Medical Manager - Rare Diseases

Do you have a passion for science, strategic medical leadership, and changing the trajectory of patients living with rare diseases? Are you motivated by shortening the path to diagnosis, building referral networks, and making sure the right patient reaches the right treatment, at the right time?

At AstraZeneca Rare Disease, we are looking for a Medical Manager, Rare Diseases (Neurology & Metabolic) to join our Medical Affairs team. In this role you will lead the local execution of the Rare Disease Medical Strategy and translate Therapeutic Area priorities into country plans from late pre-launch through post-launch.

You will act as a strategic medical partner. You will connect clinical evidence, natural history and real-world data, healthcare-system realities, and patient and caregiver insights to close the gaps that keep patients with rare diseases undiagnosed, unreferred, or untreated. You will work cross-functionally to strengthen launch readiness, lead local evidence generation, shape account and center-of-expertise strategies, and drive healthcare-system change.

Main Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the local Rare Disease Medical Plan for Neurology and Metabolic portfolios, in alignment with global, regional, and Therapeutic Area strategies.

• Lead medical activities from L-18 through launch and post-launch, ensuring scientific, diagnostic, and healthcare-system readiness.

• Identify and address barriers across the rare disease patient journey: awareness, patient identification, diagnostic delay, referral to specialized centers, treatment initiation, and long-term follow-up.

• Define and execute medical strategies for prioritized centers and accounts, in partnership with Market Access, MSLs, Government Affairs, Diagnostics, and Patient Programs.

• Contribute to value propositions, health-economic initiatives, and access strategies. Support technical discussions with payers, health authorities, and policymakers on the particular challenges of rare, high-cost, and chronic therapies.

• Lead and oversee local evidence generation relevant to small populations, including registries, natural history and observational studies, RWE, publications, and outcomes research.

• Strengthen diagnostic pathways in collaboration with clinical laboratories, genetic and biomarker testing initiatives, and scientific societies.

• Translate scientific evidence and external insights into actionable recommendations for Medical Affairs, Access, account strategy, and healthcare policy.

• Identify and support innovative initiatives using AI, data, and digital solutions to improve patient identification, diagnosis, and care coordination.

• Build trusted relationships with neurologists, metabolic and genetics specialists, pediatricians, internists, scientific societies, academic institutions, and patient organizations.

• Represent Medical Affairs externally and communicate complex scientific information clearly and appropriately to diverse audiences.

• Coach and develop MSLs and other field medical colleagues, supporting high-quality scientific engagement and execution.

• Collaborate with Medical Affairs, Market Access, Government Affairs, Regulatory, Commercial, Pharmacovigilance, Compliance, and Patient Programs.

• Ensure all activities comply with AstraZeneca policies, Medical Governance, Pharmacovigilance, GxP, Code of Conduct, and local regulations.

• Manage medical resources and budget according to strategic priorities, patient impact, and healthcare-system needs.

Key Requirements

• Medical Doctor, Pharmacist, or healthcare professional with postgraduate training in a clinical or related health sciences field.

• 5–7 years of experience in Medical Affairs within the pharmaceutical industry.

• Experience in rare diseases, neurology, metabolic or genetic diseases, or other specialty and complex chronic conditions, including supporting launches or medical strategies.

• Experience working cross-functionally with Medical Affairs, Market Access, Government Affairs, Evidence Generation/RWE, and external stakeholders.

• Strong scientific knowledge and ability to translate evidence into strategic recommendations, including in contexts with limited data and small patient populations.

• Understanding of healthcare systems, patient pathways, diagnostic and referral barriers, and access challenges for high-cost therapies.

• Strong strategic thinking, stakeholder management, communication, influencing, and project management skills.

• Ability to work effectively in a complex, matrixed, multi-country environment and influence without authority.

• Experience working with data, digital tools, or AI in healthcare is desirable.

• Professional proficiency in English, written and spoken.

• Ability and willingness to travel according to business needs.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree such as MD, PhD, PharmD, MSc, or equivalent.

• Direct experience in rare diseases, including launch or pre-launch readiness.

• Experience in RWE, HEOR, registries, natural history studies, or outcomes research.

• Experience working with payers, health authorities, policymakers, scientific societies, or patient advocacy groups.

• Experience in patient identification, diagnostic-pathway optimization, centers of expertise, or innovative models of care.

• Previous people leadership, coaching, or matrix leadership experience.

• Experience applying AI, data analytics, or digital solutions to healthcare challenges.

Why AstraZeneca?

Patients with rare diseases often wait years for a correct diagnosis, and many never reach treatment. Our Medical Affairs teams connect science, diagnostics, and healthcare-system insights to change that. Join us as a Medical Manager, Rare Diseases, and help shape how patients with neurological and metabolic rare diseases are identified, diagnosed, and treated.

Date Posted

Closing Date

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.