Senior Director, Head of IT, EUCAN & International RDU 

This role will lead IT investments and portfolio of solutions that support Rare Disease strategy and ensuring these efforts align with broader AstraZeneca IT and commercialization strategies. The role will collaborate with regional senior leaders to align technology initiatives with business needs and will prioritize developing a strategic technology roadmap and leading innovation efforts.

This is what you will do:

As the Senior Director, Head of IT EUCAN & International, your primary role is to act as a vital IT leader for Rare Disease Business Units across direct markets (major European markets, Canada & Australia) as well as indirect markets where Alexion products and IT solutions are delivered in collaboration with AstraZeneca.

In this capacity, you will represent Rare Disease Unit IT and ensure IT is a key strategic partner that supports both regional and local objectives to improve service to our rare disease patients. Your responsibilities will encompass leading the IT project portfolio & roadmap, collaborating closely with regional IT Business Partners to ensure comprehensive end-to-end delivery of local market IT, digital, and data solutions. This role works closely with a broader community of Alexion and AstraZeneca Commercial IT Global Business partners to orchestrate and plan effective deployment of global solutions into regions and sites, including local requirements, dependencies, etc.

Your leadership will guide Business Units and regional IT Business Partners in finding opportunities and employing a collaborative approach to design, analyze, and implement scalable business solutions that apply innovative technologies, digital innovations (including Marketing Technologies & Health Technologies), Generative AI, and data analytics to deliver value to the business, healthcare professionals, and patients.

Success in this role will depend on effective influence and robust matrix leadership skills. Key partnerships will include:

• Alexion Europe, Canada & International Regional Business Stakeholders
• Alexion Country General Managers for major European markets, Canada & Australia
• Alexion Global Commercial Information Technology
• AstraZeneca Information Technology
• Regional & in country commercial and medical operations
• Alexion EUCAN & International Omnichannel marketing team

You will be responsible for:

• Foster positive relationships with business functions and IT teams across AstraZeneca and Alexion, serving as a key liaison to drive IT value creation.
• Provide clear direction, guidance, and mentorship to globally dispersed team members, fostering a collaborative and motivated work environment that achieve positive outcomes.
• Lead and collaborate on identifying and accelerating delivery of key projects and growth opportunities in the region, using advanced technology and data insights.
• Co-lead efforts to launch new products in Shared Markets and support Alexion's business expansion into new regions, using AstraZeneca's shared market business model.
• Improve patient innovation by developing and integrating advanced technology and digital tools.
• Lead and coordinate regional portfolio planning and budget management for Alexion IT, ensuring alignment with partners and prioritization of rare disease initiatives across regions.
• Educate team members about the Alexion Shared Markets IT Operating Model and explore opportunities to improve IT capabilities.
• Ensure compliance with all development and project management processes, maintaining adherence to internal and international standards through accurate documentation.
• Assist in the development and maintenance of policies and procedures, ensuring daily adherence and promoting best practices.

You will need to have:

• Rich experience of bio-pharma industry
• Experience of identification and implementation of innovative technology solutions
• Evidence of leading and developing innovative solutions
• Experience of defining the business strategies and influencing the vision of senior leaders
• Experience of leading high value business cases & mobilizing high value investments
• Experience in handling, developing and leading virtual teams.
• A consistent record of delivering results.
• Deep Experience in Digital Marketing, Digital Health, Data/AI and Commercial excellence.
• Recognized both internally and externally for thought leadership in Digital and IT Transformation, Digital Marketing, Digital Health and Data/AI.
• Strategic leadership to build and drive the strategic direction for Digital and IT aligned to the global IT strategy and influence regional commercial strategies (as appropriate).
• Strong influencing, networking and team working skills.
• Able to lead negotiations, expectations and solutions across complex global teams.
• Strong Innovation track record.

We would prefer for you to have:

• Proven experience working in Biotech, Pharmaceutical or Healthcare technology industry with strong exposure to business operations and/or driving innovation and deploying solutions internationally in Commercial operations and excellence.
• Broad experience driving innovation working with Technology, Digital (Marketing Technology & Health Technology), Generative AI in a Biotech, Pharmaceutical or Healthcare technology industry.
• Considerable experience and success in driving innovation, process improvement, and Technology & Digital delivery for a Pharma company in the areas of Veeva CRM and product launches.
• 5-10 years dynamic IT business partner, Business analyst and project management experience, with track record of delivering elevated risk and complex projects while meeting delivery, quality, and compliance standards.
• IT Project management experience in Life Sciences. Experience in System Development Life Cycle (SDLC), Agile and waterfall IT solution implementation project.
• Current knowledge of industry and business process trends, international regulation, and ability to apply knowledge to existing business processes.
• Fluent in spoken and written English, and other languages a plus.