Senior Administrative Assistant to VP, Global Portfolio & Project Management; GPPM

Senior Administrative Assistant to Vice President, Global Portfolio & Project Management (GPPM)

Location:
Gaithersburg, US
Competitive salary and benefits

AstraZeneca is a global, science‑led, patient‑focused biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery, development and commercialization of prescription medicines for some of the world’s most serious diseases. Global Portfolio & Project Management (GPPM) powers the progression of our pipeline, company strategy and annual business cycle—spanning enterprise‑wide Portfolio Management, Strategic Planning, R&D Pipeline Project Management, Pipeline Governance (ESPC/LSPC), Data Analytics & Decision Support, Portfolio Systems, and Project Information Management.

As the Senior Administrative Assistant to the Vice President, GPPM, you will be a trusted partner ensuring the VP’s time and attention are focused on the highest‑impact priorities across the global portfolio, and that the GPPM Bio Pharma and broader GPPM organization are well managed and supported. You will be central to orchestrating our team—while also building relationships across R&D and Commercial.

Your support will primarily focus on GPPM Bio Pharma, but you will also be an important part of the GPPM admin team and help us plan and execute events and activities across the organization.

• Executive support and prioritization: Manage a complex, global calendar across time zones; triage and prioritize meeting requests aligned to enterprise priorities and portfolio milestones; protect focus time and create an efficient weekly operating rhythm.
• Leadership forum support: Coordinate agendas, pre‑reads, logistics, and technology checks for leadership meetings; where needed – capture minutes and actions and drive follow‑up to closure.
• Communications and correspondence: Where needed, manage executive emails and coordinate development of communication materials.
• Stakeholder coordination: Serve as a central point of contact with senior leaders, including GPPM BPO, GPPM Bio Pharma BPO, team leaders and other EAs; navigate the matrix with sound judgment; proactively resolve scheduling and information needs.
• Event and meeting planning: Plan on‑sites/offsites, workshops, and team engagements; manage agendas, logistics, vendors, and follow‑up materials; coordinate closely with the GPPM LT administrative team to support GPPM team events and operating mechanisms.
• Travel and expenses: Arrange complex, multi‑leg travel and itineraries; process expenses accurately and on time in line with policy.
• Office operations and process improvement: Maintain organized systems (files, trackers, approvals); identify and implement improvements to administrative and operating processes to increase efficiency.

• High school diploma or GED required, Bachelors’ degree preferred.
• 3‑5 years of experience supporting an executive in a global, matrixed environment.
• Mastery of complex calendar management, meeting orchestration, and stakeholder coordination across multiple time zones.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to draft clear, executive‑level correspondence and summaries.
• High discretion and integrity in handling confidential and sensitive information.
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and reliable follow‑through; ability to manage multiple shifting priorities under tight timelines.
• Proficiency with collaboration and productivity tools (e.g., calendar/email, virtual meeting platforms, document management, spreadsheets/presentations); ability to learn enterprise systems quickly.
• Proven ability to build relationships and influence without authority; calm, professional demeanor under pressure.

• R&D exposure (for contextual understanding)
• AZ experience and an existing network
• Basic knowledge of AI tools (AZ Chat GPT, Silver+ certification)

When we put unexpected teams in the same room, we unleash bold thinking with the power to inspire life‑changing medicines. In‑person working gives us the platform we need to connect, work at pace and challenge perceptions. That’s why we work, on average, a minimum of three days per week…