Portfolio & Operations Director

Job Title: Portfolio & Operations Director

Location: Macclesfield

Salary: Competitive

Introduction to role:

Are you ready to steer a complex, science-led portfolio that moves molecules to medicines faster and more affordably? As Portfolio & Operations Director, you will lead a busy portfolio and prioritise where we invest, align resources to the highest-value work, and ensuring disciplined delivery that improves speed, quality and cost.

You will join a trusted, high-performing team that backs decisive action and values clear outcomes. Your work will create visibility, reduce bottlenecks and enable cross-functional teams to deliver at pace. Can you see yourself turning data into confident choices that unlock capacity and accelerate impact for patients?

Accountabilities:

Strategy Deployment Facilitation: Develop long-term strategy to execute; drive engagement, communicate and track to enable the business to focus on  what matters now and what success looks like.

Portfolio Leadership Lead the portfolio to ensure timely allocation of resources, budget management, accurate and effective reporting, and prompt escalation of any issues. Maintain clear communication regarding outcomes and budgets. Collaborate with executive leaders, business units, and project sponsors for decision-making and portfolio steering. 

Sourcing Strategy: Align external partnerships and outsourcing models with portfolio priorities to optimise capacity, cost and timelines

Performance and Insights Perform portfolio performance reviews and analyses, producing performance reporting dashboards for senior leadership. 

Governance and Compliance Drive adoption of portfolio management best practices, tools, and governance processes. 

Financial Stewardship:  execute financial and resource management  tasks across the portfolio; manage and plan forecasting, scenario modelling and tracking

Continuous improvement: Deliver enhanced portfolio processes aligned with departmental change, identifying key improvement and lean integration, as well as continuous improvement for the portfolio process, tools and governance.  

Resource and Benefits Analytics: Provide financial models and visualisations of costs, demand/supply, productivity and benefits realisation; recommend interventions that maximise return on investment.

Essential Skills/Experience:

• University degree in Chemistry, Engineering or Business

• Own end-to-end portfolio governance prioritization, resourcing, and execution

• Prior Experience in managing portfolio of products and delivering  dashboards, analysis and risks

• Previous experience in supporting continuous improvement while ensuring adherence to standards, policies, and regulations.

• Prior experience in managing the organization’s  financial assets and budget cycle including forecasts and spend tracking, RBU, preparing for BRM and MTP. 

• Exceptional communication and influence skills, with experience briefing stakeholders and driving alignment across functions

Desirable Skills/Experience:

• Prior experience in facilitation of strategy development and deployment including, engagement, communication and progress tracking

• Leadership experience in large, complex, science-led or manufacturing/supply environments with a global footprint

• Proven ability to design and run portfolio operating models, stage gates and governance forums

• Familiarity with lean methodologies and digital ways of working that improve flow and productivity

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.

So, what’s next?

Are you ready to bring new ideas and fresh thinking to the table? Brilliant! We have one seat available, and we hope it’s yours.

We welcome your application not later than 31st March 2026

Why AstraZeneca:

Here, your portfolio leadership directly shapes how fast life-changing medicines reach people who need them. You will work with cutting-edge digital tools, lean practices and a global network that brings unusual combinations of expertise together to solve real problems in the same room. We balance high ambition with genuine care—valuing kindness alongside pace—so you can take bold decisions, learn quickly and see your impact in the progress of our science and the resilience of our supply. With strong investment and a clear path for progression, you will have the platform to grow your influence while contributing to a purpose that matters.

Date Posted

17-Mar-2026

Closing Date

31-Mar-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.