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ROLE SUMMARY
The VP Compliance International Markets is a strategic leadership role accountable for the Global Ethics & Compliance Programme across AstraZeneca's International Commercial Markets, encompassing Latin America, Middle East & Africa, Russia/Eurasia, and Asia-Pacific (excluding China and Japan). This region represents one of AstraZeneca's most dynamic and rapidly growing commercial territories, characterised by significant compliance complexity — from country-based legal marketing affiliates in more mature markets to primarily distributor-based models in smaller and emerging markets.
The role holder will serve on both the Global Ethics & Compliance Leadership Team and the International Senior Leadership Team, leading a geographically dispersed team of 30+ compliance professionals and Area line managers. This individual will be the primary compliance voice for the International Markets, shaping strategy, enabling smart risk-taking, and fostering a culture of ethics and integrity across diverse regulatory environments and business models.
A solution-focused, pragmatic mindset combined with deep business acumen and excellent partnership skills is essential — balancing robust risk management with the agility required to support AstraZeneca's growth ambitions across our Therapy Areas of Focus in Oncology, Respiratory, CVRM, Vaccines & Immunotherapy, and Rare Disease.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Strategic Leadership & Governance
- Own and evolve the International Markets compliance strategy, ensuring alignment with global programme objectives while addressing the unique risk profiles of mature and emerging markets operating under diverse commercial models
- Serve as an active, trusted member of the Global Compliance Leadership Team and International Leadership Team, providing strategic compliance counsel on business initiatives, innovative models (e.g., digital health, expanded screening, personalised medicine, guideline-driven patient care), and market expansion across both primarily public-pay and self-pay healthcare systems
- Act as the primary compliance point of contact for the International Markets, including interactions with external regulators, agencies, industry bodies (e.g., IFPMA), and law enforcement in collaboration with Legal partners
Risk Management & Controls
- Drive effective risk awareness and mitigation across routine business activities and innovative approaches; apply learnings for enterprise-wide improvement
- Ensure robust compliance controls are embedded "by design" within key business processes and incentive structures; evolve the control framework to address emerging local, regional, and global risks
- Partner with Global Compliance Assurance to implement proactive monitoring and reporting systems that provide ongoing assurance of adherence to compliance standards and ethical decision-making
- Timely remediate known gaps and apply related learnings across the region and globally
Business Partnership & Enablement
- Empower the business as the first line of defence, providing pragmatic, solutions-oriented advice that enables agile decision-making in a fast-paced environment
- Deliver strategic compliance guidance to senior leaders, distilling complex regulatory and risk issues into business-friendly language and actionable recommendations
- Constructively challenge where needed while maintaining credibility as an independent advisor with deep understanding of commercial realities, risks and opportunities
- Collaborate closely with EUCAN, Biopharma, Oncology, and Rare Disease compliance teams as well as Global Assurance, Global Compliance Investigations, Enterprise Compliance and Data Ethics and the Strategy & Operations centre to drive consistency (while meeting local needs), avoid duplication and leverage innovation
Culture, Training & Communications
- Champion AstraZeneca's Values-based culture, starting with "We do the right thing," ensuring International Market leaders set appropriate tone-at-the-top and cultivate an environment where individuals feel empowered to speak up
- Drive implementation of compliance training and develop business-relevant case studies, tools, and innovative communication resources that support principles-based decision-making
- Foster accountability at all levels, ensuring employees understand minimum expectations and possess the capabilities to operate with integrity
People Leadership & Development
- Lead, develop, and inspire a diverse team of 30+ compliance business partners and Area leads across multiple geographies and time zones; build a collaborative, nimble, and high-performing team culture
- Develop future leaders and drive simplification, efficiency, and digital ways of working across the function
- Establish deep networks across support functions (HR, Legal, IT, Procurement, Global Business Services, Internal Audit, Media Relations) as an ambassador for the broader Ethics & Compliance strategy
SKILLS & CAPABILITIES
Business Partnership & Commercial Acumen
- Proactive business partner mindset — trusted and credible advisor at all levels who balances appropriate risk management with enabling commercial objectives
- Solution-oriented thinker with a pragmatic approach; delivers simple, business-driven solutions to complex challenges
- Makes well-reasoned decisions in ambiguous situations guided by AstraZeneca's Values; comfortable operating at pace in a fluid environment
Compliance & Risk Expertise
- Deep understanding of compliance risks and the operation of effective compliance programmes across all stages of late-stage development, commercialization and the broader supply chain
- Demonstrated expertise in bribery & corruption, healthcare fraud, data privacy, promotion of biopharmaceuticals, scientific exchange, and bioethics
- Strong capability in data analysis and leveraging data-driven insights for risk management and decision-making
Leadership & Influence
- Proven ability to operate at all levels of management, including senior executives, and influence significant business decisions and strategy; courage to articulate contrary or unpopular positions when warranted
- Effective people leader — recruits, develops, and retains diverse talent; drives change within teams and cross-functionally; committed to creating a positive, inclusive working environment
- Passionate and resilient — motivated by AstraZeneca's mission to transform patient outcomes
Interpersonal & Cultural Agility
- Excellent relationship-building skills across different geographies, cultures, time zones, and virtual settings
- Global mindset with sensitivity to diverse cultural, local regulatory and health system contexts; multilingual capability and/or experience living in multiple countries are distinct advantages
- Active listener who is open to compromise and challenge; adapts communication style to different audiences and preferences
Personal Qualities
- Uncompromising professional ethics and integrity; scrupulously protects confidential information
- Self-motivated with strong learning agility; personally committed to continuous development
- Team-first orientation — prioritises collective success over personal achievement
- Confident in exercising independent judgment and identifying when to escalate or involve others with relevant expertise
PROFESSIONAL & EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS
Education
- Advanced degree required — JD, MA/MS, MBA
Experience
- 8–10 years in the biopharmaceutical industry (AstraZeneca experience preferred)
- 3–5 years leading area, regional, or global teams
- Significant compliance, legal, audit, and/or risk management experience, with deep understanding of compliance challenges confronting the biopharmaceutical or healthcare industry
- Demonstrated effectiveness in complex, global organisational and regulatory environments, including both mature and emerging markets
- Practical experience implementing and enhancing effective compliance programme elements
- Established track record of collaboration in a matrix organisation and continuously improving compliance frameworks across business units and/or markets
- International role experience strongly preferred — including exposure to diverse commercial models (direct affiliate operations through to distributor-based markets)
Date Posted
04-Sept-2026
Closing Date
11-Sept-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.