Global Executive Talent Scout – R&D

Global Executive Talent Scout – R&D 
Boston, MA- Flexibility to be based from our Seaport or Kendall Square office
Human Resources 
Hybrid Work- on average 3 days/week in office 

Shape who leads our future. The Global Executive Talent Scout operates at the intersection of business and talent strategy, insight and influence, supporting senior leaders as they make high-stakes decisions about who leads what’s next. As a trusted advisor, you will identify emerging talent trends, challenge conventional thinking, and translate insights into action. 
 

What you'll do 

• Strategic delivery: Lead end-to-end executive hiring, succession pipeline development, direct search, internal slates, and market mapping, primarily for Executive Director positions. Proactively monitor external talent markets and maintain diverse, high-quality talent pools aligned with business priorities.  

• Diagnostic intake and solutioning: Translate business needs into talent strategies with risk-based‑ contingencies and clear build/buy recommendations using standard advisory playbooks; apply talent intelligence, AI-assisted market/skills insights and commercial insights to surface mobility and transferable-skills options.  

• Stakeholder partnership: Engage VPs and, where relevant, SVPs to align on success criteria, assessment plans, and decision quality; Present clear, executive-ready insights and build alignment across diverse stakeholder groups.  

• Data storytelling and outcomes: Track and narrate impact (pipeline depth/diversity, conversion, time-in-stage, offer acceptance, mobility, succession readiness, business critical role validation) with documented executive-ready insights that inform talent strategy.  

• Inclusion and internal advocacy: Champion internal talent and transferrable skills; broaden talent pools and support fair, evidence-based selection while maintaining equity, confidentiality, compliance, and a high-quality experience.  

• Vendor engagement: Manage preferred suppliers (PSL) partners; set scope, SLAs, inclusion and data quality expectations including use of digital/AI-assisted research and reporting; monitor and remediate performance while optimizing work processes and digital tools in line with PSL governance.  

• Market and reward authority: Provide current market intelligence; articulate total reward narrative and internal equity; secure approvals; integrate AI-enabled talent intelligence and business insight with the right first-time approach. 

Essential for the role 

• Bachelor’s degree with 5-8+ years in executive search, senior talent acquisition or related HR experience in complex, matrixed environments. 

• Executive recruitment within the pharmaceutical, biotech, or related industry 

• Proven delivery of diverse, high-quality slates and conversion outcomes at an efficient time. 

• Partnership experience with business leaders and HRBPs; exposure to senior stakeholders, collaborating across global hubs with strong executive confidence, credibility, influence, and communication skills. 

• Hands-on use of Eightfold/Workday (or similar ATS and CRM) with disciplined documentation and adoption of digital tools and workflow optimization. 

• Experience managing external search partners within defined SLAs and inclusion expectations and addressing vendor performance to enterprise standards. 

Behaviors and Mindset  

• Enterprise first partner: Acts as an advisor and integrator, takes ownership, facilitates effective handoffs, and promotes consistent talent advisory standards and best practices.  

• Project Management: End-to-end ownership, pace management, and sequencing; driving outcomes across multiple concurrent searches while adapting to stakeholder needs.  

• Executive sourcing and business insight: Demonstrated ability to identify, engage, assess, and convert senior talent, with a strong understanding of global talent markets and competitive talent landscapes. Ability to quickly build knowledge of AstraZeneca’s science, therapeutic areas, pipeline, and strategic priorities to hold informed conversations with leaders and candidates. 

• Assessment and judgement: Skill in defining success profiles, evaluating fit and readiness objectively and comfort giving balanced assessments between strengths and risks with clear evidence. Strong situational judgement.  

• Stakeholder management and advising with data led storytelling: Trusted partner to senior leaders and HR partners; able to influence decisions, manage sensitivities, and align cross-functional stakeholders. Ability to craft clear narratives using data and insights.  

• Negotiation and offer strategy: Navigating compensation, location, and role scope; partnering with Reward on competitive, equitable offers. Ability to articulate AstraZeneca’s total reward philosophy and full employee value proposition, including intrinsic and extrinsic considerations.  

• Talent intelligence and digital capability: Proficiency with talent data, insights, and AI-assisted tools to improve speed, quality and future scouting.  

• Learning agility and curiosity:  Learns from feedback, stays current on market, assessment, reward, communication, technology, and AI/digital trends, and actively explores tools that improve quality, speed, and fairness. ​  

• Adapting to change and self-awareness: Sustains performance through continuous change, adapts to evolving priorities, and navigates ambiguity in sensitive and confidential environments with resilience and self-awareness. 

Desirable for the role 

• Experience working in a matrixed global environment 

• Understanding and familiarity with the Boston R&D ecosystem 

Office Working Requirements  

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, with the opportunity to work within our vibrant R&D communities in our state of the art facilities in Boston MA 

The annual base pay for this position ranges from $120,396.80 - 180,595.20 USD. Our positions offer eligibility for various incentives—an opportunity to receive short-term incentive bonuses, equity-based awards for salaried roles and commissions for sales roles. Benefits offered include qualified retirement programs, paid time off (i.e., vacation, holiday, and leaves), as well as health, dental, and vision coverage in accordance with the terms of the applicable plans. ​ 

#LI-Hybrid 

Date Posted

05-Nov-2026

Closing Date

18-Nov-2026

Our mission is to build an inclusive environment where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and employees. In furtherance of that mission, we welcome and consider applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of their protected characteristics. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please complete the corresponding section in the application form.