Senior Enterprise Information Architect

Job Description

Enterprise Data & AI Services (ED&AIS) is a recently formed central IT function accountable for enterprise strategy and standards in Data and AI engineering, enabling services (IT, Finance, HR), enterprise and business information and data architecture as well as the delivery of data provisioning services and AI product delivery for the enterprise. The organization works closely with Data & AI delivery teams across Business Technology Group (BTG – Business Unit) IT teams and data governance teams from LoB (Line of Business) Data offices, supporting the build of the AstraZeneca data products, including Data Mesh, analytical solutions and with a view to enterprise information architectures and thinking.

This is a new exciting new role as the Senior Enterprise Information Architect for Commercial and Patient services (Alexion) that will ensure that common architecture decisions support both business and IT strategy, and that architectures delivered are compliant with relevant AZ architecture standards, blueprints and roadmaps. As an Enterprise Architect, the role will manage strategic planning typically over the 1-5 year horizon. . You will support and lead the information and data architecture development of both operational/transactional and analytical systems  alsothe role will be accountable for the development of architecture standards, roadmaps (1-5 years) and blueprints for one or more architecture focus areas. The role will understand implications of architecture requirements to ‘As-Is’ architectures and define/update ‘To-Be’ architectures applying AZ architecture guiding principles. also Support Alexion Information solution development efforts originating from portfolios, participate in and/or lead IT initiatives, domain groups and provide active guidance for better planning and decision making including lead the design of reference and master data solutions oversee data analysis appropriate data modelling activities, focused on profiling and understanding data to support Information Architecture activities and engineering (software specialist) implementation for Alexion . As part of the role, you will also support and lead the design of reference and master data management solutions, both at domain and enterprise level, leading business case analysis and development.The role will provide Information Technology architectural expertise and technical direction to system development and integration projects. You will support the growth of, and lead, working across the Alexion portfolio supporting other architects across the organisation.

You will work closely with Enterprise/Solution Architects and their teams to ensure Commercial and Patient Services solution architectures are built with data centric mind set, integrating Information Architecture designs into blueprints, enabling data re-use, and supporting lean data designs.

Typical Accountabilities

Alexion Information Architecture Accountabilities:

• Focus on the Information Architecture and Data Analysis capabilities for Commercial and Patient Services area. Establish strong working relationship with AstraZeneca’s global and regional groups to develop an in-depth understanding of business priorities, data requirements and use as well as supporting delivery needs.
• Assist with leadership of, support, enable and growth of our Enterprise Information Architecture Practice working closely with the Commercial and Patient services team
• Reporting to the Head of Commercial Information Architecture, you will be an active member of the Enterprise Information Architecture Practice, supporting our practice and our team; developing our ways of working; working to ensure an integrated approach to information architecture across AstraZeneca
• Participate in Architecture Assessments & Reviews either as Lead Reviewing Architect or as a domain specialist in the review team.
• Support the delivery of the Commercial and Patient services portfolio through the provision of integrated Information Architecture services and design across solutions, including:
  • Data flow design across the enterprise from System of Record to Analytics applications
  • Data structure types, and information model design, needed for a solution such as raw, conform, and consumption data layers
  • Project level oversight of Data Models, Metadata, Linage, Taxonomies and Ontologies
  • Data transformation design between systems/models, including business rule design and management
  • Design of metadata describing data assets (catalogued)
  • Master and Reference data design within and across systems/enterprise
  • Alignment with AstraZeneca’s Information Governance regulations and frameworks
  • Development and enforcement of standard enterprise data element names, abbreviations, characteristics, and domains during the lifecycle of a project
• Work on key strategic transformation projects and drive the IT Strategy & architectures for these projects.
• Lead and/or provide active participation in Enterprise domain teams and working groups applicable to domain accountability.
• Be an active member to the teams to which you contribute, integrating IA with wider technical and process architectures and data / AI engineering delivery
• Be an active member of appropriate business data governance councils, ensuring ongoing information architecture is fit for Commercial and Patient services use
• Works with third party suppliers as required and contributes to the creation of local or functional design documents
• Support the development and embedding of the IA capability and operating model: resource forecasting, skills, tooling, processes, communication, stakeholder management, governance, and standards (for example)
• Evangelise what Enterprise Information Architecture is and the value and impact of good data architectural design and governance to both IT and Commercial teams: Develop clear, tailored communication and training plans.
• Maintain on-going professional development in leading enterprise information architectural practice and innovation.

Delivery Related Accountabilities:

• Responsible for selecting the correct data architecture patterns, as per our Commercial and Patient Services data framework to fulfil traditional reporting and analytics, data science, digital, and operational business use cases. This includes:
  • Providing project-level data architecture planning, design expertise and execution application on development projects, from technical designs and technology standards to Models and IA considerations.
  • Based on Commercial and Patient services business requirements that determine the different types of data structure types needed for a project such as raw, conform, and consumption data layers. Leverages the structure model types such as 3rd Normal Form, denormalized, and dimensionalized structures
  • Providing project level support of Data Models, Metadata, Linage, Taxonomies, Ontologies and Information Architecture leading practice and design
  • Supports (or leads) in the development of Data Integration architecture and overall Data Integration design of a project
  • Approves the various artifacts ensuring enforcement of standard enterprise data element names, abbreviations, characteristics, and domains during the lifecycle of a project
• Responsible for authoring and reviewing many of the Commercial and Patient services project deliverables to ensure compliance and reuse within Architectural Standards as defined by the Enterpise Information Architecture Practice compliant and aligned to the data data standards and data design principles as defined by the Head of Commercial Information architecture.
• Be seen as an Information Architect expert and trusted by the extended stakeholders within Commercial and Patients services IT and any related third parties.

Education, Qualifications, and Experience

Essential

• Bachelors Degree or equivalent number of years of experience in a Computer Science or Data Management or Data Technology related field
• Significant experience in framing and delivering enterprise data platform architectural thinking, and its practical application
• Significant experience in framing, developing and delivering information and data strategies and strategic thinking within a commercial or complex business environment
• Experience in defining and working with information and data regulatory governances
• The role holder will possess a blend of data/information architecture, analysis, and engineering skills
• Experience in planning, leading, collaborating and working as a member of a technical/architectural delivery team
• Experience in known industry IT architectural patterns and IT architecture ways of working/methodologies
• Understands Data Platforms concepts and cloud-based containerization strategies for hybrid cloud environments
• Understanding the appropriate data structure and technology based on business use case and completely familiar with data lifecycles
• Experience in the use of metadata cataloguing tools
• Experience in Agile data definition scrums
• Experience in the use of data modeling tools/technologies

Desirable

• Post-graduate degree in MIS, Business Systems Analysis and Design, or Data Management
• Sustained experience in face to face client engagement and delivery of complex technology solutions for enterprise clients, likely garnered from working with a major international consulting house will be significantly beneficial for this role
• Significant experience in a data architect role with practical examples of designing and providing data engineering/architectural blueprints that have been pragmatically and actually implemented
• Experience in Agile data definition scrums
• Experience of Information and Data Governance frameworks and their application in a commercial organisation
• Understanding of typical commercial and patient services operations, processes, and data, ideally in a pharmaceutical setting

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.