Director, Implementation Science

Director, Implementation Science

Location: Wilmington, DE

About AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca is a global, innovation-driven BioPharmaceuticals business that focuses on the discovery, development, and commercialization of prescription medicines for some of the world’s most serious diseases. But we’re more than one of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies. At AstraZeneca we’re dedicated to being a Great Place to Work, where you are empowered to push the boundaries of science and unleash your entrepreneurial spirit. There’s no better place to make a difference to medicine, patients, and society. An inclusive culture that champions diversity and collaboration. Always committed to lifelong learning, growth, and development.

The Role

The Director, Implementation Science is a strategic leadership role within the US Evidence function, accountable for turning evidence into measurable practice change in assigned therapeutic areas. The role advances the organizational transformation of a data-enabled mindset to address clinical inertia and accelerate adoption of evidence-based medicine (EBM) and Guideline-Directed Medical Therapy (GDMT) for improved patient outcomes.

Reporting to the Senior Director, Implementation Science & Policy, and partnering closely with the TA-aligned Senior Director RWE leaders (CVRM and R&I), the Director delivers against the IS strategy: designing and deploying interventions grounded in localized (regional-level) data for impactful execution of medical strategy and personalized insights for precision HCP engagement. Deployed across therapeutic areas based on portfolio priorities, the Director works with headquarters and field medical teams to shape medical objectives and tangible key results that transform care and improve outcomes for our patients.

This role requires knowledge of IS research methods, strong business acumen, and excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to be recognized internally and externally as a credible voice on transforming care in assigned disease areas. The Director maintains deep awareness of the evolving US healthcare system, ensuring interventions are fit-for-purpose for US health systems and decision-makers, and applies AI-enabled tools responsibly across the IS workflow (barrier identification, intervention personalization, and measurement).

Key Responsibilities

Implementation Science Strategy & Clinical Inertia

•    Contribute to the IS strategy and operating model set by the Senior Director, Implementation Science & Policy, including the intervention playbooks and measurement standards deployed across CVRM, R&I, and other priority disease areas.

•    Champion a data-enabled mindset within the medical organization in assigned disease areas, diagnosing the drivers of clinical inertia and leading IS initiatives end to end, from barrier diagnosis through intervention design, deployment, and impact measurement.

Medical Strategy & Field Medical Partnership

•    Guide targeted execution of medical strategy with Core Medical Teams, partnering with US Medical, US Market Access, Commercial Insights, and Brand teams to translate the product value proposition into practice-evolving strategies with tangible key results.

•    Empower Field Medical and Clinical Account Directors (CADs) to make HCP engagement targeted and tailored, translating localized data and personalized insights into actionable plays with health systems, IDNs, payers, and population health stakeholders.

Care Transformation Interventions

•    Design and execute implementation solutions that accelerate adoption of EBM and GDMT, including EHR alerts and other disease management tools, learning collaboratives, and quality improvement programs, grounded in established IS frameworks (e.g., CFIR, RE-AIM, ERIC) and behavior change theory.

•    Apply the team’s measurement standards to demonstrate clinical impact on GDMT adoption and patient outcomes.

External Partnerships & US Healthcare Landscape

•    Cultivate partnerships with health systems, ACOs/IDNs, academic collaborators, patient advocacy groups, and quality-measure bodies (e.g., NCQA, PQA, AMA, IHI) to co-design and scale interventions; engage external scientific leaders and, with the Senior Director, regulatory authorities.

•    Maintain current awareness of the US payer and policy landscape, quality measures, value-based care models, reimbursement dynamics, and guideline development, translating it into intervention priorities that anticipate emerging decision-maker needs.

Evidence-to-Practice & Global Alignment

•    Co-own the evidence-to-practice handoff with RWE Directors and the Senior Director RWE leaders (CVRM and R&I), so RWE outputs translate seamlessly into IS-led interventions.

•    Share IS methodologies, playbooks, and measurement standards with Global Medical Evidence, so US practice-change learnings inform the global evidence strategy.

Scientific Rigor, Responsible AI & Governance

•    Maintain deep expertise in assigned disease areas and evolving guidelines, keeping interventions anchored in current standards of care.

•    Apply AI/ML tools responsibly across barrier identification, intervention personalization, and measurement, and contribute to the team’s AI capability building.

•    Ensure adherence to AstraZeneca’s research governance process, data privacy (HIPAA), and internal SOPs, and contribute to methods development and peer review.

Qualifications:

•    Education. Advanced degree in a relevant field is required (e.g., health economics, outcomes research, health services research, epidemiology, health policy, or related fields); Doctoral degree preferred (PhD, PharmD, MD).

•    Experience. Minimum of seven years of relevant experience (academia, consulting, and/or industry), including meaningful experience in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or medical device industry.

•    Leadership & Problem Solving. Well-developed leadership and problem-solving skills with capability to access internal and external resources for advice.

•    Cross-Functional Collaboration. Ability to work collaboratively across multiple cross-functional teams at the brand or disease area in country, regional, or global organizations.

•    RWD Application. Direct experience using Real-World Data / secondary data and its application is highly desired.

•    Autonomy. Able to execute projects, including engagement with key stakeholders, with a high degree of autonomy.

•    Methodological Expertise. Familiarity with IS frameworks (CFIR, RE-AIM, ERIC), quality improvement methods, and behavior change principles.

•    US Healthcare Knowledge. Comprehensive, current understanding of the US healthcare system, including payer and policy landscape, quality measures, value-based care models, and guideline development.

•    External Engagement. Track record of building productive external partnerships with health systems, ACOs/IDNs, patient advocacy organizations, quality-measure bodies, or academic collaborators.

•    AI Literacy. Familiarity with applying AI/ML tools in practice-change settings; able to evaluate validity, limitations, and bias.

•    Communication. Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Travel & Location

This position is US-based, located in Wilmington, DE. Periodic travel (approximately 15–20%) will be required for engagement with health systems, external partners, internal stakeholders, and medical congresses.

 The annual base pay for this position ranges from $193,200- $289, 500. Hourly 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 (salaried roles), to receive a retirement contribution (hourly roles), and commission payment eligibility (sales roles). 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.

Date Posted

Closing Date

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.