Global Medical Affairs Leader, Obesity

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 Global Medical Affairs Leader for Obesity, 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?

Reporting directly to the Medical Head of Weight Management and T2D, the GMAL is a key strategic business role, with the ability to combine their unique medical expertise with insights from markets, healthcare professionals, patients, and health systems to develop and execute world-class medical strategies for AstraZeneca medicines and market-shaping teams globally.

As a key member of the Global Medical Team (GMT) within a specific brand and/or disease area, the GMAL serves as a strategic partner and leader, working across the medical enterprise, R&D, and commercial functions. The GMAL is pivotal in bridging the Global Product Team (GPT) and Regional Medical teams (US, EU-Canada, International) and major markets, ensuring alignment to the needs of marketing company affiliates, healthcare professionals, and patients through ambitious global product and disease area strategies. The GMAL enables affiliates worldwide to deliver outstanding product launches, transform health systems, conduct practice-defining studies and real-world evidence initiatives, and accelerate the delivery of AstraZeneca clinical trials.

For GMAL Study Lead positions, prior clinical trial leadership experience and medical expertise within the relevant disease area are essential to drive the design, execution, and delivery of pivotal evidence-generating activities that underpin AstraZeneca's medicines and diagnostics transformation.

Key Expectations of a GMAL; a successful GMAL will:

• Launch & Performance: Lead the delivery of prerequisites for an outstanding product launch-including strategy, scientific narrative, and key performance indicators (KPIs)-with the ability to critically assess performance and proactively implement actions.

• Scientific Leadership: Shape, communicate, and champion world-class medical content and compelling science narratives that support products and key market-shaping initiatives.

• Evidence Generation: Demonstrate proven experience designing and delivering clinical trials or real-world evidence programs. Shape the global evidence strategy by translating insights into innovative clinical research and observational studies, differentiating or expanding market access for AstraZeneca medicines, and supporting healthcare change initiatives. Partner with global and affiliate teams to identify and address evidence gaps that drive product value and patient outcomes.

• Innovator: Identify and create new opportunities to accelerate market growth and impact, scale best practices globally, and pilot innovative approaches to medical strategy and health system engagement.

• External Scientific Engagement: Drive a visible and credible scientific engagement agenda-actively partnering with international key thought leaders, societies, health organizations, and health system decision-makers to ensure AstraZeneca's voice and science lead the conversation.

• Business Partner: Collaborate with internal functions (Evidence Generation, Medical Information, Publications, Market Access, Commercial, and R&D) to ensure strategic alignment and delivery of high-impact medical resources, as well as ensuring scientific and regulatory compliance in all communications and activities.

Essential for the role:

• Master's degree with 3-5 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry (Medical, Marketing, R&D, Market access roles), or experience working within a relevant health system setting (clinical, pharmacy, pathway design, etc.)

• Demonstration of strategic and medical leadership prowess pre- and post-product launch, including the ability to define evidence needs, create compelling scientific narratives & strategy, influence & mobilise others.

• Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills, with the ability to translate complex data into actionable insights and compelling value propositions for patients, payers, and providers.

Desirable for the role:

• Medical doctor with experience in obesity medicine

• Experience with the USA health care system

• Doctoral-level degree (MD, PhD, PharmD) in a relevant discipline.

• Recognised expertise in the relevant or related therapeutic area.

• Prior experience leading the design, execution, and interpretation of interventional clinical trials or real-world evidence studies (such as registries, pragmatic studies, or health outcomes research). Deep medical expertise in the relevant disease area, evidenced by prior hands-on clinical or research experience.

• Experience operating successfully in complex, matrixed organisational environments.

• Successful track record of launching new products or indications.

• Established relationships with global clinical thought leaders, professional societies, and healthcare organisations.

• Advanced collaboration and networking skills-internal and external.

• Experience working on global evidence generation programs, such as clinical trials (phase II/III/IV) and/or real-world evidence studies.

• Location; strong preference for Boston, Massachusetts, USA

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. Join us in our unique and ambitious world.

AstraZeneca offers an inspiring environment where scientific expertise meets business acumen. Here, you'll be equipped with the knowledge needed to keep pace with rapid complex science and the latest changes in medical practice worldwide. As scientific ambassadors, we are confident in our role within this science-led enterprise, contributing to groundbreaking innovations that improve patients' lives. With opportunities for growth and development, AstraZeneca is where your career can thrive.

Ready to make a difference? Apply now and join us on this exciting journey!

Date Posted
23-Oct-2025

Closing Date
09-Nov-2025
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.