Senior Director/ Executive Director, Safety Sciences China

At AstraZeneca, we push the boundaries of science to deliver life-changing medicines. Our global Safety Sciences organization delivers innovative non-clinical safety science and toxicology expertise to enable the discovery, development and registration of novel medicines.  

As we expand our footprint in China, we are seeking a senior leader to build and scale local Safety Sciences capabilities and integrate innovation from the local life-science ecosystem.  

This role will lead the Safety Sciences team in China while also providing visible local leadership across the wider Clinical Pharmacology & Safety Sciences (CPSS) organization and ensuring strong alignment with global strategy, priorities, and ways of working. You will lead a high‑performing team, deliver critical toxicology strategies, expertise and data to accelerate global drug discovery and development projects, establish durable partnerships with CROs, top academic institutes, and biotech in China, channel cutting‑edge methods (advanced cell models, NAMs, AI/analytics, omics, Dx safety) to modernize toxicology and enhance translational safety decision‑making. 

Job description 

• CPSS China leadership: Serve as the China Site Head for CPSS, providing local leadership and coordination across the broader CPSS organization in China. Act as a key link between the China (Shanghai and Beijing) and global CPSS footprints, facilitating alignment of local activities, talent, culture, engagement, and operational priorities with broader strategic objectives. Partner with the CPSS Leadership Team and other senior leaders to strengthen visibility, connectivity, and organizational effectiveness in China. 

• Deliver effective toxicology strategies for assets developed in China (internally and/or with collaborators), translating program needs into testing strategies, study plans, timelines, and decision-making data, ensuring preclinical safety input that integrates seamlessly into global development and submissions.  

• Oversee the design, placement, and interpretation of in vitro and in vivo toxicology studies, executed with qualified China CROs – delivering quality, cycle‑time, and cost objectives with clear guardrails. You will ensure scientific integrity, translational context, and proactive risk mitigation; author/review study reports and regulatory modules; and support responses to health authorities, upholding GLP/GxP‑like expectations for data integrity and inspection readiness. 

• People and matrix leadership: Lead a high performing, bilingual team of Toxicologists, Safety Scientists and Study Monitors. Foster an inclusive culture, leading across cultural boundaries and time zones, setting local objectives aligned with global expertise groups, driving clarity on priorities and accountability. 

• As a member of the Safety Sciences Leadership Team, contribute to global strategic objectives to Enhance Human Safety Predictions and Accelerate the Delivery of Candidate Drugs to Patients. Serve as the primary Safety Sciences point of contact in the China time zone for cross functional partners, ensuring aligned priorities and seamless integration with global teams. Build credibility and trust with internal governance bodies and external collaborators to accelerate progress. 

• Innovation and ecosystem development: Anticipate scientific and portfolio trends; scout and pilot China-based innovations (advanced cell models, NAMs, AI/analytics, omics, Discovery safety). Establish collaborations with leading academics, biotech, and preferred CROs, channeling validated approaches into global practice. 

• Contributes to internal and external scientific reputation and role models demonstration of AZ Values. 

Essential skills and experience 

• Scientific excellence, with a PhD in toxicology, pharmacology, pathology, cell biology or related life science, with a strong scientific track record, including high impact publications. 

• Solid drug discovery and development experience from expert/leadership roles in global pharma/biotech (or top‑tier CRO), leading GLP and non‑GLP toxicology packages across the full drug development lifecycle, with strong understanding of multidisciplinary interfaces, such as Clinical, Regulatory and Biology. 

• People and matrix leadership skills: Demonstrated experience building high performing teams and coaching/mentoring (senior) scientists. Proven ability to lead through a complex global matrix, aligning stakeholders, influencing, resolving trade‑offs, and driving clarity on priorities, accountability, and decision pathways. 

• Strong awareness of work-related cultural aspects across China, EU, UK, US and a proven ability to work and lead across geographies and cultural barriers, building trust and effective collaboration in a global pharma environment. 

• Significant expertise in designing and interpreting in vivo toxicology studies, regulatory authorship and interactions, and a strong drive for scientific innovation and investigative toxicology and discovery safety. 

• Excellent communication and influencing skills, fluent in English and Mandarin, and ability to operate effectively across time zones. 

Desirable 

• Modality experience across small molecules and large molecules (radioconjugates, antibody–drug conjugates, immune cell engagers). 

• Experience with private-public collaborations in the China life science innovation ecosystem (CROs, institutes, startups); piloting NAMs/advanced models; digital/AI‑enabled study planning; Dx safety capabilities. 

• Experience engaging with local Health Authorities (CDE), including preparation of briefing materials, participation in meetings, and follow‑up responses, and familiarity with China early-phase pathways. 

• Board certification (e.g. DABT) preferred.