Regional Operations Director Cell Therapy

At AstraZeneca’s Cell Therapy division, we are pushing the boundaries of science, logistics, and innovation to deliver life-changing therapies to patients around the globe.  

Drive the expansion of our cell therapy across Europe and work hand in hand with treatment centers to make these therapies part of daily clinical practice.

Regional Operations Director Cell Therapy 
Amsterdam | Field-based across Nordics, Poland, the Netherlands 
Full-time | +/- 50% travel 

Your challenge:
You are accountable for both the strategic direction and operational execution of cell therapy across your region.
You lead and build a regional team of Territory Operational Managers driving the implementation and scaling of AstraZeneca’s cell therapy operations across the Nordics (Norway, Sweden), Poland, the Netherlands and potentially the UK.

You operate close to clinical practice, working directly with treatment centres and key stakeholders to ensure sites are ready and able to deliver cell therapy safely and effectively. At the same time, you define how cell therapy is structured, scaled, and sustained across different healthcare systems.

What will you be doing?
•    Build, lead, and develop a regional team of Territory Operations Managers across your European region
•    Define and execute regional operational strategies aligned with global cell therapy goals 
•    Oversee the expansion of cell therapy across clinical and commercial settings within your region 
•    Act as a subject matter expert in site operations, infrastructure, and cell therapy workflows 
•    Work closely with treatment centres to support site readiness, activation, and continuous improvement 
•    Build and maintain strong partnerships with healthcare professionals and site teams (MDs, nurses, lab staff, QA) 
•    Analyse regional market dynamics and translate insights into clear priorities and actions 
•    Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams including Clinical Operations, Medical, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, IT, and QA 
•    Contribute to SOPs and operational standards to ensure consistency, quality, and compliance across regions 
•    Present regional strategies, performance insights, and patient operations updates to senior leadership 

What this role offers you
•    Full ownership of cell therapy operations across your European region
•    The opportunity to shape how advanced therapies are implemented in clinical practice
•    A leadership role combining strategy, execution, and team development
•    Exposure to complex healthcare systems and cross-functional collaboration at scale

You in this role
You bring a combination of strategic thinking, operational depth and leadership experience within cell therapy. 
You are comfortable navigating ambiguity, working across countries, and making decisions that impact both patients and organisational performance.

You have
•    A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Life Sciences, Nursing, or a related field 
•    8+ years of experience within cell therapy, healthcare, and pharmaceutical environments 
•    Strong leadership experience within cell therapy operations and quality 
•    Proven experience developing and executing operational strategies in cell therapy 
•    Proven ability to build and scale teams 
•    Hands-on experience within treatment centres or site operations related to cell therapy 
•    Strong background in both quality and operations within a regulated environment 
•    Experience working directly with patients and healthcare providers 
•    Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to navigate complex, country-specific challenges 
•    Experience in stakeholder management across cross-functional and international teams 
•    Fluent in English 
•    Willingness to travel internationally up to 50% across your region

Our effort is rewarded
As a Regional Operations Director, you can expect much in return for your dedication. In addition to a competitive salary, you will enjoy:
•    An attractive bonus scheme and a 13th-month salary on top of your monthly pay. 
•    Access to internal training and development programs. 
•    27 vacation days, plus additional leave (such as your birthday, Good Friday, and the period between Christmas and New Year’s Eve). 
•    Flexible and progressive employment benefits allowing you to tailor them to your needs (e.g., a wellness budget and the choice of a holiday calendar based on different religious beliefs). 
•    A pension plan. 

Making a difference together with AstraZeneca
Are you driven by innovation in cancer treatment and eager to make a real impact? At AstraZeneca’s Cell Therapy facility in Amsterdam, we are developing next-generation TCR therapies targeting neoantigens in solid tumors. With a team of approximately 75 scientists, we are advancing both fully individualised and shared neoantigen-targeting treatments to transform patient outcomes.

We recently moved into One Helix, our brand-new, high-tech research facility in Amsterdam Zuid, located near the Amsterdam UMC. This state-of-the-art space is designed to accelerate breakthroughs in cell therapy. Join our team and help shape the future of cancer treatment.

Ready to grow your career in a driven, innovative environment? Apply now!
If you have any questions about this vacancy, our Recruitment Team, Karin Raadschelders / Caroline van Oppen is happy to answer your questions.
Contact: [email protected] or by phone on +31(0)85 - 047 0244.

We don’t work with a fixed closing date: The vacancy will remain online until we have concluded the process.
Please apply immediately– we start up the selection process straight away.

Date Posted

17-apr.-2026

Closing Date

18-aug.-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.