Associate Director, Operations

SUMMARY OF THE ROLE

This role supports the Cell Therapy Discovery (CTD) organization with end-to-end operations and internal controls, with a primary focus on budget management, and cross-functional collaboration across Procurement, IT/Digital, Engineering/Facilities management and HR. In line with cell therapy discovery needs (e.g., plasmids/lentivirus, vectors and cell banks, instrumentation and BSL facilities, external CRO/academic collaborations, data and compliance), the role will establish a visible operating rhythm, enhance resource allocation efficiency, reduce operational risk, and ensure compliance to enable high-performing platforms and project portfolios.

ROLE & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Budget and Financial Management (Core):

Lead annual budgeting and rolling forecasts (OPEX/CAPEX) for CTD, work with each Team leaders and Finance BP to do LTP, MTP etc. Build and maintain expense ledgers and variance analysis at both project-portfolio and platform levels; produce monthly/quarterly operational reviews and corrective action plans. Partner with Finance and Internal Controls to refine cost attribution (by project/function/platform), audit evidence, and compliance documentation. deliver portfolio/platform/budget-linked dashboards and executive updates.

• Procurement and Supplier/Partner Management:

Interface with Procurement and Legal to drive compliant sourcing and cost optimization for vectors/viral packages, key reagents and single-use consumables, and cell culture-related materials. Manage the end-to-end lifecycle for CRO/CDMO//academic/research institute collaborations and technical service contracts (scoping, approval, compliance review, contracting, delivery, acceptance, payment).

• Facilities Coordination:

Partner with Facilities to support New facility plan.

• IT/Digital and Data Governance:

Partner with IT/InfoSec to plan, implement and operate LIMS/ELN, project and knowledge management tools, data visualization (e.g., Power BI), and automation (e.g., RPA) use cases. Govern system access, change management, and release cadence to ensure biosafety and data compliance (e.g., traceability of biological materials, metadata integrity, access control). Drive process digitization for procure-to-pay, sample/vector/cell line inventories, equipment booking and maintenance, and portfolio milestones linked to budgets.

• HR and Organizational Operations:

Collaborate with HR on headcount and people cost budgeting, hiring cadence, and optimized onboarding/mobility/offboarding processes; Support performance cadence and training programs (safety/compliance/systems/cost awareness); optimize shift planning and key-role backups. Tracks recruitment against plan and pushes/adjusts/changes process if things are stalling.

REQUIREMENTS

Essential:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree or above; majors in Biopharma/Life Sciences, Pharmacy, Bioengineering, Business Administration, Finance/Accounting preferred. Professional certifications (CPA/CMA/ACCA/PMP) are a plus.
• 8+ years of experience in multinational companies (MNCs) or research-driven foreign/JV organizations in operations, Finance BP, or PMO.
• Experience in R&D-driven environments; exposure to biopharma or cell/gene therapy operating contexts is preferred.
• Demonstrated success in budget management and cross-functional execution.

Skills & Capabilities

• Expertise in and experience with budget management, financial analysis, cost control, and compliance.
• Familiarity with lab procurement and supplier/contract management, including key compliance points (cold chain, hazardous materials, biosafety).
• Understanding of LIMS/ELN, equipment and asset management, and principles of data governance/information security.
• Strong cross-functional communication and influence in a matrix environment.
• High data acumen and structured analysis; proficiency with Excel, PowerPoint, and data visualization tools (e.g., Power BI/Tableau).
• Fluency in English and Chinese; capable of producing high-quality management reports and executive materials.
• Proactive, outcome-oriented, and effective in driving change amid ambiguity.
• Hands-on attitude, deriving satisfaction from improving operational processes and tackling operational challenges
• Demonstrated ability to implement AI tools in the improvement of operational efficiency

Desirable:

• Delivered RPA/self-service analytics, digital dashboards, cost optimization, or global shared services collaborations.
• Budget variance and forecast accuracy; coverage and visibility of spend at portfolio/platform levels.
• Procurement cycle time, critical material stockout rate, cost savings, and compliance pass rate.
• Stakeholder satisfaction (NPS/CSAT) and cross-functional collaboration efficiency.
• Deep cross-functional exposure from early discovery to translational interfaces in cell therapy, with dual-track growth in operations and business management.

Date Posted

Closing Date

AstraZeneca embraces diversity and equality of opportunity.  We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse team representing all backgrounds, with as wide a range of perspectives as possible, and harnessing industry-leading skills.  We believe that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be.  We welcome and consider applications to join our team from all qualified candidates, regardless of their characteristics.  We comply with all applicable laws and regulations on non-discrimination in employment (and recruitment), as well as work authorization and employment eligibility verification requirements.