Role Purpose 

The Head of Oncology Business Excellence (OBEX), EUCAN leads the regional business excellence agenda across Europe and Canada to enable future-fit customer engagement, insights-driven decision-making, operational excellence, and scalable omnichannel and digital capabilities for Oncology. The role shapes strategy, drives transformation, and builds capabilities to support numerous launches, elevate franchise performance, and improve patient outcomes through pathway optimization and external partnerships. 

Reporting and Scope 

• Reports to: Senior Commercial Director, Oncology, EUCAN 

• Geographic remit: Europe and Canada (EUCAN), with strong interfaces to Global functions, Regional Leadership and Local Marketing Companies (MCs) 

• Team: Direct management of the EUCAN Analytics and Insights team (5) 

• Network: Leads the EUCAN OBEX network, creating engagement platforms and leads efforts to communicate and consolidate key programs to allow for efficient scaling where this is matched to market and business needs 

• Budget responsibility: Manages a significant budget to deliver centralised market research for the EUCAN region 

Key Accountabilities 

Shape the EUCAN Oncology Business Excellence Strategy 

• Partners with country and regional leadership to define a bold, future-fit OBEX vision aligned to EUCAN Oncology strategy and AstraZeneca global priorities. 

• Identify critical capabilities, tools, data, and processes to sustain competitive advantage and value creation. 

Market Research 

• Standardize analytics to deliver rapid, actionable insights for evidence-based decisions across franchises. 

• Accountable for management of TA insights budget and contractor/consultant relationships, including oversight of outsourced off-shore analytics and forecast modelling expertise.  

• Responsible for the work allocation and prioritisation, development and performance management of their direct reports 

• Understands and manages the transition of brands/indications from the global team to the EUCAN A&I team aligned with Regional Tumour Team (RTT) and agreed protocols 

• Manages commitments and deliverables against the indication prioritisation framework 

• Manages relationships with external vendors in collaboration with Global Analytics and Insights and Procurement teams 

• Ensures provision of data in a manner that is aligned to guidance from RTT and allows for timely and robust business analysis and decision making 

Lead on forecast consolidation and simplification 

• Lead accountability for the receipt of financial models to support marketing company forecasting and other business financial processes (QBR, RBU, MTP, BSP, LRR) 

• Ensure the robustness and accuracy of financial models 

• Lead efforts to simplify financials models and forecasting 

Lead Cross-Functional Collaboration and Transformation 

• Partner with Franchise Heads, Medical, Market Access, Diagnostics, Finance, Compliance, and MC leadership to align on priorities and execution. 

• Act as the bridge between Global (e.g., Global Business Planning & Transformation, Global Commercial Digital Health), EUCAN region, and MCs. 

• Engage across AstraZeneca to identify synergies in the selection and implementation of key projects and/or platforms that benefit OBU.  

Accelerate and Facilitate Digital Enablement/AI into our ways of working 

• Take the lead on partnering with the global organisation on developing and implementing Customer 2030 across the EUCAN region 

• Lead on informing global plans and working with markets on preparation for transitioning our CRM platform, including making recommendations for additional future resourcing to support the implementation 

• Champion the journey from multi- to omnichannel across EUCAN, improving reach, efficiency, and impact of go-to-market models. 

• Partner with MCs and Global Commercial Digital Health to prioritize and scale “true” omnichannel enablement and digital health solutions. 

• Monitor and manage the thoughtful introduction of new technology and partners. Ensure new vendors meet AZ standards to minimise risk exposure and limit duplication of vendors with similar solutions 

Education, Qualifications, Skills and Experience 

Minimum requirements 

• Degree qualified 

• 8–10+ years in pharmaceutical/biotech, spanning Strategic Planning, Sales & Marketing, Commercial Operations/Business Excellence, Insights & Analytics/Forecasting, and/or Digital/Omnichannel. 

• Demonstrated use and understanding of secondary data sources and performance tracking 

• In depth knowledge of regional market dynamics through in-market or regional experience 

• Understanding of all stages of drug development  

• Proven track record of attracting and developing talent and optimising team performance in direct and matrixed leadership roles 

• Excellent financial and business acumen 

• Advanced strategic thinking, judgement and influencing skills  

• Able to articulate a vision, set direction and be a key influencer of major business decisions 

• Able to express complex ideas and strategies in clear and compelling ways to multiple stakeholder groups 

Advantageous  

• MBA or advanced degree. 

• Experience in Oncology 

• Experience in either regional or global roles 

• Expertise in: 

• Data & Analytics: insights generation, forecasting, measurement of omnichannel impact, platform strategy. 

• Customer Engagement: omnichannel strategy and execution, field enablement, in-call quality, data-driven content creation. 

• Operational Excellence: commercial operations, performance analytics, incentive compensation, reporting. 

Key Relationships 

Internal:  

• Regional and Country Leadership 

• Regional Tumour Teams 

• Regional A&I team (direct reports) 

• Country OBEX leads 

• Cross BU Business Excellence leads (IBEX) 

• Global teams (Franchise, A&I, IBEX, OBEX) 

• Digital and IT partners 

External: 

• Market research providers and other partners