Clinical Trial Liaison, Director – West

US Field Based

AstraZeneca is advancing the pace of Clinical Trial progress in the US as a critical enabler of Ambition 2030. The Regional Director, Clinical Trial Liaison Team will lead and manage a field-based Clinical Trial Liaison team responsible for strengthening scientific engagement with strategic clinical research sites, improving investigator understanding of AstraZeneca trials and pipeline, and helping reduce practical barriers to study start-up, screening, enrollment, referral, and retention. 

This role blends Field Medical Affairs leadership with deep clinical trial partnership. The Regional Director will translate national Clinical Trial Liaison priorities into regional execution, aligning with BioPharmaceuticals Business Unit US Medical headquarters and field teams, Clinical Value and Outcomes, US Site Management and Monitoring, Clinical Operations, and other matrix partners to deliver coordinated site-facing engagement. 

The Regional Director will coach and develop a regional Clinical Trial Liaison team that advances high-quality engagement across priority US research centers. The role is accountable for recommending priority site selection, and setting up a clear field plans consistent engagement expectations across US strategic research centers increasing the consistency, impact, and speed of site-facing medical support for new and ongoing clinical studies across AstraZeneca marketed products, new indications, and compounds in development, including priorities across Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolic; Respiratory, Immunology; and Vaccines and Infectious Disease. 

The Regional Director is accountable for field performance, team health, and executional excellence across the assigned region. The leader will set expectations, coach to quality, assess capability needs, and create a culture of accountability, collaboration, compliance, and urgency in support of US clinical trial acceleration. 

The role will represent investigator, site, and referring-provider perspectives in Medical Affairs and clinical trial workstreams, ensuring that site-facing engagement remains aligned to trial priorities, regional realities, and the broader ambition to accelerate access to innovative medicines for patients. 

Key Accountabilities 

• Team Leadership: Lead and coach a regional Clinical Trial Liaison team through clear goals, call plans, ride-alongs, timely feedback, onboarding, capability building, and talent development. 

• Drive Performance and Lead execution: Establish performance expectations, monitor execution against priorities, use metrics and field observations to identify gaps, and coach the team toward improved impact, engagement consistency, and accountability. 

• Manage Talent: Recruit, onboard, develop, and retain high-performing Clinical Trial Liaisons while fostering accountability, collaboration, and team health. 

• Strengthen CTL Site Engagement: Strengthen scientific engagement with clinical investigators, thought leaders, health care professionals, site staff, and referring physicians to improve understanding of trial protocols, study designs, pipeline assets, and study compounds. 

• Strong Cross-Functional Partnership: Partner with US Site Management and Monitoring, Clinical Operations, headquarter and global medical teams, MSLs and Clinical Account Directors, and Medical Affairs partners to deliver coordinated site-facing engagement 

• Accelerate Insights to Action: Ensure field insights from investigators and research sites are captured with quality, shared rapidly with the appropriate national and headquarters partners, and translated into practical field actions. 

• Lead Change Adoption and Execution: Implement R&D initiatives, remove execution barriers, and reinforce ways of working through training and consistent field follow-up. 

• Resource and Compliance Management: Manage regional resources, travel, congress activity, and spend while ensuring adherence to AstraZeneca policies, Medical Affairs standards, and FDA requirements. 

Essential Requirements 

• Advanced degree in a scientific or clinical discipline, such as MD, DO, PharmD, PhD, NP, or PA-C, or equivalent advanced health practitioner experience. 

• 3+ years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, Field Medical Affairs, Clinical Development, or clinical trial research, with a portion of that experience leading teams or demonstrating strong leadership capability. 

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

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

• Demonstrated ability to translate national strategy into regional account coverage, field plans, and measurable execution priorities. 

• Established track record of effective and influential scientific communication, including oral presentations to health care professionals and internal stakeholders. 

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

• Ability to synthesize field insights, identify execution barriers, and communicate recommended actions clearly across a matrix organization. 

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

Desirable Requirements 

• Doctorate in bio-sciences, pharmacology, pharmacy, nursing, medicine, or a related clinical or scientific field. 

• Previous line management experience in Medical Affairs, Clinical Development, or Field Medical Affairs. 

• Three or more years of Medical Science Liaison experience. 

• 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 Commercial Account Directors and other internal matrix partners. 

• Experience with clinical trial site education, investigator engagement, feasibility input, patient recruitment initiatives, or trial-enrollment support. 

• Entrepreneurial, future-forward attitude with enthusiasm for coaching, change adoption, 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 $211,111.20 - $316,666.80 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!