Business Operations Lead, Cell Therapy Discovery

About the role

AstraZeneca is looking for a Business Operations Lead for the Cell Therapy Discovery team in Shanghai (Guilin Road). At Senior Manager / Associate Director / Director level, the role provides strategic and operational leadership, coordinating key business and operational activities and acting as the main link between the Discovery organization and HR, Finance, IT, Procurement, Engineering and other partners. A background in finance, business operations or a related discipline is strongly preferred.

Key responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate operational activities for the Cell Therapy Discovery team, aligned with departmental and organizational goals.
• Act as the main contact for operational coordination with HR, Finance, IT, Procurement, Engineering, Facilities and other support functions.
• Partner with Finance on annual budget planning, forecasting, expense tracking and resource allocation, monitoring spend against plan.
• Work with HR on headcount planning, hiring, onboarding, organizational changes and talent processes.
• Support procurement planning, purchasing, contracts and vendor engagement.
• Work with Engineering, IT and Facilities on laboratory and office infrastructure, equipment, space planning and operational readiness.
• Support business planning, operational reviews, meeting cadence, governance and leadership briefing materials.
• Identify and implement process improvements and drive clear communication across the team and partner functions.
• Anticipate operational risks, escalate issues and coordinate their resolution.

Required profile

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Business Administration, Operations, Life Sciences or a related field.
• Significant experience in operations, business management, program management or functional coordination within a scientific, R&D, biotech or pharmaceutical environment.
• Experience across HR, Finance, IT, Procurement and Engineering.
• Strong experience in budget planning, financial tracking and resource management.
• Ability to influence without direct authority and to build cross-functional relationships.
• Organizational and project management skills, able to handle multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Preferred: advanced degree (e.g. MBA, master's in finance or operations), finance education or FP&A training, experience in cell therapy, biologics, translational science or discovery research organizations, familiarity with laboratory operations and research infrastructure, and experience in a global matrix organization.