Job Description

Job Title:

Senior Manager -

Publication Delivery (Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Disease Unit)

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Career Level: E


Shift: 2 to 11 IST


Role: People Management with hands on Publication Development


Experience: 10 to 15 years of experience


Work Mode: Hybrid (3 days a week in office)


Location: Manyata Tech Park, Bangalore

About Alexion:

Here it means more. More because here everyone, no matter the role, deeply connects with patients so we can do our best work. More because of the supportive culture where ideas are encouraged, the work is challenging and rewarding. More because of the impact we can have on our own careers, developing at pace. But most of all, more because of our patients, their journey and their hope. That is what brings us closer to every individual, closer to our work, and closer together as a team.

Introduction to role:

The Publications Delivery Lead (Senior Manager) will establish and lead the Alexion Publications Delivery team, overseeing a multi-tier organization of publication writers, graphic designers, InVision specialists, and editors. This role blends people leadership and operations management, with accountability for end-to-end delivery excellence in scientific publications, operational rigor, stakeholder engagement, and continuous improvement. The ideal candidate is a seasoned publications professional with substantial experience in global capability centres (GCCs) or service agencies, and a demonstrated record of building teams from the ground up, defining KPIs, implementing SOPs, and driving quality and metrics at scale.

Key Responsibilities:

Team Leadership and People Management

Team

build

-out:

Establish and scale a high-performing publication delivery team; define roles, levels, and career pathways.

Coaching and mentorship:

Provide ongoing guidance, feedback, and development plans for Publication Writers, Graphic designers, and Editors

Performance management:

Set clear goals, conduct regular check-ins and annual reviews, manage underperformance, and recognize high performance.

Workforce planning:

Forecast demand, plan capacity, and manage hiring, onboarding, and succession.

Operations Management and Delivery Excellence

End-to-end delivery:

Oversee planning, drafting, review cycles, approvals, and finalization of publications to meet timelines and quality standards.

Ways of working and SOPs:

Design, implement, and maintain SOPs, RACI matrices, workflows, and operating models across therapy areas and publication types.

Process optimization:

Identify bottlenecks, drive continuous improvement (e.g., Lean, Kaizen), and standardize best practices across teams.

KPI/metrics management:

Define and track SLAs, KPIs, and OKRs (e.g., on-time delivery, first-time-right quality, cycle-time, rework rates, stakeholder satisfaction).

Quality management:

Implement robust QA/QC processes, editorial standards, checklists, and audit readiness; ensure compliance with GPP and internal policies.

Risk and issue management:

Proactively identify risks, maintain RAID logs, and drive timely mitigations and escalations.

Stakeholder Engagement

Partnerships:

Build strong, transparent relationships with Alexion Publication teams. and strong relationships with external vendors/agency partners.

Intake and prioritization:

Run structured request intake, triage, resourcing, and scheduling to balance portfolio priorities and work volume.

Governance:

Lead cadence meetings (stand-ups, sprint reviews, monthly governance calls, QBR), publish dashboards, and present performance to leadership.

Resource and Vendor Management

Resourcing:

Allocate work across internal teams and approved vendors; manage flexible capacity models.

Vendor oversight:

Define scopes, performance metrics, and quality gates for agencies; ensure cost-effectiveness and compliance.

Budget and productivity:

Track effort, utilization, and unit costs; drive productivity improvements and ROI. Support invoicing, PO, Realization and recharge.

Publication Delivery Domain Responsibilities

Provide structured, high-impact review, mentoring, and coaching to Expert Publication Writers and Senior Publication Writers . Serve as the trusted, go-to advisor for publication-related queries, and support the team in resolving conflicting author comments and changing stakeholder requirements through clear guidance, facilitation, and stakeholder alignment. Align with GPP (Good Publication Practice), ICMJE, CONSORT/PRISMA where applicable, medical-legal-regulatory standards, and internal policies. Should be aware of the guidelines in Equator Network and should be an advocate to implement then as needed.

Tools, Technology, and Documentation

Systems:

Champion publication management tools (e.g., Pub planning platforms, content repositories, reference managers), collaboration suites, and workflow trackers.

Templates and playbooks:

Create and maintain templates, checklists, SOPs, and training materials to ensure consistency and scalability.

Artificial intelligence:

Demonstrated understanding of AI tools in medical publications, with a strong inclination to pilot, implement, and scale solutions that enhance efficiency, quality, and consistency.

Reporting:

Build automated dashboards and monthly business reviews; deliver actionable insights to stakeholders and leadership.

Required Qualifications

Education:

Advanced degree in life sciences, pharmacy, medicine, or related field; PhD/MD/PharmD/MSc preferred.

Experience:

15+ years in medical publications/medical writing, including 5+ years in people management and operations leadership.

Proven

track record

Setting up new teams/functions in GCCs or service agencies, implementing SOPs, KPIs, and delivery governance.

Domain

expertise

: Strong knowledge of GPP, ICMJE, CONSORT/PRISMA, ethical authorship, data standards, and journal/congress processes. ISMPP CMPP Certification is preferred.

Operational excellence:

Demonstrated ability to run large-scale delivery with metrics, QA, and continuous improvement.

Stakeholder management:

Experience partnering with global cross-functional teams and external agencies; strong communication and influence skills.

Global experience:

Working across time zones and cultures; experience in global capability centres or offshore/nearshore models.

Core Competencies

Leadership:

Team building, coaching, and empowerment.

Operational rigor

: Process design, SOPs, KPIs, and compliance.

Scientific rigor

: Data accuracy, sound data interpretation, correct comprehension, and robust scientific understanding of rare diseases.

Quality mindset:

First time-right delivery, audit readiness, and continuous improvement.

Strategic thinking:

Aligning publication delivery with asset and portfolio goals.

Communication:

Clear, concise, and influential with senior stakeholders.

Problem solving:

Data-driven, pragmatic, and resilient under pressure.

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 from the office. But that doesn't mean we're not flexible. We balance the expectation of being in the office while respecting individual flexibility. Join us in our unique and ambitious world.



At AstraZeneca's Alexion division, you'll find a unique opportunity to grow and innovate within a rapidly expanding portfolio. Our entrepreneurial spirit fosters autonomy while our energizing culture encourages connections that lead to new ideas. As part of our commercial team, you'll meet the needs of under-served patients worldwide. With tailored development programs designed for skill enhancement and empathetic understanding of patient journeys, you'll align your growth with our mission. Supported by exceptional leaders and peers, you'll drive change with integrity in a culture celebrating diversity and innovation.



Ready to make a difference? Apply now to join our team!



Alexion is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. We are committed to fostering a culture of belonging where every single person can belong because of their uniqueness. The Company will not make decisions about employment, training, compensation, promotion, and other terms and conditions of employment based on race, color, religion, creed or lack thereof, sex, sexual orientation, age, ancestry, national origin, ethnicity, citizenship status, marital status, pregnancy, (including childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), parental status (including adoption or surrogacy), military status, protected veteran status, disability, medical condition, gender identity or expression, genetic information, mental illness or other characteristics protected by law. Alexion provides reasonable accommodations to meet the needs of candidates and employees.