Advanced Scientific & Digital Engagement: The Senior GMAL blends scientific expertise with strong digital acumen. They leverage digital health tools, advanced analytics, and data platforms to transform evidence communication, personalize stakeholder engagement, and enhance patient outcomes. They are the voice of medical—crafting compelling narratives, driving digital dissemination of evidence, and ensuring accurate, impactful, and compliant scientific communications.
Guiding and Influencing Stakeholders: With significant expertise in internal and external engagement, the Senior GMAL builds and sustains powerful relationships across the healthcare ecosystem—including global and regional KOLs, professional societies, regulators, payers, patient organizations, digital innovators, and health systems. Their credibility and influence enable them to mobilize support for medical strategy, evidence generation, and healthcare change initiatives. They mentor and guide cross-functional teams, championing scientific leadership and strategic collaboration.
Regulatory Insight & Compliance: The Senior GMAL possesses keen regulatory understanding and ensures clinical trial and evidence generation initiatives are designed for both scientific and regulatory success. They anticipate evolving regulatory and payer requirements for evidence, ensuring high quality, compliant data generation and communication at every stage.
Essential for the role:
Minimum of Master’s degree or higher with at least 5 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry (Medical, Marketing, R&D, Market Access), or extensive experience within a health system (clinical, pharmacy, pathway design, etc.).
Demonstrated leadership in complex, global healthcare environments, including leading franchise/TA business in key markets, driving brand performance, and managing large, diverse teams including global launch of major products.
Significant expertise and strategic insight into healthcare system pathways, regulatory landscapes, market-shaping, and external stakeholder engagement.
Strong track record of internal and external network building, collaboration across geographies and matrix teams, and effective mentoring of junior colleagues or peers.
Digital proficiency, leveraging digital health tools and data platforms to advance evidence generation and communication.
Deep understanding of patient care pathways, evolving treatment protocols, scientific literature, and contemporary approaches to healthcare transformation.
Proven ability to guide, influence, and align diverse stakeholders—including thought leaders, regulatory bodies, patient groups, and payer organisations.
Desirable for the role:
Doctoral-level degree (MD, PhD, PharmD) in a relevant discipline.
Recognized expertise in the relevant or related therapeutic area, often evidenced by a history of clinical practice, research leadership, or significant external engagement.
Advanced experience designing, leading, and interpreting clinical research programs, including pivotal clinical trials (Ph2–Ph4), practice-changing RWE studies, and implementation of innovative evidence generation approaches.
Broad experience beyond Medical Affairs; for example, prior roles in Marketing, R&D, or Market Access.
Long-standing relationships with global KOLs, societies, regulators, digital health partners, and innovative healthcare organisations.
Track record of launching new products or indications in multiple, diverse markets (e.g., US, China, EU), and successfully developing and executing global medical strategies.
The annual base pay for this position ranges from $243,569 - 365,379 . Hourly and salaried non-exempt employees will also be paid overtime pay when working qualifying overtime hours. 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). 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 pay (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
09-Oct-2026
Closing Date
12-Nov-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.