Director- Supply Chain Process Analysis & Optimization

Job Title: Supply Chain Process Analysis and Optimization (SCPAO) Director

The Supply Chain Process Analysis and Optimization (SCPA) Director will be responsible for leading a dynamic team dedicated to developing and implementing digital solutions that enhance AstraZeneca's Global Supply Chain operations. This role is critical to driving digital transformation projects aimed at optimizing processes and improving efficiency across various supply chain functions. The SCPAO Director will collaborate closely with multiple stakeholders, both internally and externally, to ensure that strategic digital initiatives are successfully executed and aligned with the overall Digital Strategy.

Key Responsibilities

• Project Management:

• Partner with various Supply Chain functions to understand, define, and scope digital project demands, ensuring clarity in objectives and deliverables.

• Develop comprehensive business cases that articulate the return on investment, business value, and strategic alignment of proposed initiatives.

• Secure funding for larger initiatives by championing their value to senior leadership and aligning them with strategic priorities.

• Oversee the delivery of custom solutions, coordinating with IT and other stakeholders to ensure alignment with the Digital Strategy roadmap.

• Implement robust business benefit tracking mechanisms to evaluate the success and impact of solutions within their team.

• Team Leadership:

• Provide strategic direction and leadership to the SCPAO team, ensuring alignment with the overarching Digital Strategy and business objectives.

• Develop the capabilities of team members to meet evolving project needs, focusing on skill enhancement and resource availability.

• Foster a collaborative environment where team members are encouraged to engage with peers and stakeholders to identify innovative solutions to complex problems.

• Implement performance metrics and reporting systems to monitor team progress and impact.

• Consultancy:

• Act as a technical advisor to the Supply Chain Digital and Analytics (SCDNA) team, bringing Supply Chin Expertise with understanding of process mining and process automation to stakeholder discussions and informing strategic decision-making in.

• Facilitate discussions on the advantages and disadvantages of off-the-shelf solutions versus custom builds, helping stakeholders make informed decisions.

• Innovation:

• Continuously scan the technological horizon for new process mining, process optimization and automation solutions and innovations that can be integrated into the Digital Strategy.

• Develop and showcase innovative use cases that demonstrate the potential of new technologies to the broader Global Supply Chain and Strategy (GSC&S) organization.

• Stakeholder Management:

• Manage day-to-day relationships with stakeholders, maintaining alignment on project progress and managing escalations and exceptions

• When necessary, guide reprioritization decisions within team, seeking input from leadership to drive decision-making and ensure resource alignment.

Scope

• This role has a global remit and will operate internationally to support the digital strategy across AstraZeneca's Global Supply Chain and Strategy, engaging with diverse teams and projects worldwide.

Essential:

• A Bachelor's degree in a quantitative field such as Supply Chain, engineering, economics, business administration, Data Science, Informatics, computer science, or statisticsor a related discipline.

• A minimum of 7 years of experience leading supply chain projects in sophisticated and complex environments, focusing on demand planning, forecasting, and logistics.

• At least 2 years of experience in process optimization and automation projects in a supply chain setting (procurement, planning, manufacturing, logistics), including successful implementation of Robotic Process Automation (RPA) solutions to digitize operational workflows and reduce manual processes.

• Experience managing teams within data-driven, digital, or analytics-heavy environments, with a focus on process optimization and efficiency improvements.

• Expertise in statistical analysis, machine learning, and predictive modeling.

• Proficient in data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI).

• Hands-on experience working with platforms like MS Azure, Databricks, Cloud and is continually able to stay updated with the latest D&A technology.

• Proficient Knowledge of some key programming fundamentals in Python, Spark, SQL, or similar languages

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate across different levels of the organization

• Lead and manage negotiations across complex groups to a target outcome

Desirable:

• Experience in a consulting role, whether internal or external, providing insights and strategies to drive business improvements.

• Experience in process mining with tools such as Celonis, Axon, or equivalent, enabling deep analysis and enhancement of business process efficiency.

• Prior experience working within a global team setting and/or within the pharmaceutical industry.

• Experience in life sciences and healthcare and working across the drug research and development lifecycle.

• Experience in Agentic AI for workflow automation

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.