What are the responsibilities and job description for the Senior Global Medical Affairs Leader, Obesity position at astrazeneca?
AstraZeneca is advancing a tailored approach to Obesity and Weight Management, uniting science, medical and commercial excellence to deliver durable outcomes, reduce cardiometabolic risk and protect organs. Our pipeline is moving with purpose and includes next generation oral and injectable therapies that prioritises tolerability, durability and quality of life. Are you ready to be at the forefront of medical innovation? As the Senior Global Medical Affairs Leader for Obesity and Related Complications, you'll play a pivotal role in shaping the future of obesity care. This is your chance to use your expertise to make a real impact on patients' lives. Join us in our mission to transform the patient journey, from prevention to diagnosis, and beyond. Accountabilities In this dynamic role, you'll be responsible for providing medical leadership across the entire product lifecycle. You'll advise on Research & Development investment decisions, lead pre-launch scientific efforts, and accelerate evidence-based healthcare changes in the real world. Your networking and influencing skills will be key as you facilitate cross-functional collaboration and drive innovation. Are you ready to take on this challenge? Role Summary: Reporting to the Medical Head of Weight Management, the Senior GMAL is a highly experienced Medical Affairs leader with proven vision and impact. This individual develops and leads bold medical strategies within the obesity and cardiorenal-metabolicoutcomes therapy area (specifically MASH, heart failure and CKD), 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: Doctoral-level degree (MD, PhD, PharmD) Master’s degree 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. 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: Clinical experience in obesity, PCP, heart failure and/or CKD Experience with the USA health care system Recognised 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. Location; Boston, Massachusetts, USA (relocation support provided) Total Rewards: The annual base pay (or hourly rate of compensation) for this position ranges from $243,586 to $365,379 Our positions offer eligibility for various incentives—an opportunity to receive short-term incentive bonuses, equity-based awards for salaried roles and commissions for sales roles. Benefits offered include qualified retirement programs, paid time off (i.e., vacation, holiday, and leaves), as well as health, dental, and vision coverage in accordance with the terms of the applicable plans. AstraZeneca is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion and providing a workplace that is free from discrimination. AstraZeneca is committed to accommodating persons with disabilities. Such accommodation is available on request in respect of all aspects of the recruitment, assessment and selection process and may be requested by emailing AZCHumanResources@astrazeneca.com. Date Posted 16-Apr-2026 Closing Date 29-Apr-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. AstraZeneca is a global, science-led, patient-focused biopharmaceutical company. We focus on discovering, developing and commercialising prescription medicines for some of the world’s most serious diseases. But we are more than one of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies. At AstraZeneca, we’re dedicated to being a Great Place to Work. Where you are empowered to push the boundaries of science, challenge convention and unleash your entrepreneurial spirit. To embrace differences and take bold actions to drive the change needed to meet global healthcare and sustainability challenges. There is no better place to make a difference in medicine, patients, and society. An inclusive culture where you will connect different thinking to generate new and valuable opportunities. Where you will find a commitment to lifelong learning, growth and development for all. Our Inclusion & Diversity (I&D) mission is to create an inclusive and equitable environment where people belong, using the power of our diversity to push the boundaries of science to deliver life-changing medicines to patients. Inclusion and diversity are fundamental to the success of our company, because innovation requires breakthrough ideas that only come from a diverse workforce empowered to challenge conventional thinking. We’re curious about science and the advancement of knowledge. We find creative ways to approach new challenges. We’re driven to make the right choices and be accountable for our actions. As an organisation centred around what makes us human, we put a big focus on people. Across our business, we want colleagues to wake up excited about their day at the office, in the field, or in the lab. Along with our purpose to bring life-changing medicines to people across the globe, we have a promise to you: to help you realise the full breadth of your potential. Here, you’ll do work that has the potential to change your life and improve countless others. And, together with your team, you’ll shape a culture that unites and inspires us every day. This is your life at AstraZeneca.
Salary : $243,586 - $365,379