National Clinical Trial Liaison Lead

Field Based US

AstraZeneca is advancing the pace of clinical study progress in the US as a critical enabler of Ambition 2030. The National Director, Clinical Trial Liaison Team will provide national leadership, direction, and performance management for a field-based Clinical Trial Liaison team focused on strengthening scientific engagement with strategic clinical research sites and accelerating support for prioritized studies across the US. 

This role serves as the key link between US clinical investigators, strategic research sites, healthcare professionals, and headquarters-based teams across Medical Affairs, R&D, Clinical Operations, and Brand. This leader will translate enterprise priorities into a clear national CTL strategy, ensuring scientifically rigorous, compliant, and impactful site engagement. The role will lead field execution across priority research centers, strengthen engagement capabilities, advance new ways of working, and leverage field insights to inform study planning, clinical trial execution, and efforts to accelerate patient access to innovative medicines.  

The National Director is accountable for national field performance, team health, scientific engagement capability, and executional excellence for the Clinical Trial Liaison function. This leader will establish a culture of accountability, collaboration, compliance, urgency, continued growth, and recognition while helping the organization elevate the importance of clinical trial acceleration in the US. 

The role requires strong enterprise leadership and matrix influence,. The National Director will partner with multiple headquarters and field functions across R&D and business areas to align priorities, remove execution barriers, and ensure site-facing work supports both current study needs and AstraZeneca's longer-term ambition to bring innovative medicines to patients faster. 

Key Accountabilities 

• Establish National Strategy and Vision: Establish the national vision, operating model, and execution priorities for the Clinical Trial Liaison team, making US clinical trial acceleration a visible field medical priority in support of Ambition 2030. 

• Drive Performance and Lead Field Execution: Lead national and enterprise study priorities into clear field plans, priority site coverage, and consistent engagement expectations across US strategic research centers, including select Partner in Care Network sites and other key research partners. 

• Strong Team Leadership and Talent Development: Lead and manage the national Clinical Trial Liaison team, including goal setting, performance management, coaching, onboarding, capability building, best-practice sharing, team culture, and talent development. 

• Translate Insights into Strategic Impact: Serve as the national conduit for investigator, site, and referring-provider insights, ensuring field insights are gathered with quality, shared rapidly with headquarters partners, and used to inform strategies, plans, and field adjustments. 

• Future-Ready Field Leadership: Anticipate future trends and needs in the clinical trial and health care marketplace, resource the field team optimally, and lead change initiatives that enable positive business and patient outcomes 

• Strong Cross-Functional Partnership: Partner with US Site Management and Monitoring, Clinical Operations, R&D, Medical Affairs, Therapeutic Area Medical Science Liaisons, Clinical Account Directors, Brand teams, and business area counterparts to coordinate site-facing engagement and support prioritized studies. 

• Execution Excellence and Operational Discipline: Ensure field medical deliverables, quality expectations, and metrics are relevant, understood, met, and where possible exceeded; reinforce consistent adherence to business processes, guidelines, and policies. 

Essential Requirements 

• Masters required, PhD, PharmD, MD, DO preferred

• Ten or more years of combined experience contributing to and leading Field Medical, Medical Affairs, Clinical Development, pharmaceutical industry, or clinical trial research teams.  

• Experience in supporting clinical trial site engagement, feasibility input, patient recruitment initiatives, or trial-enrollment support. 

• People leadership experience with proven ability to lead field-based teams, first-line leaders, or large-scale field medical initiatives. 

• Track record of delivering large-scale, impactful medical, clinical, or field execution initiatives across a matrix organization. 

• Strong experience with clinical research, study site logistics, investigator and site engagement, clinical trial education, and collaboration with clinical operations partners. 

• Experience in implementation of AI tools to accelerate patient identification & recruitment 

• Demonstrated expertise in scientific communication, drug information exchange, and education of health care professionals, investigators, site staff, and internal stakeholders. 

• Working knowledge of FDA compliance, regulatory requirements, Medical Affairs policies, business processes, and appropriate scientific exchange standards. 

• Ability to work collaboratively and cross-functionally with executive leadership, headquarters partners, Global Medical Affairs, R&D, Clinical Operations, Brand teams, and field-based colleagues. 

• Excellent collaborative, interpersonal, verbal, written, project management, and change leadership skills. 

• Ability to travel 30-40% of the time, with travel expectations varying by business need. 

Desirable Requirements 

• Medical, clinical, or scientific expertise in one or more AstraZeneca BioPharmaceuticals therapeutic areas; Immunology and cardiovascular and metabolic expertise is highly preferred where relevant to the assigned portfolio. 

• Previous national or regional line management experience in Medical Affairs, Field Medical Affairs, Clinical Development, or a clinical-trial-facing organization. 

• Experience in pharmaceutical industry clinical or preclinical research, drug discovery, drug development, pipeline engagement, or key external expert interactions. 

• Experience working in an account-based setting with Clinical Account Directors, Commercial Account Directors, Brand teams, and other internal matrix partners. 

• Entrepreneurial, future-forward approach with passion for coaching, change adoption, scientific innovation, and advancing patient care. 

Why AstraZeneca? 

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.

The annual base pay for this position ranges from $238,990.40 - $358,485.60 USD Annual 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. 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.

Are you ready to be part of a talented, cross-functional team working together to improve lives and make the biggest possible impact for patients, science and society?

Apply now!