Associate Director, Territory Operations Manager - Cell Therapy

Posted date Jul. 21, 2026 Contract type Full time Job ID R-256705 Why choose AstraZeneca Spain? AstraZeneca Spain is a rising force in our global business. With headquarters in Madrid and our global hub in Barcelona, we’ve become an important international centre of excellence in the fight against critical disease. Boasting vibrant universities and business schools, the Barcelona ecosystem is a place where scientists can thrive. We attract a diverse workforce from across the globe, shining a beacon for innovation in a country that’s committed to clinical development. We invite you to bring your talents to Barcelona where our respiratory medicine R&D and Global Marketing centre offers opportunities in R&D, IT, Commercial and HR. Or join us in Madrid and shape our growth in our BUs (Respiratory, Oncology & CVRM ), and a range of Corporate functions. Additionally, you can find sales roles throughout the country. Together, we’re contributing to a world-leading pipeline of therapeutics and delivering life-changing medicines to patients. Who do we look for? Calling all tech innovators, ownership takers, challenge seekers and proactive collaborators. At AstraZeneca Spain, breakthroughs born in the lab become transformative medicine for the world's most complex diseases. Alongside technical expertise, colleagues have the resilience, energy and collaborative mindset to change lanes, work with different teams and start projects from scratch. Here, diverse minds and bold disruptors can meaningfully impact the future of healthcare using cutting-edge technology. Whether you join us in Madrid or Barcelona, you can make a tangible impact within a global biopharmaceutical company that invests in your future. Join a talented global team that's powering AstraZeneca to better serve patients every day. Success Profile Ready to make an impact in your career? If you're passionate, growth-orientated and a true team player, we'll help you succeed. Here are some of the skills and capabilities we look for. Diverse collaborators This is a speak-up culture that values collaboration. You’ll proactively bring your unique perspectives, experiences and skills to the table and seek the same from others. With our international team composition and the need for fast-paced collaboration, you’ll always be building new connections with colleagues. Cutting-edge innovators When you join us, you’ll be part of a team that embraces digital technology and data to transform the way we work and the work we do. Every day, you’ll help make history, empowered to ignite your creativity and build something enduring. Resilient trailblazers Here, the answers aren’t always available. So, you’ll need to bring a fearless, self-starter mindset to navigate uncharted territories. You’ll harness your ceaseless energy to discover and make the necessary connections with colleagues to shape the future and achieve maximum impact. Agile movers Seize ownership and excel with autonomy to enjoy the constant rush of ground-breaking discovery. Your ability to anticipate sudden shifts and adapt swiftly will prove critical as you make your mark in an environment that rewards initiative and resilience. Responsibilities Job ID R-256705 Date posted 07/21/2026 Job Title: Associate Director, Territory Operations Manager. Introduction to role: Are you ready to pioneer cell therapy trial operations across a dynamic region and help transform outcomes for people with cancer? This role sits at the intersection of science, operations, and patient care—where robust clinical execution and smart, data-informed decisions accelerate both trials and future commercial delivery. As a regional expert, you will guide treatment centers through complex cell therapy workflows, from site strategy and activation to ongoing operational and clinical oversight. You will connect frontline teams with internal experts, turning standards into daily practice and removing barriers that slow patient access. Can you envision yourself setting the pace for how advanced therapies are introduced and sustained across multiple sites? This is a field-base, regional role reporting to a Regional Operations Director and partnering closely with cross-functional leaders to build scalable, patient-centered service lines that uphold the highest quality and compliance standards. Accountabilities: • Regional Site Strategy: Partner with regional leadership to shape site selection and expansion plans that accelerate patient access and trial readiness while ensuring sustainable operations. • Site Activation and Certification: Lead risk-based activation, certification, and training programs to bring new treatment centers online efficiently and compliantly. • Clinical Workflow Excellence: Guide end-to-end cell therapy workflows—including apheresis, product handling, infusion, and documentation—to deliver consistent, high-quality patient care. • Quality and Compliance Leadership: Operate within relevant regulatory and accreditation frameworks (e.g., FACT), driving audit readiness, deviation management, CAPA execution, and continuous improvement. • Cross-Functional Leadership: Align with Program Management, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Quality, Medical, Market Access, Compliance, and Commercial to ensure integrated delivery across clinical and commercial phases. • Collaborator Engagement: Build positive relationships with investigators, physicians, nurses, apheresis teams, cell therapy labs, and site leadership to establish patient-centered service lines. • Logistics and Supply Chain Coordination: Act as the primary operations readiness liaison, aligning site needs with supply chain timelines, COI/COC processes, and regional account changes. • Training and Mentorship: Design and deliver training for site staff and junior team members to elevate capability and consistency across the region. • Issue Management and Continuous Improvement: Respond constructively to SOP deviations, implement corrective actions, and share guidelines to strengthen system-wide performance. • Reporting and Insights: Lead research and internal reporting on standards, performance, and guidelines to inform governance and strategy across multiple countries and local contexts. • Travel: Travel up to 50% to engage with sites, support activations, and maintain ongoing operational oversight. Essential Skills/Experience: • Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience with detailed knowledge/hands-on experience in Cell Therapy (preferred: nursing, Life Sciences, healthcare administration, Business). • Fluency in English and Spanish is required. • 8+ years in cell therapy with progressive leadership. • Expertise in service lines (infrastructure, resourcing, costs, quality metrics). • Proven delivery to timelines, cost, and quality; collaboration with internal/external providers. • Excellent knowledge of cell therapy standards/regulations. • Experience selecting/overseeing external providers and developing contracts. Desirable Skills/Experience: • Advanced scientific degree or equivalent experience; broad understanding across patient operations, manufacturing interfaces, quality, regulatory, market access; project management experience. • Program/Quality qualifications (e.g., PMP, CPHQ). • Experience across academic/Sponsor settings and countries. • Early-phase delivery across product lifecycle and multiple therapeutic areas. • Salesforce or similar CRM experience. 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. Why AstraZeneca:Here, science meets action to change how cancer is treated. You will work with colleagues across disciplines—clinicians, data scientists, engineers, operations leaders—using advanced analytics, novel biomarkers, and innovative trial designs to move breakthroughs from concept to clinic. With a deep, fast-evolving pipeline and unparalleled data resources, we empower you to take smart risks, learn quickly, and deliver for patients. We value kindness alongside ambition, encourage every voice at the table, and give you the platform, technology, and partnership network to turn bold ideas into measurable impact for people worldwide. Call to Action:If you are ready to lead regional cell therapy execution and help deliver the next wave of oncology breakthroughs, step forward and shape what patients will experience next! Date Posted 21-jul-2026 Closing Date 30-ago-2026 AstraZeneca embraces diversity and equality of opportunity. We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse team representing all backgrounds, with as wide a range of perspectives as possible, and harnessing industry-leading skills. We believe that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be. We welcome and consider applications to join our team from all qualified candidates, regardless of their characteristics. We comply with all applicable laws and regulations on non-discrimination in employment (and recruitment), as well as work authorization and employment eligibility verification requirements. Explore the local area Take a look at the map to see what’s nearby. Reasons to Join Thomas Mathisen There are many things I enjoy when working at AstraZeneca, mainly the Speak up culture, the great colleagues that are in my teams, the great products that AstraZeneca provides to our patients and the challenging conversations I have around our medicines. Sales Representative Oslo, Norway There are many things I enjoy when working at AstraZeneca, mainly the Speak up culture, the great colleagues that are in my teams, the great products that AstraZeneca provides to our patients and the challenging conversations I have around our medicines. Christine Recchio Working at AstraZeneca has impacted my life in such a positive way. I now have an improved work-life balance through creating my own schedule and time management, I feel a balance that I didn’t have before. Sales Representative California, United States Working at AstraZeneca has impacted my life in such a positive way. I now have an improved work-life balance through creating my own schedule and time management, I feel a balance that I didn’t have before. Stephanie Ling There are a lot of reasons why I enjoy working in AstraZeneca, my colleagues being one of them. My team members and the managers have provided a great deal of guidance in helping me to be more confident in my daily work. Sales Representative Petaling Jaya, Malaysia There are a lot of reasons why I enjoy working in AstraZeneca, my colleagues being one of them. My team members and the managers have provided a great deal of guidance in helping me to be more confident in my daily work. What we offer We're driven by our shared values of serving people, society and the planet. Our people make this possible, which is why we prioritise diversity, inclusivity, balance and sustainability. Discover what a career at AstraZeneca could mean for you. An award-winning company We're passionate about being a great place to work, and 84% of our employees would recommend us as an employer. We've been recognised as a Top Employer in Spain, an EFR Family Responsible Business, and we achieved third place in Forbes Spain's Top 50 Best Places to Work list. Inclusive environment Diversity and inclusion are embedded in everything we do, and our different views, experiences and strengths enrich our culture. There's no salary gap at AstraZeneca, and the number of female employees has increased by four per cent over the last three years. We've also made all positions fully accessible. Work-life balance Your wellbeing means a lot to us, and we're here to support you through all of life's ups and downs. That's why we offer an unpaid leave policy, annual leave, reduced-hours timetables and a host of benefits, including a retirement plan, long service award, and health and travel insurance. Sustainability initiatives We're committed to harnessing the power of science to become a more sustainable business. We've reduced our carbon footprint by over 9,000 kg of CO2 over the last two years, and we lead the European GoGreen Project, which aims to introduce environmentally friendly options in our fleet of corporate vehicles.