Senior Director, Cell Therapy Digital Platforms

AstraZeneca•Gaithersburg, MD

3d•Onsite

About The Position

Cell Therapy Clinical Operations (CTCO) drives the delivery of cell therapy trials across Oncology, BioPharma, and Rare Diseases, partnering across R&D, Medical, and Commercial to bring breakthrough therapies to patients faster and more equitably. The Senior Director, Cell Therapy Digital Platforms will define the vision and lead the execution of digital business systems that enable Cell Therapy Patient Operations. This role is responsible for driving an integrated digital and data strategy that links Patient Operations, R&D, Commercial, and site-facing functions. The leader will ensure that our orchestration platform, field tools, and core business systems deliver: Exceptional customer experience for patients and sites Compliance and scalability to meet evolving regulatory and operational constraints Future-ready capabilities that anticipate growth, innovation and future commercial needs This position requires a strategic thinker with deep expertise in digital platforms, capable of aligning technology solutions with business objectives to transform the end-to-end patient journey. Role Overview Strategic leadership: Provide the end-to-end vision and implementation for Cell Therapy Digital Platforms Operations business systems. Align strategy and investment with enterprise objectives, partnering closely with R&D, Commercial, Medical, Quality, and IT. Champion the voice of the customer by systematically converting field insights into actionable business requirements and measurable outcomes. Cell Therapy Business Systems Vision: Serve as a strategic partner for digital transformation, ensuring Patient Operations and CTCO teams are equipped for current needs and future scalability. Maintain agility to respond to changing site needs, regulations, and market dynamics. Customer experience enhancement: Shape and execute strategies to continually improve the cell therapy customer journey on our orchestration platform (sites, HCPs, and internal users). Leverage direct feedback from the field to prioritize and deliver enhancements that reduce friction, accelerate cycle times, and elevate satisfaction. Digital and data roadmap: Build and deliver a dynamic, multi-year roadmap that grows Patient Operations among other CTCO functions capabilities from foundational tools to advanced, data-driven solutions (workflow automation, analytics, reporting, AI/ML where appropriate). Ensure interoperability, data quality, and readiness for future demands. Project leadership and delivery: Lead the selection, rollout, change management, and optimization of critical platforms (e.g., Site Certification, Case Management, HCP Modular Portal, Learning Management System, v2v). Establish governance, work with QA to ensure IT compliance and audit readiness, and drive adoption and value realization. Stakeholder and change leadership: Engage cross-functional leaders and field teams to co-create solutions, align priorities, and manage trade-offs. Design and execute change management, training, and communications to drive sustained adoption and outcomes. Compliance and risk management: Partner with Quality, Legal, Privacy, and Compliance to design controls into systems and processes. Ensure platforms meet GxP, data privacy, and security standards; maintain audit preparedness and robust documentation. Performance management: Define clear KPIs and success metrics for platform performance, adoption, cycle-time improvements, and customer experience. Establish operating rhythms for roadmap governance, release planning, and post-release value tracking. Vendor and budget oversight: Lead vendor selection and management, negotiate contracts/SOWs, and oversee budgets and resource plans for digital platforms such as Site Certification, Case Management, the HCP Modular Portal, and the Learning Management System, —while collaborating across functions to support compliance and audit readiness. Ensure delivery to scope, timeline, and quality standards.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required in a relevant field (e.g., engineering, information systems, life sciences, business). Advanced degree (MBA, MS) preferred.
10+ years of experience in digital platform leadership, business systems, or product management within biopharma or healthcare; 5+ years in cell/gene therapy, specialty pharma, or highly regulated patient operations preferred.
Deep understanding of patient operations and site/HCP workflows in cell therapy or analogous areas (e.g., scheduling, logistics, case management, prior auth/reimbursement, training/certification). Familiarity with orchestration platforms and CRM/PRM ecosystems.
Experience engaging across R&D lifecycle domains (e.g., clinical development, safety, regulatory, real-world evidence) at a strategic level.
Proven track record building roadmaps and delivering complex, integrated platforms; experience with case management systems, portals, LMS, data architecture, analytics/BI, and integrations/APIs. Comfort with agile delivery and product operating models.
Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams, influence at senior levels, and drive change across matrixed organizations. Strong vendor management and budget ownership.
Working knowledge of GxP, data privacy (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA), validation, and audit standards relevant to patient operations platforms.
Strategically manage substantial budgets including outsourced service providers, and professional services, ensuring cost-effective delivery to sophisticated scientific and business partner groups while maintaining world-class platform capabilities.
Strong capability to gather and translate field insights into business requirements and prioritize based on customer impact and measurable outcomes.
Excellent executive communication and storytelling; able to present complex topics simply and secure alignment on strategy and investment.

Nice To Haves

Experience in implementing & maintaining GxP compliant life science systems will be looked upon very favourably.
Experience working in Cell Therapy companies or Cell Therapy Apheresis, Cellular Therapy or Stem Cell Transplant programs.
Certification in appropriate areas will be viewed favourably.

Responsibilities

Provide the end-to-end vision and implementation for Cell Therapy Digital Platforms Operations business systems.
Align strategy and investment with enterprise objectives, partnering closely with R&D, Commercial, Medical, Quality, and IT.
Champion the voice of the customer by systematically converting field insights into actionable business requirements and measurable outcomes.
Serve as a strategic partner for digital transformation, ensuring Patient Operations and CTCO teams are equipped for current needs and future scalability.
Maintain agility to respond to changing site needs, regulations, and market dynamics.
Shape and execute strategies to continually improve the cell therapy customer journey on our orchestration platform (sites, HCPs, and internal users).
Leverage direct feedback from the field to prioritize and deliver enhancements that reduce friction, accelerate cycle times, and elevate satisfaction.
Build and deliver a dynamic, multi-year roadmap that grows Patient Operations among other CTCO functions capabilities from foundational tools to advanced, data-driven solutions (workflow automation, analytics, reporting, AI/ML where appropriate).
Ensure interoperability, data quality, and readiness for future demands.
Lead the selection, rollout, change management, and optimization of critical platforms (e.g., Site Certification, Case Management, HCP Modular Portal, Learning Management System, v2v).
Establish governance, work with QA to ensure IT compliance and audit readiness, and drive adoption and value realization.
Engage cross-functional leaders and field teams to co-create solutions, align priorities, and manage trade-offs.
Design and execute change management, training, and communications to drive sustained adoption and outcomes.
Partner with Quality, Legal, Privacy, and Compliance to design controls into systems and processes.
Ensure platforms meet GxP, data privacy, and security standards; maintain audit preparedness and robust documentation.
Define clear KPIs and success metrics for platform performance, adoption, cycle-time improvements, and customer experience.
Establish operating rhythms for roadmap governance, release planning, and post-release value tracking.
Lead vendor selection and management, negotiate contracts/SOWs, and oversee budgets and resource plans for digital platforms such as Site Certification, Case Management, the HCP Modular Portal, and the Learning Management System, —while collaborating across functions to support compliance and audit readiness.
Ensure delivery to scope, timeline, and quality standards.

Benefits

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.

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