Medical Manager - Rare Diseases

Do you have a passion for science, strategic medical leadership, and changing the trajectory of patients living with rare diseases? Are you motivated by shortening the path to diagnosis, building referral networks, and making sure the right patient reaches the right treatment, at the right time? At AstraZeneca Rare Disease, we are looking for a Medical Manager, Rare Diseases (Neurology & Metabolic) to join our Medical Affairs team. In this role you will lead the local execution of the Rare Disease Medical Strategy and translate Therapeutic Area priorities into country plans from late pre-launch through post-launch. You will act as a strategic medical partner. You will connect clinical evidence, natural history and real-world data, healthcare-system realities, and patient and caregiver insights to close the gaps that keep patients with rare diseases undiagnosed, unreferred, or untreated. You will work cross-functionally to strengthen launch readiness, lead local evidence generation, shape account and center-of-expertise strategies, and drive healthcare-system change. Main Responsibilities • Develop and execute the local Rare Disease Medical Plan for Neurology and Metabolic portfolios, in alignment with global, regional, and Therapeutic Area strategies. • Lead medical activities from L-18 through launch and post-launch, ensuring scientific, diagnostic, and healthcare-system readiness. • Identify and address barriers across the rare disease patient journey: awareness, patient identification, diagnostic delay, referral to specialized centers, treatment initiation, and long-term follow-up. • Define and execute medical strategies for prioritized centers and accounts, in partnership with Market Access, MSLs, Government Affairs, Diagnostics, and Patient Programs. • Contribute to value propositions, health-economic initiatives, and access strategies. Support technical discussions with payers, health authorities, and policymakers on the particular challenges of rare, high-cost, and chronic therapies. • Lead and oversee local evidence generation relevant to small populations, including registries, natural history and observational studies, RWE, publications, and outcomes research. • Strengthen diagnostic pathways in collaboration with clinical laboratories, genetic and biomarker testing initiatives, and scientific societies. • Translate scientific evidence and external insights into actionable recommendations for Medical Affairs, Access, account strategy, and healthcare policy. • Identify and support innovative initiatives using AI, data, and digital solutions to improve patient identification, diagnosis, and care coordination. • Build trusted relationships with neurologists, metabolic and genetics specialists, pediatricians, internists, scientific societies, academic institutions, and patient organizations. • Represent Medical Affairs externally and communicate complex scientific information clearly and appropriately to diverse audiences. • Coach and develop MSLs and other field medical colleagues, supporting high-quality scientific engagement and execution. • Collaborate with Medical Affairs, Market Access, Government Affairs, Regulatory, Commercial, Pharmacovigilance, Compliance, and Patient Programs. • Ensure all activities comply with AstraZeneca policies, Medical Governance, Pharmacovigilance, GxP, Code of Conduct, and local regulations. • Manage medical resources and budget according to strategic priorities, patient impact, and healthcare-system needs. Key Requirements • Medical Doctor, Pharmacist, or healthcare professional with postgraduate training in a clinical or related health sciences field. • 5–7 years of experience in Medical Affairs within the pharmaceutical industry. • Experience in rare diseases, neurol