Director, Epidemiology; Rare Oncology

What you will do

The Director, Epidemiology (Rare Oncology) is a senior strategic and scientific leadership role that provides global direction and expertise for epidemiology support for programs within Alexion’s rare oncology therapeutic area, requiring minimal supervision. The Director, Epidemiology partners with cross‑functional stakeholders to ensure appropriate epidemiological perspectives are provided in support of strategic needs and integrated into corporate plans. They are accountable for developing and implementing cutting‑edge, effective, and impactful epidemiology deliverables, ensuring all deliverables are performed efficiently, commensurate with budget, quality, accuracy, timeliness, and in accordance with current advancements in epidemiology / pharmacoepidemiology methodology.

To effectively accomplish this, the role develops a strategic plan for assigned indication(s) that aligns with corporate needs, and navigates policies to ensure successful execution. The role is directly accountable, either personally or through oversight of other epidemiologists/vendor/contractors, for all epidemiology deliverables and study results executed within assigned indications.

The Director, Epidemiology requires key interactions with senior leadership, routinely interfacing with leaders within Clinical Development, Global Patient Safety, Regulatory Affairs, Commercial / Marketing, Health Economics & Outcomes Research, Medical Affairs, Project Management, Business Development, along with Global Program Team Leaders (GPTLs). Therefore, demonstrated experience in collaborating across functions to meet project objectives is key, along with the ability to assess and address stakeholder needs through the use of skills such as influence, conflict resolution, and negotiation.

They may also be called upon to represent the Epidemiology and Real World Science (EpiRWS) department in interactions with external stakeholders, such as Scientific Advisory Boards or regulatory authorities.

The Director, Epidemiology may also participate in cross‑functional initiatives in support of business or process improvement initiatives, and may represent the department in other cross‑functional teams throughout the development lifecycle, and/or oversee other epidemiologists on such teams. Within the Epidemiology and Real World Science department, they provide expert technical guidance and mentoring to other epidemiologists. They work with GPTLs, stakeholders, and the wider EpiRWS Leadership Team in the development of annual holistic therapeutic area strategic plans.

They may support the Global Head in the development and maintenance of department Standard Operating Procedures and Process Guides, as well as annual department objectives, which encompasses project planning, resource forecasting, and assignments for assigned indications.

Ability to think strategically and leverage epidemiologic expertise and experience across a wide variety of diseases is essential. Strong planning and execution ability, along with excellent communication skills, both written and oral, are essential. The Director, Epidemiology is a seasoned and developed technical expert across the department’s deliverables of systematic literature reviews, secondary data analyses, observational studies including patient/disease registries and PASS/PMCs, and is well‑versed in epidemiologic methods including observational study design, analysis and interpretation, methods used in the quantification of potential safety signals, disease epidemiology, and the determination of cause and effect relationships.

This position will oversee coordination of work with department personnel or contractors in the Epidemiology and Real World Science department. Taking responsibility for professional development is a crucial skill for this position. Teaching and mentoring within the department are expected. It is also expected that the position will routinely publish and present epidemiology projects at external industry conference/workshops, and maintain excellent relationships with external clinical advisors and epidemiological experts in the professional community.