Testing Project Manager

Do you have expertise in, and passion for, information technology?  Would you like to apply your expertise to impact the IT strategy in a company that follows the science and turns ideas into life changing medicines?  If so, AstraZeneca might be the one for you!

ABOUT ASTRAZENECA

AstraZeneca is a global, science-led, patient-focused biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery, development and commercialisation of prescription medicines for some of the world’s most serious disease. But we’re more than one of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies. At AstraZeneca we’re dedicated to being a Great Place to Work.

ABOUT OUR TECHNOLOGY TEAM

It’s a dynamic and results-oriented environment to work in – but that’s why we like it. There are countless opportunities to learn and grow, whether that’s exploring new technologies in hackathons, or redefining the roles and work of colleagues, forever.  Shape your own path, with support all the way. Diverse minds that work cross- functionally and broadly together.

ABOUT THE ROLE

Axial is a strategic multi-year business transformation program helping AstraZeneca achieve its 2030 Bold Ambition. Axial will deliver the new backbone for our innovation, growth, and performance, and the technology driving Axial is SAP S/4HANA and its Business Technology Platform.

The Axial Technology team actively partners with our business colleagues to deliver cutting-edge technology capabilities to fulfil AstraZeneca’s bold ambition of delivering life changing medicines to patients.  Our ambition is to provide best-in-class expertise and leadership in technological solutions and Information Delivery that empowers our colleagues in the field and accelerates and improves strategic decision-making for a diverse range of partners.  The team engages with some of the most exciting business areas within AstraZeneca and is faced with solving for a variety of complex business and IT challenges.

We are seeking for a  highly skilled and experienced Project Manager to coordinate, plan, and track key testing phases for multiple deployments (often in parallel) within the Axial Technology workstream.

Introduction to Role:

• Responsible for managing complex interdependent test phases and plans, working across Axial teams to ensure simultaneous test phases are planned, tracked, and delivered on time
• Ensure that all parties understand how they contribute to successful testing and what they need to do and when.
• Collaborate with diverse teams across the globe within business domains like Operation, Finance, R&D, and Commercials.
• Manage, control, and report project budget.
• Keep timelines and budgets in check, even in the face of monumental change.
• Effective risks & issues management and reporting
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management with a focus on clear concise reporting to a senior stakeholder within Business and Technology  
• Adherence to all the validation and compliance documentation and methodologies
• Comfortable in Agile and waterfall methodologies

The role and core accountabilities

• Agree and deliver plans for Axial test phases, including activities, resources, costs, roles, responsibilities, dependencies, and quality as defined in the IT Project Management Methodology.  Own these plans as the single point of contact for Technology – track, report, and ensure delivery with key stakeholders.
• Manage project budgets, forecasts, tasks, schedules, risks, organizational change, and status to support effective decisions and project reporting to collaborators and review boards. Coordinate status and delivery of project workstreams. Identify / manage dependencies between projects (intra-program and across portfolio) to deliver test phases.
• Work closely with global cross-functional teams to understand project requirements, provide regular updates, and ensure seamless communication throughout the project lifecycle.
• Manage and mitigate project risks, proactively identifying and addressing potential challenges.
• Communicate project progress, updates, and risks to stakeholders, including executives and team members.
• Foster a collaborative and positive team environment, promoting effective teamwork and knowledge sharing.
• Manage changes to project/programme scope for test phases, ensuring that all impacts and changes are approved and appropriately communicated to collaborators and review boards.
• Manage stage gate and phase transition processes.
• Ensure the team adheres to all standards including ADF, quality, and compliance, as well as processes, defined technical capabilities, and standard methodologies.

Education, qualifications and experience:

Essential

• Strong Project and Programme Management Skills. Proven experience (typically 3-5 years) as a PM across the whole IT project lifecycle but specifically focusing on managing testing phases for IT projects.
• Strong project planning and Jira skills and experience.

• Relevant Technical or Business Degree
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills for effective collaboration with global teams and external partners.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and phases simultaneously, prioritising tasks and deadlines effectively as well as dependencies.
• Knowledge of Financial Management within Projects and managing external suppliers
• Broad understanding of IT systems and technology implemented within a business context.
• Experience of working with modern IT tooling associated with large scale program delivery, especially JIRA and Microsoft Project
• Experience in a validated environment with operational awareness of GxP and SOX.
• Experience of leading SAP or similar ERP project delivery

Desirable

• Experience working with the core business areas of Operations and Enabling Units (Finance, Compliance and Legal).
• Experience in handling technology portfolios across multiple functional areas.
• Experience working in the Biopharmaceutical/Life Sciences industry (not essential).
• Project / Programme Management certifications.
• S/4HANA delivery experience.

Skills and capabilities:

Essential

• Alignment with AZ Values and Behaviours
• Agile Enterprise mentality
• Understanding of key IT test principles and phases
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Self-starter who continuously develops new skills and proactively leads own career and development.
• Excellent influencing, networking, and collaborative working skills
• Able to lead difficult discussions, manage expectations and deliver solutions across complex partner groups.
• Ability to work well in and lead/collaborate across diverse matrixed global teams.
• Expertise in project delivery and change management and problem solving.
• Experienced sustainable relationship management skills with the ability to influence others to achieve objectives.

Desirable

• Experience working in different countries/cultures.
• Experience working with and managing System Integration partners.
• Experience of defining and leading defect management processes.
• Experience of team leadership, line management, and matrix management environments.

Why AstraZeneca?

At AstraZeneca we’re dedicated to being a Great Place to Work. Where you are empowered to push the boundaries of science and unleash your entrepreneurial spirit. There’s no better place to make a difference to medicine, patients and society. An inclusive culture that champions diversity and collaboration, and always committed to lifelong learning, growth and development. We’re on an exciting journey to pioneer the future of healthcare.

So, what’s next?

• Are you already imaging yourself joining our team? Good, because we can’t wait to hear from you.
• Are you ready to bring new ideas and fresh thinking to the table? Brilliant! We have one seat available and hope it’s yours
• If you’re curious to know more then we welcome your application, no later than

Where can I find out more?

Our Social Media, Follow AstraZeneca on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/1603/

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