VP Compliance International Markets

At AstraZeneca, our people are naturally curious: forever connecting and collaborating to uncover insights that equip us to challenge convention and push boundaries. Our high-performing teams are united by a shared purpose to push the boundaries of science to deliver life-changing medicines, with each member bringing a personal motivation to make a difference to patients, society and our company.
Our workforce reflects the people we serve, with diversity embedded in everything we do. This harmony of distinct perspectives and experiences is a source of strength, fuelling our creativity and showing the full scope of AstraZeneca’s contribution to society.
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