Introduction to role
At AstraZeneca Cell Therapy, we are required to deliver complex, autologous and allogeneic cell therapies that ensure compliance to regulatory expectations for patient and donor materials from apheresis to transformed drug product.
The Associate Director, Materials Management role is responsible for leading patient materials management at the manufacturing site in Santa Monica and Tarzana facilities across autologous cell therapy programs. This role serves as the lead for patient material traceability at the manufacturing site, including processes and systems related to the execution of chain of identify (COI) and chain of custody (COC) verification from patient material receipt to drug product pack-out. Additionally, this role will be responsible for the material flow and verification of GMP healthy donor apheresis for allogeneic cell therapy programs.
This role is integral to the Site Supply Chain operations model, using digital systems, milestone visibility and defined escalation pathways to ensure compliance and integrity of patient and healthy donor materials management at the manufacturing facility. This role reports to the Site Supply Chain Director.
Accountabilities
- Lead patient materials management across autologous cell therapy programs, ensuring COI/COC of apheresis through receipt, manufacturing and drug product pack-out.
- Lead healthy donor materials management across allogeneic cell therapy programs, ensuring COC of apheresis and lot traceability from drug substance to drug product manufacturing and drug product pack-out.
- Coordinate apheresis receipt and drug product pack-out schedule in alignment with manufacturing, production scheduling, quality and logistics teams, including day-to-day schedule changes and rescheduling actions.
- Own chain of identity (COI) and chain of custody (COC) process at the manufacturing site including site SOPs/work instructions, and monitor status across receipt, manufacturing release and drug product pack-out using digital tools and real-time milestone visibility.
- Ensure execution discipline for COI/COC traceability, reinforcing adherence to approved workflows, documentation requirements, SOPs, work instructions, and data capture expectations.
- Support operational readiness and hypercare for new studies, products, and countries, including onboarding activities at the manufacturing site and mock shipments where applicable.
- Lead exception management and escalation when patient traceability is not following the expected process, coordinating recovery actions across internal teams and external partners.
- Support fact-finding investigations, root cause assessment and corrective action identification for COI or COC verification execution issues, partnering with Quality where formal deviations or CAPAs are required.
- Support impact assessments and change action identification for new product launches and expansion into new countries, or studies.
- Track operational metrics and identify improvement opportunities, providing insights on recurring issues, execution risks, and corrective actions to improve reliability and consistency.
Essential Skills/Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Engineering, Life Sciences, or a related field.
- 8+ Years experience in biopharma supply chain, logistics or cell therapy operations.
- Strong understanding of cell therapy COI/COC controls, and the operational requirements for patient material receipt and drug product pack-out.
- Demonstrated experience in real-time issue resolution, exception management, shipment recovery, temperature excursion response, escalation handling, operational investigations, and corrective action leadership in a complex and regulated environment.
- Working knowledge of GDP, GMP, and GxP requirements, including deviation and quality processes.
- Ability to lead through influence, balance competing operational priorities, and maintain high execution quality in a fast-paced environment.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to provide concise operational updates and escalate risks clearly.
Desirable Skills/Experience
- Advanced degree such as MS or MBA.
- Experience in site manufacturing operations, cell therapy logistics or 24/7 monitoring environment.
- Experience with Power BI, Excel, or Smartsheet for operational reporting and analysis.
- Experience supporting launches, hypercare and/or expansion into new countries, or studies.
Why AstraZeneca?
At AstraZeneca, you will help shape how life-changing cell therapies are delivered to patients through a more connected, proactive, and digitally enabled operational model. This role offers the opportunity to lead the daily execution of Vein-to-Vein Operations and directly influence service reliability, patient journey continuity, and customer experience.
The annual base pay (or hourly rate of compensation) for this position ranges from $124,069.60 to $186,104.40. Our positions offer eligibility for various incentives—an opportunity to receive short-term incentive bonuses, equity-based awards for salaried roles and commissions for sales roles. Benefits offered include qualified retirement programs, paid time off (i.e., vacation, holiday, and leaves), as well as health, dental, and vision coverage in accordance with the terms of the applicable plans.
Date Posted
04-Nov-2026
Closing Date
22-Nov-2026
Our mission is to build an inclusive environment where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and employees. In furtherance of that mission, we welcome and consider applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of their protected characteristics. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please complete the corresponding section in the application form.
