Job Description

Position: Medical Ethics Lead
Location: Pancras Square, London
Competitive Salary & Excellent Company Benefits

Applications Closing Date: 13th August 2026

Introduction to role:

Are you ready to set the ethical bar that enables bold, compliant innovation across UK brand teams? Do you want your ABPI Code expertise to shape how science reaches patients by guiding strategy from first concept through to certification and launch?

As Medical Ethics Lead, you will steer the company’s ethical decision-making at pace, embedding pragmatic, proactive Code guidance directly into cross-functional brand planning. You will lead a high-performing team of Nominated Signatories, modernise the end-to-end review process, and harness technology and capability-building to lift quality while accelerating throughput. Your leadership will ensure consistent, intelligent compliance that enables advances in clinical practice and protects our license to operate.

Working closely with medical, marketing, market access and compliance partners, you will coordinate our defence of PMCPA complaints, strengthen enterprise-wide alignment, and champion standards that hold up under audit. This role is central to how we translate science into real-world impact for patients and the NHS; responsible, rigorous, and forward-looking.

Accountabilities:

• Strategic Compliance Leadership: Set the direction for Medical Ethics across the UK portfolio, embedding Nominated Signatories within brand teams to provide early, constructive input and consistent decision-making from ideation to certification.
• Integrated Brand Support: Join cross-functional planning to enable compliant advances in clinical practice, advising on innovative approaches while adhering to the ABPI Code for both promotional and non-promotional activities.
• MLR Process Optimisation: Drive measurable efficiency in the review process by improving asset quality, redesigning ways of working, and implementing technology that reduces cycle times and rework.
• Demand and Budget Management: Oversee asset prioritisation and manage capacity across internal and third-party reviewers; own the third-party review budget and deliver sustained reductions in external spend through capability build and process redesign.
• PMCPA Defence and Intercompany Dialogue: Lead coordinated responses to complaints and intercompany issues; direct evidence gathering, align defence strategy with senior leaders, and ensure undertakings are rigorously delivered.
• Governance and Grants: Chair and coordinate Ethics Xceed forums, document and communicate decisions, and oversee UK grant requests with clear, auditable processes.
• External Collaboration Guidance: Provide practical direction for collaborations with the NHS and other organisations, enabling compliant partnerships that advance patient care.
• Cross-Enterprise Alignment: Align approaches with other business units to ensure a consistent, risk-based Medical Ethics framework across the enterprise.
• Head Office Compliance Support: Partner with Compliance to deliver Code-related guidance, support risk assessments and Xceed preparation, and ensure Code-related processes are audit ready.
• Standards and Training: Maintain robust onboarding and refresher training on the ABPI Code for Head Office teams; lead training and validation of new Nominated Signatories; identify gaps and strengthen SOPs that fall under Medical Ethics scope.
• Team Leadership and Talent Development: Lead, coach and mentor Team Managers and Nominated Signatories; manage escalations; build a strong talent pipeline and succession plan; role model ethical and professional behaviour.

Essential Skills/Experience:

• Registered Physician (preferably GMC) or Pharmacist (member of General Pharmaceutical Council of GB)
• Recognised expert-level command of the ABPI Code, evidenced by substantial experience as a final/nominated signatory certifying promotional and non-promotional materials, and a track record of acting as the point of escalation for complex Code matters
• Experience of PMCPA complaint handling and/or intercompany dialogue
• Proven track record of people and performance management
• Good track record in terms of integrity and personal reputation
• Pragmatic and proactive approach to addressing projects or challenges
• Highly developed communication skills linked to strong interpersonal skills
• Stakeholder management and project management experience

Desirable Skills/Experience:

• Member/Fellow of a Royal College or the Royal Pharmaceutical Society
• Change Management experience
• Budget management experience
• Expertise in at least one of the disease/therapy areas of AstraZeneca

Why AstraZeneca:

Here, your expertise connects science with real-world practice. You will collaborate with medical, commercial, data and technology colleagues from early development through lifecycle growth, influencing brand plans and evidence generation that change care pathways. It’s an environment where courageous ideas are tested quickly, with clinicians, signatories, marketers and compliance partners solving problems in the same room. We value kindness alongside ambition, and we equip leaders with tools and support to move fast without compromising integrity. Your work will help ensure our medicines reach patients responsibly and efficiently—so we can reinvest in breakthrough science and scale innovations that matter.

Call to Action:

If you are ready to lead with integrity and impact—shaping ethical standards that speed safe innovation to patients—send us your CV and take the next step in your leadership journey.

Date Posted

29-Jul-2026

Closing Date

13-Aug-2026Our mission is to build an inclusive and equitable environment. We want people to feel they belong at AstraZeneca and Alexion, starting with our recruitment process. We welcome and consider applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of characteristics. We offer reasonable adjustments/accommodations to help all candidates to perform at their best. If you have a need for any adjustments/accommodations, please complete the section in the application form.