Director - IT Data, Analytics & Artificial Intelligence

Company

AstraZeneca is a global, innovation-driven biopharmaceutical business that focuses on the discovery, development, and commercialization of prescription medicines for some of the world's most serious diseases. With operations in over 100 countries and a portfolio that includes some of the most well-known treatments in oncology, cardiovascular, renal, and respiratory diseases, we are proud to be one of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies. At AstraZeneca, we foster a unique workplace culture that inspires innovation and collaboration. Here, employees are empowered to express diverse perspectives and are made to feel valued, energized, and rewarded for their ideas and creativity.

Department – Data, Analytics & AI, Enabling Units IT

Enabling Units IT (EUIT) delivers digital and technology solutions and services to multiple business areas, including HR, Finance, Legal, Global Sustainability, Corporate Affairs, and Global Business Services. We empower these areas to perform at their peak and lead a new way of working by leveraging digital technology platforms, data, and AI. Our passion is to impact lives through data, analytics, AI and more.

Our Data, Analytics & Artificial Intelligence (DA&AI) group provides domain specialist-led data engineering, data insight, advanced analytics, and AI services and solutions critical to Enabling Units and AstraZeneca.

Job Description / Capsule

We have an exciting opportunity for a dynamic, innovative leader experienced in driving delivery and service teams to join our pioneering team as the EUIT Data, Analytics & AI Lead. This senior, strategic role is accountable for the delivery of DA&AI solutions across the Enabling Units Business Areas.

This role will lead all Data, Analytics, and AI delivery capabilities within Enabling Units IT. Responsible for delivering use cases on our strategic enterprise platforms, Data Hubs, and driving the adoption of Data Mesh approaches. Ensuring that Continuous Improvement, Automation, and Re-use are at the heart of everything delivered. As part of this, the role holder will grow key capabilities across the team, creating a culture of innovation, collaboration, and diversity of thought that makes EUIT DA&AI a great place to work.

The role will sit on the EUIT Leadership team, is accountable for the delivery of Finablable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable (FAIR) data products and AI solutions, will influence and shape the EUIT-wide DA&AI strategy on key platforms such as the Finance Data Hub; Dashboard and Visualization Tooling; AI and ML delivery; driving a self-service approach that empowers the business areas.

Typical Accountabilities

• Strategy Development: Create a comprehensive strategy for Data, Analytics, and AI (DA&AI) to support Enabling Units’ activities, including driving the Data Mesh strategy.
• Agile Delivery: Deliver DA&AI solutions on time, within budget, and to quality standards using our standard DA&AI platforms.
• Service Excellence: Ensure delivery of DA&AI services across all Enabling Units business functions, focusing on automation, reuse, and standardized platforms.
• Budget and Resource Management: Manage budgets, staff, and contracts to meet delivery and service demands. Drive cost savings and plan for future needs.
• Team Empowerment: Enable data domain DevOps teams to work efficiently by removing obstacles and aligning resources. Ensure teams use standard technology platforms.
• Optimization and Collaboration: Ensure coordinated efforts across DA&AI for maximum impact. Work closely with other DA&AI leaders to find opportunities and align efforts.
• Strategic Alignment: Align DA&AI investments and deliveries with the broader EUIT strategy. Engage with IT leadership to develop integrated plans and roadmaps.

• Stakeholder Relationships: Build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, ensuring technical designs and solutions meet their strategic goals.
• Continuous Improvement: Stay updated with the latest advancements in DA&AI technologies and methods to keep AstraZeneca at the forefront of innovation.
• Team Management: Lead and support your team, focusing on their wellbeing, performance, and professional development. Maintain high team morale and a culture of growth.
• Enterprise Integration: Ensure EUIT strategies align with the broader Enterprise Data & AI strategy. Collaborate with enterprise leaders to leverage global solutions and provide necessary support to business areas.

• Stakeholder Relationships: Build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, ensuring technical designs and solutions meet their strategic goals.
• Continuous Improvement: Stay updated with the latest advancements in DA&AI technologies and methods to keep AstraZeneca at the forefront of innovation.
• Team Management: Lead and support your team, focusing on their wellbeing, performance, and professional development. Maintain high team morale and a culture of growth.
• Enterprise Integration: Ensure EUIT strategies align with the broader Enterprise Data & AI strategy. Collaborate with enterprise leaders to leverage global solutions and provide necessary support to business areas.

Typical People Management Responsibility (direct/indirect reports): This role will manage a global team of around 100 individuals and will serve as both a manager of managers and a manager of matrix relationships across the IT organization.

Education, Qualifications, and Experience

Essential

Desirable

• Undergraduate degree in a Computer Science, Informatics, or equivalent experience.
• Proven experience in delivering Data & AI solutions and service at scale in large, complex settings. Demonstrated success in leading major projects or programs.
• Proven experience of leading and growing engineering teams with a track record of developing talent and fostering a collaborative team environment.
• Demonstrable experience leading multiple teams of analysts and engineers in a DevOps model, driving continuous integration and delivery practices.
• Proven experience of innovation, Lean and agile delivery methodologies. Experience with implementing these methodologies to enhace efficiency and drive project success.

• Advanced degrees (Master’s or PhD) in relevant fields
• Proven experience with Business Areas, such as: Finance, HR, Legal etc.
• Demonstrable managerial experience in matrix and other structures of technical staff.

Skills and Capabilities

Essential

Desirable

• Strategic thinking – ability to see beyond the tactical day to day noise and shape long term D&AI strategy in line with long term business strategy
• Excellence knowledge of key data technology platforms for delivery including AWS, Azure, Talend, DBT, Snowflake, Microstrategy, PowerBI.
• Good understanding of key AI technology platforms for delivery including AWS SageMaker/Bedrock, Dataiku, KubeFlow.
• Proficiency in managing complex stakeholder networks, conflicting demand, mis-aligned local strategies with ability to develop common approaches and roadmaps
• People leadership – ability to motivate and develop both talent and under-performers across teams
• Excellent communication and influencing skills in order to communicate with senior stakeholders across IT & Operations business.

• Good commercial awareness and understanding of the external market for DA&AI technology and best practices
• Demonstrate initiative, strong customer orientation, and cross-cultural working
• A strong understanding of and insight into Enabling Units Business Area strategies, processes, data and technologies

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.

Why AstraZeneca?

At AstraZeneca, we bring to bear technology to impact patients and ultimately save lives. We are one purpose-led global organisation. The enablers and innovators, ensuring that we can fulfil our mission to push the boundaries of science and discover and develop life-changing medicines. We take pride in working close to the cause, opening the locks to save lives, ultimately making a massive difference to the outside world.

Join us at a crucial stage of our journey in becoming a digital and data-led enterprise. Make the impossible possible by building partnerships and ecosystems, crafting new ways of working and driving scale and speed to deliver exponential growth. Focused and committed, and backed with the investment to succeed, we're driving cross-company change to disrupt the entire industry.

Ready to make a difference? Apply now!

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.