Competitive Intelligence Director – New AI and Data Technology (Early R&D)

Do you have a passion for influencing global strategies with deep insights extracted from a strategic understanding of the competitive environment? AstraZeneca invites you to join a leading force in biopharmaceutical innovation, where your ideas will contribute to life-changing medicines.

We are seeking an experienced Competitive Intelligence Director – New AI and Data Technology (early R&D) who is passionate about to join AstraZeneca’s R&D Strategy group. AstraZeneca has grown to be a leader in innovation by building a world-class R&D unit with strong foundations across multiple scientific and technologic platforms. We aim to expand our leadership by identifying and leveraging cutting edge data and AI solutions that will support our capacity to pioneer the race to scientific innovation that will impact patient’s’ lives.

What You Will Do

• Identify the new transforming computational technologies that will support the discovery of future leading MoA, assets, and revolutionize the discovery process for the next decade, leading to leapfrog innovations

• Identify the future cutting edge engineering technologies that will support new targets identification, target delivery and assets manufacturing

• Play an important role in strategic-decision making by providing early insights/ opportunities for early R&D technology innovation

• Point of reference for active scouting emerging/ breakthrough data and AI technology trends in early R&D, through a deep and continuous monitoring and understanding of the cutting edge digital innovation

• Co-ordinates, prioritizes and conducts secondary research, analyses data and derive actionable insights

• Leverages his or her strong written and oral communication skills to develop and share CI insights and recommendations that drive strategic decisions

• TA agnostic, focuses on discovery and early development

• Leverages executive VC/investor/industry network to gather CI and inform strategy

• Establishes strong working relationships with R&D leadership across Discovery Science, Biological sciences, Cell therapy and R&D Data and Science divisions to define the range of problems and translate these complex business problems into intelligence hypotheses

• Develop a solid network of scientific and AI experts internally and externally, allowing to bridge internal scientific priorities and challenges with the latest trends of data and AI innovation

• Prioritizes and designs research and analytical plans aligning with the CI information lead on knowledge capture

• Conducts research, analyses data and derives actionable insights and recommendations that are shared with R&D scientific and data & AI divisions leadership, strategy and BD&L teams to drive high quality, evidence-driven strategic decisions

• Responsible for proactively flagging key trigger events in the competitive landscape and driving work on potential implications for AZ

• Communicates efficiently synthetic outcomes of complex/comprehensive CI reports

• Responsible for the management of specific elements of CI budget and TA vendor relationships

Who You Are

• Advanced degree in Life Sciences/ Medicine

• Advanced degree in Computational biology, Informatics, Business analytics, Statistics, Operations Research, Computer Science or related field

• Strong data science or advanced analytics reputation with ability to manage complex problems requiring advanced quantitative solutions

• Prior experience working directly with senior executives.

• Established network within VC investing community and key innovation centers – healthcare focused

• Prior, direct experience in scouting breakthrough trends/ emerging technology disruptors in pharma/biotech HC sector

• Experience in translating digital innovation to early R&D discovery and development

• Experience of Competitive Intelligence

• A strong background of building successful internal/external partnership and collaborative relationships, demonstrating cultural sensitivity and awareness.

• Demonstrated ability to lead and influence experienced professionals,

• Strong ability to build trust-based relationships and foster collaboration without enforcing territorial boundaries, serving as a catalyst and enabler.

• Ability to deal with ambiguity and objectively challenge and influence senior stakeholders

• Ability to synthesize and integrate multiple sources of information to provide insights and recommendations

• Ability to think critically, creatively and to anticipate and solve problems.

• Collaborative Leadership: proactive leader capable of leading cross-functional efforts, cultivating a culture of open exchange to enhance strategic outcomes.

• Service oriented, self-motivated, curious and results-oriented

• Agility and capacity to navigate and be successful in a fast-paced, highly-matrixed work environment.

Why Join AstraZeneca?

At AstraZeneca, we recognize the importance of identifying and capturing the best assets and trends emerging from this key market. As part of our Global Strategy Team, you'll play a crucial role in redefining pharmaceutical competition by leveraging deep cultural and scientific insights to drive global success. Embrace the opportunity to innovate, pioneer new methods, and join diverse teams in shaping the future.

AstraZeneca embraces diversity and equality of opportunity. We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse team representing all backgrounds, with as wide a range of perspectives as possible, and harnessing industry-leading skills. We believe that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be. We welcome and consider applications to join our team from all qualified candidates, regardless of their characteristics. We comply with all applicable laws and regulations on non-discrimination in employment (and recruitment), as well as work authorisation and employment eligibility verification requirements.