Vice President R&D, Rare Disease

Job description

The VP R&D, Rare Disease is an Ireland-based strategic leadership role reporting to the Alexion CEO. The role is responsible for shaping Alexion AstraZeneca Rare Disease R&D strategy, maximizing portfolio and IP value, and providing expert guidance on pipeline and investment decisions. Serving as a trusted advisor to the Alexion CEO and Alexion Leadership Team (ALT), this role drives rigor across R&D investment governance, brings rare disease, medical, and/or development expertise to Alexion’s programs and decisions, and plays a key role in portfolio prioritization and value creation. This person will be a key partner to the Alexion Head of Development Regulatory Safety (DRS), the Alexion Heads of Research, and the Head of Global Medical Affairs (GMA). The position serves on the Early-Stage Product Committee (ESPC) and Late-Stage Product Committee (LSPC), sits on the Boards of Directors of AstraZeneca Irish entities and advises senior Alexion and AstraZeneca leaders on investment decisions. Depending on the candidate’s expertise, the role may also hold accountability for translational science, AI, and/or data strategy. Strategy Accountable, alongside Alexion senior leaders, for delivering the Rare Disease therapeutic area (TA) strategy. Provide global strategic, scientific, and regulatory expertise and oversight to support research, development, and lifecycle management of products. Through participation in LSPC and ESPC, support prioritization of new IP development, including identifying areas for exploratory research and enhancing existing IP. Evaluate internal and external opportunities to bring new assets into the portfolio, including technical review and prioritization of identified opportunities. Oversee, in conjunction with other Alexion senior leaders, development priorities and decisions to continue or stop product development activities. In alignment with global R&D standards and procedures, establish Rare Disease procedures to manage and control clinical development of IP and support the defense and protection of IP. On behalf of the Irish Boards, oversee outsourced service provider activities in line with global policies, procedures, and standards. Lead continuous improvement within R&D – Rare Disease, identifying efficiencies and driving best practices that support the organization’s growth and ambition. Drive automation, robustness, and efficiency across the Rare Disease R&D enterprise. Stay informed on emerging healthcare and pharmaceutical industry trends and assess their potential impact on R&D strategy. Business performance Provide oversight of R&D strategy delivery, including discovery, preclinical research, and development, on behalf of the Irish Boards. Drive project success in collaboration with the SVP DRS and SVP Research, from discovery through clinical development and filing. Provide critical review and input on disease area and portfolio regulatory strategies, risk planning, and mitigation. Build collaborative relationships with cross-functional leaders across Legal, R&D, Commercial, Market Access and Pricing, Digital, and Innovation to maximize asset value throughout the product lifecycle. Governance and leadership Represent R&D – Rare Disease at key governance bodies. Act as a key point of escalation for R&D – Rare Disease risks and issues, determining the appropriate course of action, making recommendations, and raising awareness with the Alexion CEO as needed. Act as a leader and role model, representing the organization’s core values in everything they do. Experience & Minimum Requirements Education MD and/or PhD, with related industry experience in regulated biotechnology or pharmaceutical companies. Proven track record in drug discovery and development in relevant disease area(s). Prior experience managing a team or department, with demonstrated ability to leverage individual strengths across multiple functional areas and provide budget management and oversight of research team activities. Enterprise-level leadership, with the ability to inspire, motivate, and drive results. Strong communication skills, with the ability to collaborate with and influence stakeholders across the organization. Ability to distill complex issues and ideas into clear, simple terms. Embrace and demonstrate a diversity and inclusion mindset, and role model these behaviors for the organization. Date Posted 20-Jul-2026 Closing Date 13-Sep-2026 Our mission is to build an inclusive and equitable environment. We want people to feel they belong at AstraZeneca and Alexion, starting with our recruitment process. We welcome and consider applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of characteristics. We offer reasonable adjustments/accommodations to help all candidates to perform at their best. If you have a need for any adjustments/accommodations, please complete the section in the application form.