Governance and Ethics Lead

Role overview

This position is based in Dublin and offers a competitive salary together with benefits. The role is focused on building governance that supports responsible innovation, protects patients and reputation, and strengthens long-term business outcomes. You will establish clear ethical standards and practical compliance approaches so teams can work quickly, confidently, and with clarity.

You will be responsible for guiding the review and approval of complex, novel activities across the business. This includes promotional and non-promotional work, as well as interactions with healthcare professionals, healthcare organisations, and corporate affairs, with an emphasis on measurable value delivered without compromising integrity.

Key responsibilities

• Provide final sign-off for selected above-brand materials and activities connected to promotion, healthcare professional and organisation engagement, and corporate affairs, while also supporting therapy-area reviews when needed.
• Lead a cross-functional governance forum that evaluates complex and new activities, maintains standards, and approves related materials in a pragmatic and compliant way.
• Own the rollout of local governance and decision-making structures so that ethical and compliant delivery is embedded across relevant activities.
• Identify emerging risks and opportunities early, then put practical controls in place to prevent problems before they grow.
• Set up and coordinate local approval routes and operating processes that reduce risk while making work more efficient.
• Create and monitor metrics that track activity quality and overall process performance.
• Partner with nominated signatories to plan, deliver, and refresh regular training and coaching that improves compliance knowledge and capability.
• Develop and maintain local SOPs, checklists, and guidance covering review, approval, re-approval, recall, and withdrawal, and help maintain broader SOPs and policies in line with practice codes, internal standards, and local law.
• Share effective practices, resolve issues with cross-functional teams, and introduce improvements that strengthen system performance and the user experience.
• Spot compliance gaps and friction points, lead remediation or improvement projects, and see tasks through to completion with initiative and sound judgement.
• Work closely with nominated signatories, Medical, Franchise/Brand, Market Access, and Corporate Affairs teams to ensure activities are compliant, high quality, and aligned with medical and business objectives.
• Provide prompt, practical compliance guidance across the marketing company and support inter-company discussions where relevant.
• Support the validation and revalidation of nominated signatories and keep strong working links with signatory processes.
• Balance operational delivery with longer-term strategic work that strengthens the governance model and helps the organisation respond well to ambiguity.

Essential requirements

• A degree in medicine, pharmacy, pharmacology, or another relevant life-sciences discipline.
• Strong working knowledge of the legislation and external codes that govern promotional activity.
• Evidence of critical thinking, pragmatism, and practical problem solving.
• Ability to make well-reasoned decisions using evidence, knowledge, and experience even when the path ahead is unclear.
• Demonstrated ability to identify risks and gaps early and recommend workable solutions.
• A continuous-improvement mindset with a history of improving ways of working.
• Experience in medical affairs and/or signatory-related responsibilities.
• Good time management skills and a track record of effective collaboration and accountability.
• Very high ethical standards, with the confidence to discuss ethical and regulatory matters credibly and authoritatively.
• Excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration skills, with the ability to take decisive action while respecting differing perspectives and aligning solutions to company values.

Preferred experience

• Background in project management.
• Experience in delivering training.
• Practical involvement in digital or omni-channel projects.
• Knowledge of AstraZeneca therapy areas.

Additional information

The role was posted on 19-Jun-2026 and the closing date is 27-Jun-2026.

The organisation says it is committed to an inclusive and equitable workplace, and it welcomes applications from all qualified candidates. Reasonable adjustments or accommodations can be provided to support candidates during the recruitment process.

Kindness, ambition, scientific insight, commercial execution, and a willingness to learn quickly are highlighted as part of the working culture. The position is intended to help remove barriers, improve the patient journey, and support innovations that reach patients sooner and more safely.

This is a full-time onsite role in Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland.

No specific vacancy count, salary amount, notice period, or start date was stated in the source.

No internship duration applies to this role.

Call to action

This opportunity is aimed at someone who wants to shape ethical, scalable governance that accelerates innovation and improves patient outcomes.