IT Business Analyst R&D

AstraZeneca is a global, creative, biopharmaceutical business that focuses on the discovery, development, and commercialization of prescription medicines for some of the most serious diseases. But we're more than one of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies. At AstraZeneca, we're proud to have an extraordinary workplace culture that drives innovation and teamwork. Here, we encourage our teams to express diverse perspectives - making you feel valued, energized, and rewarded for your ideas and creativity.

About the role:

We are seeking a talented Business Analyst to join the Global R&D IT Barcelona Hub, focusing primarily on the development and implementation of AI-enabled solutions across multiple phases of the R&D development cycle. This role involves collaborating with cross-functional teams and external partners to identify and leverage innovative opportunities for AI/ML-based software products that drive improved outcomes. The Business Analyst will be responsible for gathering and analysing requirements, translating complex business needs into actionable strategies, and ensuring that all AI initiatives comply with regulatory standards and industry best practices.

Accountabilities:

The Business Analyst is expected to perform at an Advanced level in identifying business needs, planning business analysis, stakeholder analysis & change, requirements analysis and design definition, business case definition, and solution evaluation.

• Business Needs Identification - Proactively seeks out opportunities to enhance and improve in line with strategic goals. Actively monitors and identifies capability gaps and proposes potential solutions through research internally and externally.
• Business Analysis Planning - Selects the appropriate analysis approach to a piece of work depending on its complexity, level of risk, known assumptions, constraints and dependencies. Capable of planning and managing their own and other team member’s activities to meet deliverables and deadlines. Accountable for performance and quality of analytical work delivered, both their own and the work of others.
• Stakeholder Analysis & Change - Effectively identifies stakeholders from all areas of the business and actively builds and maintains relationships according to individual stakeholder needs and levels of influence.
• Requirements Analysis and Design Definition - Responsible and accountable for requirements management plans including elicitation, approvals, processes, RAID and scope impacts. Advanced requirements elicitation and management skill set; including traceability, testing and validation. Leads the work with the business to identify functional and technical requirements, translating the requirements into design specifications reflecting Functional Design, User Interface Design and Business Process Design. Closely partnering with the Architecture team, ensuring the technical solution will deliver the agreed business benefits.
• Business Case Definition - Shapes and defines the business case, producing detailed business justification for investment including ROI and benefits realization.
• Solution Evaluation - Highly proficient in analyzing and assessing solution proposals and able to articulate supporting reasoning. i.e. assessing business readiness, maximizing value vs. spend.

Work collaboratively with or take responsibility for:
1. Test Lead to define the testing approach and the components of testing to ensure traceability of requirements and effectiveness of overall solution.
2. Change Management / Communication Lead to ensure the Change Management and Communications plans and delivery support the Stakeholder Analysis.

Essential Skills/Experience:

• 5+ years of relevant experience
• College / University Degree - Technical or Business
• Pharmaceutical business awareness/business domain knowledge
• Proven experience of successfully deploying a variety of business analysis tools/techniques to enable business change
• Proven experience of working with complex integrated systems, particularly in the context of AI-enabled solutions.
• Proficiency in AI and machine learning technologies, with experience in developing and validating AI/ML-based software products Experience working in cross-functional teams spanning R&D, Regulatory, Clinical
• Strong engagement, communication and stakeholder management skills
• Experience of working in a regulated environment
• Experience of virtual collaboration to lead, shape and develop innovative solutions
• Experience of mentoring, coaching or developing others
• Experience of working with and managing third party suppliers/vendors
• Formal certification in business analysis practice
• Practical usage of Agile Methodologies
• Presentation, Communication & Facilitation

Desirable Skills/Experience:

• Master's Degree or Equivalent
• Prior experience working in Pharmaceutical or Healthcare industry IT environment 
• Lean SIGMA training
• Practical usage of Scaled Agile Methodology
• Experience of working in a global organisation with complex/geographical context
• Proficient in a wider array of customer engagement technologies
• Cross industry business awareness/business domain knowledge
• User Centred Design (User Experience, User Interface Design and Business Process Design)

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.

At AstraZeneca, you will have the opportunity to make an impact on society through our sustainability goals. Commit to making a difference beyond patients by pioneering AstraZeneca's sustainability strategy. Be a key contributor to Zero Carbon by 2025 and carbon negative across the entire value chain by 2030. Everyone can contribute towards our collective legacy of doing good for people, the environment, and society.

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.