Statistical Science Associate Director

The Statistical Science Associate Director has sufficient experience working as a statistician in the pharmaceutical industry to independently perform and lead statistical work within a project, an indication within a more complex project or be recognised as a methodology expert. This individual is able to lead and direct Biometrics work either in house or partnering with CROs to ensure delivery to quality and time.

Typical Accountabilities:
The Statistical Science Associate Director may work as a lead statistician

For a project or indication in clinical or preclinical therapeutic areas
Leading the delivery and oversight on a multiple studies/indication within a project, potentially as a Global Project Statistician for a standard drug project
Contributing to statistical methodological advances

The accountabilities for supporting projects directly include:

Lead the statistical thinking and contributions to the delivery of studies, development plans, regulatory strategy, health technology assessment and/or commercial activities
Direct project work, including statistical staff and/or CRO partners, to ensure delivery to standards, quality and time
Develop design options and provide high quality decision support to enable the business to make informed decisions about a study or project
Quantify the benefit, risk, value and uncertainty of the emerging asset/product profile
Investigate and apply novel statistical approaches, for relevant statistical issues and/or regulatory guidance and/or value demonstration, including modelling and simulation
Mentor/coach and support the education and training of statistics staff

The accountabilities for supporting statistical methodological advances include:

Ability to consult across project teams within area of expertise
Application of expert skills to investigate, apply novel statistical approaches, for relevant statistical issues and/or regulatory guidance and/or value demonstration, including modelling and simulation
Produce pragmatic solutions, often within a tight time scale where the emphasis will be to deliver first, then refine and develop solutions thereafter
Contribute to/or lead the development of a process improvement and/or capability area within the department
Establish and improve standards and best practice, apply novel statistical approaches to increase effectiveness and efficiency
Interact with external scientists and represent AstraZeneca Biometrics externally via publications and presentations on novel statistical approaches and best practice
Mentor/coach and support the education and training of statistics staff in the technical arena

Education, Qualifications, Skills and Experience:
Essential:

MSc/PhD in Statistics, Mathematics (containing a substantial statistical component), or recognised equivalent to stats MSc
Strong knowledge of programming in R and/or SAS
Knowledge of the technical and regulatory requirements related to the role
Excellent communication skills and ability to build strong relationships
Usually PhD in Statistics or a relevant topic
Experience of independent research
Delivering innovative statistical solutions in an applied environment

Desirable:

Project Management Skills
Proficiency in SAS and R/Python languages
Knowledge of Bayesian statistics from theory to computation is a plus
Track record of research and methodological development in Statistics, supported by scientific publications in first class statistical journals