Associate Director, Applied AI

Associate Director of Applied AI will lead the technical strategy and delivery of AI solutions across the COO organization, with a focus on agentic applications, enablement of AI Champions, scalable, compliant AI platforms! Partner with Enabling Functions, Site Operations, and IT to translate business needs into reliable AI solutions and to further the advancement of the COO AI strategy.

Typical Accountabilities

• Takes a leading role in the delivery of COO Digital AI Solutions team objectives and roadmap, as advised by the team leadership, ensuring alignment with COO functions, and IT governance.
• Provide AI solutions for COO operations through enterprise services and approved platforms from discovery and reasoning through build, evaluation, and production support.
• Deliver robust, efficient, automated solutions to support frequently asked technical inquiries/analytical demands including agentic applications and AI assistants
• Implementing AI solutions following AstraZeneca engineering standards, roadmaps and blueprints that enhance current technology platforms and adapt to new data technology, working closely with Data Architects and Solution Architects and aligning with TID governance and IT compliance (e.g., Solution Blueprint, PIA, RID, 3PRM, TIA, ITSA)
• Test and quality assess new data and analytics COO solutions, to ensure they are fit for purpose: code assurance, Unit and System Integration Testing, performance tuning, data testing, release management control and support of production processes including their SLAs; extend this to AI/LLM solutions including prompt and tool evaluation, retrieval/RAG testing, and offline/online evaluation protocols
• Innovate and test new technologies with relevance to AI solutions, including proof of technology/value assessments and case development and lead a consistent go/no-go evaluation process for proposed AI agents and solutions
• Data and analytics solution evaluation activities and project estimates which contribute to the creation of case and delivery plans; maintain an AI portfolio backlog and facilitate regular prioritization cycles aligned to strategic objectives
• Support development of a COO focused training program for Applied AI as a capability - training, tooling, ways of working, and operating model to optimize output and value, including the development of an AI champions network to support advanced AI implementation across the COO functions.
• Ensure that business data and information assets are made available as data services and artefacts for consumption by the wider COO to ensure consistency and strategic alignment of all data and business intelligence solutions and govern their responsible use within AI workloads (including approvals and audit ability)
• Selection and implementation of data management technologies and industry standard methodologies, in alignment with the Enterprise Architecture and Technology Innovation functions; leverage enterprise-approved AI technical products where appropriate
• Maintain an ongoing professional development to keep the COO function current with advancing and changing data technology landscape and innovation with a particular emphasis on AI, cloud, security, and agentic architecture.
• Development and delivery of data management and business intelligence practices and technology training programs – architect and support a training plan for AI Champions in partnership with L&D/IT
• Serve as a technical resource to the organization via office hours/clinics and advanced seminars that upskill teams and AI Champions.
• Lead coordination for AI adoption across COO (communications, involvement, and training in partnership with L&D/IT)

Qualifications and Skills

Essential:

• Bachelor’s degree with 5 - 7 years of Computer Science or Data Management experience
• Proven track record working in a data engineering role or AI/ML application development
• with practical examples in developing using modern data platforms to build, deploy, and maintain data applications and AI-enabled applications (e.g., LLM-based solutions)
• The role holder will possess a blend of design skills needed for Agile data development projects and AI solution delivery
• Experience in data engineering techniques and testing methodologies and evaluation methods for LLMs (prompting, tool invocation, retrieval/RAG, and quality evaluation)
• Proficiency data development technologies and enterprise AI tooling/products
• Experience, with data and application design patterns and processes and secure, compliant AI architectures

Desirable:

• Experience with DevOps or DataOps concepts, preferable hands-on experience implementing continuous integration or highly automated end-to-end environments; experience with MLOps/ModelOps for AI solutions is beneficial
• Proven experience of leading and growing engineering teams and/or AI communities of practice (e.g., AI Champions)
• Industry experience with data in large, complex data settings, consultancy or vendor experience; regulated environment experience preferred
• Experience in reusing metadata and prebuilt components from cataloguing tools
• Good commercial awareness and understanding of the external market for data-related technology and standard processes including enterprise AI products and patterns
• Demonstrate initiative, strong customer orientation, and cross-cultural working
• Exposure to Data Pipelines (Ingest & Store, Data Preparation, Discover & Present, Insight & Experience) and AI solution discovery, evaluation, and business casing

The annual base pay for this position ranges from $137,394.40 - $206,091.60. Our positions offer eligibility for various incentives—an opportunity to receive short-term incentive bonuses, equity-based awards for salaried roles and commissions for sales roles. Benefits offered include qualified retirement programs, paid time off (i.e., vacation, holiday, and leaves), as well as health, dental, and vision coverage in accordance with the terms of the applicable plans.

When we put unexpected teams in the same room, we spark 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:

Here, courage, curiosity, and collaboration fuel a relentless focus on transforming cancer outcomes, powered by a pipeline that fuses cutting-edge science with advanced technology. You will work in an environment where unexpected teams come together to spark bold ideas, backed by meaningful investment and a clear path from discovery to impact. We value kindness alongside ambition, and we empower leaders at every level to ask sharp questions, take smart risks, and turn data into decisions that help patients sooner.

Date Posted

26-Feb-2026

Closing Date

Our mission is to build an inclusive environment where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and employees. In furtherance of that mission, we welcome and consider applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of their protected characteristics. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please complete the corresponding section in the application form.

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.