Associate Director, Contract Strategy

Associate Director, Contract Strategy 

Location: Gaithersburg 

The Oncology therapy area at AstraZeneca is unparalleled. We have built and strategically acquired one of the most promising Oncology pipelines in the industry. You will be among inspiring oncology industry leaders who will keep you engaged and empower you to be the best. We seek out opportunities to do dynamic meaningful work which means we won't just follow the same course of action time and again if we can see potential in a different way as we advance on our bold ambition to eliminate cancer as a cause of death.  

Job Description / Capsule 

Assist in creating and defining contract strategies that include financial analytics and platforms for Brands within the AZ Oncology product portfolio for key Market Access customers and business segments, and maintain consistency with that strategy as it is implemented.  Drive business analytics to support contract strategy activities and partner with Customer Facing account roles, including the U.S. Payer Team, National Channel Account Team, and the National Oncology Account Team. 

This role assists in bringing forward marketplace perspective and pragmatic solutions / analyses to optimize AstraZeneca’s net price, access objectives and continued leadership in innovative contracting.  This individual will assist in the development of contract and channel strategies that align with Brand Team / Therapeutic Area business strategies for launch and in-line products.  The Associate Director of Contract Strategy may partner with customer facing account teams in direct customer engagement around identified key initiatives, build/align, and execute negotiation strategies with customer facing teams.  This role will also collaborate with a wide variety of internal stakeholders such as Access Strategy, Brand Leadership, Value Strategy and Evidence, Brand and Market Access Finance, Contract Operations, and Legal. 

A key deliverable of this role is ensuring all contract strategies and offerings have financial justification based on ROI and sound business judgment and also assist in assessing the performance of existing contract strategies & offerings.  They are responsible for ensuring the timely and regular re-evaluation of current strategy and deliver segment strategies for their Therapeutic Areas. 

Typical Accountabilities 

• Assist in the development of contract strategies and brings them through the approval/governance process 

• Directly partners with customer facing teams around prioritized key initiatives  

• Co-development and execution of negotiation strategies 

• Coordinate with team of analysts/specialists in operational activities such as rebates, chargebacks, government reporting, contract writing and process approvals.  

• Monitors environment for shifts in trends or behaviors, interpret likely impact and suggest appropriate actions around life-cycle contracting and pricing considerations. 

• Develops deep understanding of competitive market conditions that affect pricing for individual brands, therapeutic areas and overall industry. 

• Serves as a resource for Licensing and Business Development in assessing pricing on potential opportunities 

Education, Qualifications, Skills and Experience 

Essential: 

Bachelor’s degree; preferably in a relevant field (Marketing, Science, Economics or Finance) 

4+ yrs of experience in pharmaceutical or healthcare industry experience 

Understanding of Market Access and Healthcare delivery systems as well as the impact of government policies and proposals 

Analytical skills including problem solving, forecasting, contract development and financial modeling 

Demonstrated negotiation & relationship building skills 

Solution/Innovation mindset 

Desirable: 

MBA/JD 

Understanding of healthcare marketing and sales practices 

Thorough understanding of pharmaceutical manufacturing business models with specific knowledge of brand team operation, brand planning and sales 

Finance and/or analytics background 

Contract development and negotiation experience 

Clinical Acumen/Health Economics 

The annual base pay for this position ranges from $147,000 to $220,000. Our positions offer eligibility for various incentives—an opportunity to receive short-term incentive bonuses, equity-based awards for salaried roles and commissions for sales roles. Benefits offered include qualified retirement programs, paid time off (i.e., vacation, holiday, and leaves), as well as health, dental, and vision coverage in accordance with the terms of the applicable plans. 

Date Posted

10-Feb-2026

Closing Date

24-Feb-2026Our 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.