Director of Data, Analytics & AI platforms

We are seeking an expert and visionary leader to join our team as the Director of Data and Analytics Platforms in our Operations IT department. This role will be instrumental in shaping and implementing our data and analytics strategy to support business objectives and achieve our 2030 vision.

The Director of Data, Analytics & AI Platforms will play a pivotal role in developing and maintaining an integrated data ecosystem, maximising advanced analytics to drive business insights, and ensuring data quality and security across our operations while efficiently leading AstraZeneca resources.

The successful candidate will lead a high-performing team responsible for designing, implementing, and maintaining robust data infrastructure and analytics capabilities.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategy and Leadership

• Collaborate with AstraZeneca Operations leadership and business partners to define and implement the data and analytics platform strategy aligned with operations business goals.

• Manage and lead a team of data and IT professionals, fostering a collaborative and innovative work environment.

Data Infrastructure and Architecture

• Lead all aspects of the design, implementation, and maintenance of a scalable, self- optimising data infrastructure on AWS.

• Ensure the reliability, performance, and security of data platforms to align with AstraZeneca enterprise standards.

• Implement and lead platform operations and cloud resources, focusing on cost optimization and operational efficiency through a mature DevOps model.

Data Analytics and AI Platforms

• Lead all aspects of the design, implementation, and optimization of robust Data Foundation services and platforms to ensure delivery.

PlatformOps

• AWS Environment management

• AWS Infrastructure provisioning, upgrades and monitoring

FinOps

• Develop strategies to lower the AWS & Snowflake costs

• Finance management - MTP, Budget, Chargeback, licences management, contract renewals

• Lead and optimize the technology stack, ensuring alignment with security, architecture, compliance, and performance standards, for:

• Storage platforms – Snowflake, S3 etc

• Integration platforms – DBT, snaplogic, Fivetran etc

• Ensure automation is at the heart of our processes and technologies to ensure effective and responsive delivery timeframes.

Data & Infrastructure Observability Platform

• Develop, communicate, and implement an observability platform for five key pillars: Data Quality, Pipeline, Infrastructure, User, and Cost.

• Implement strategy to reduce AWS and snowflake costs by 50%

Innovation and Continuous Improvement

• Keep up-to-date with industry trends, new technologies, and standard methodologies in data and analytics (preferably pharmaceutical sector).

• Look to use the newest technologies in AI agentic frameworks to deliver a self-healing and self-optimising data platforms.

What you bring

• Extensive experience in CloudOps, DevOps, DataOps and infrastructure setup and maintenance

• Significant experience with Snowflake and AWS services, including infrastructure provisioning and orchestration services.

• Experience with observability, Cataloguing, Quality and integration tools

• Over a decade of proven experience in a leadership role, tasked with leading all aspects of data and analytics functions (preferably in the pharmaceutical industry).

• Proficiency in data transformation and analytics tools

• Experience with observability, Cataloguing, Quality and integration tools

• Knowledge of regulatory requirements and compliance in the pharmaceutical sector

• Ideally has knowledge of IT/OT integration and modern use cases such as Digital Process Twins.

• Scaled Agile / Scrum methodology experience.

The ideal candidate will combine technical expertise with strategic vision, driving innovation in data and analytics to support our pharmaceutical operations and ultimately improve patient outcomes.

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?

Join us at an exciting time of growth through innovation for AstraZeneca. Here, you can apply your skills and abilities to genuinely impact patients' lives. We're at the cutting-edge of science, innovating and taking intelligent risks to steer the enterprise. Every single person plays a part in our story. Speak up, take the initiative and make it yours. Be a trusted partner in a fast-growing organization, and make an even bigger impact on patients.

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 authorization and employment eligibility verification requirements.