Magdalena Jeznach
St. Albans,UK
Summary
Pharmaceutical leader with 15+ years’ experience in preclinical development, GMP quality oversight, and manufacturing supply chains in biotech and pharma. Skilled at working with CMOs/CDMOs, ensuring GMP compliance, and keeping investigational and commercial products on track. Experienced in leading multi-product portfolios, bringing cross-functional teams together, and creating manufacturing strategies that support both development and commercialisation.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
Work history
Founder and Director
Scientific Up Ltd.
London
02.2016 - 09.2025
- Provide project/programme management consultancy and leadership coaching for biotech and pharma professionals including contracts with GlaxoSmithKline and AstraZeneca.
- Developed project management training programmes for scientists transitioning into PM roles in biotech companies addressing industry-wide skills gap in project leadership.
Data Office (Consultant)
AstraZeneca
Cambridge
11.2023 - 03.2024
- Reset and governed a Data Office transformation programme, establishing consistent standards for clinical data storage, management, and security.
- Strengthened cross-functional collaboration ensuring compliance and operational delivery.
Head of Programme Management
Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult
London
04.2021 - 07.2023
- Designed and implemented new enterprise-wide Project Management Office and governance framework across four sites (impacting ~460 employees), improving portfolio delivery and alignment with corporate strategy.
- Recruited, restructured and coached team of 10 project/programme managers, embedding project leadership best practices.
- Supported delivery of corporate milestones across gene delivery, cell therapies, and bioprocessing (yearly internal budget circa £3mln and income £8mln).
Centre for Genomics Research (Consultant)
AstraZeneca
Cambridge
10.2019 - 03.2021
- Led IT projects supporting AstraZeneca's 2 million-sequence Human Genome Project , contributing to the department receiving the AZ Scientific Breakthrough Award for novel drug target discovery (2020).
- Supported development of bioinformatic and analytical infrastructure and a proprietary clinical data-mining tool for biostatisticians.
- Managed cloud build and migration of extensive clinical data from the US to EU to ensure compliance, coordinating teams across Mexico, India, US, and UK.
Project Manager
GammaDelta Therapeutics Ltd.
London
12.2017 - 10.2019
- Solely managed growing company portfolio, coordinating cell therapy development from R&D through preclinical manufacturing for lead immunotherapy, which led to acquisition by Takeda.
- Acted as key link between senior leadership and operational functions: Process Development, Manufacturing, Translational Medicine, Regulatory and Clinical.
- Implemented GLP-like quality framework at external manufacturing partner site in Germany.
- Supported preparation of early regulatory documentation to enable development progression.
BioCentral GMP Lab (Consultant)
GSK
Stevenage
02.2016 - 11.2017
- Supported Quality Director in implementing and validating M-ERP and LIMS systems across Stevenage Quality department, providing worldwide quality testing of key assets.
- Oversaw GMP quality testing and batch release of albiglutide to international markets, managing external CMOs in Germany and US to ensure uninterrupted global supply.
- Handled deviations, risk mitigation, and operational quality oversight to maintain regulatory compliance.
Scientific Affairs Manager / Project Manager
Oxford Biodynamics Ltd.
Oxford
01.2014 - 01.2016
- Secured and managed £1.26M Innovate UK project developing ALS biomarkers.
- Coordinated cross-industry and academic collaborations to support biomarker development and exploitation strategies.
Senior Research Scientist
Oxford Biodynamics Ltd.
Oxford
01.2010 - 01.2014
- Contributed to biomarker discovery and management of melanoma, prostate and liver cancers projects.
Education
ICF-Accredited Performance Coaching Diploma -
The Coaching Academy
Remote2024
Career Coaching Certification -
The Coaching Academy
Remote2024
MBA Essentials - Economics
London School of Economics
London2021
MSP Foundation -
ILX Group
London2021
Agile Practitioner -
APMG Accredited
London2017
PRINCE 2 Practitioner -
AXELOS Accredited
London2017
Introduction To Bioinformatics - Bioinformatics
University of California
Remote2011
MSc - Cancer Biology, Oncology
Kingston University
London2009
BSc (Hons) - Biomedical Sciences
University of Brighton
Brighton2008
Skills
Hard Skills:
- Project, programme, and portfolio management
- GMP compliance & quality oversight
- External manufacturing / CMO management
Soft Skills:
- Analytical thinking & scientifically driven
- Process gap identification & resolution
- Organisational skills & flexibility
- People-focused, emotionally intelligent
- Influencing, negotiation & communication
- Coaching, mentoring, and training
- Working to tight deadlines
- Hands-on, proactive, and creative
- Persistence, resilience & can-do attitude
Languages
Polish (Native)
Beginner
English
Beginner
Affiliations
- Digital content creation for personal development; interior design; Italian culture.
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Data Office (Consultant)
AstraZeneca
11.2023 - 03.2024
Head of Programme Management
Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult
04.2021 - 07.2023
Centre for Genomics Research (Consultant)
AstraZeneca
10.2019 - 03.2021
Project Manager
GammaDelta Therapeutics Ltd.
12.2017 - 10.2019
Founder and Director
Scientific Up Ltd.
02.2016 - 09.2025
BioCentral GMP Lab (Consultant)
GSK
02.2016 - 11.2017
Scientific Affairs Manager / Project Manager
Oxford Biodynamics Ltd.
01.2014 - 01.2016
Senior Research Scientist
Oxford Biodynamics Ltd.
01.2010 - 01.2014
ICF-Accredited Performance Coaching Diploma -
The Coaching Academy
Career Coaching Certification -
The Coaching Academy
MBA Essentials - Economics
London School of Economics
MSP Foundation -
ILX Group
Agile Practitioner -
APMG Accredited
PRINCE 2 Practitioner -
AXELOS Accredited
Introduction To Bioinformatics - Bioinformatics
University of California
MSc - Cancer Biology, Oncology
Kingston University
BSc (Hons) - Biomedical Sciences
University of Brighton
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