Associate Director, Digitalization Transformation, BPD Manufacturing Sciences

Role Summary

The Associate Director of Digitalization Transformation will be responsible for shaping and executing the Digitalization strategy within Manufacturing Sciences, translating departmental priorities into a sequenced delivery plan. This pivotal role will seek to unlock the potential of our data, maximizing data automation and re-use. In collaboration with expert functions (e.g. DSM, APD) and transformation teams (e.g. BPD Data Automation Team., BDAT) this role will deliver high-impact, value-driven, data-centric solutions that transform our ways of working and ability to use data in a coordinated and scalable manner.

The successful candidate will drive a multi-year Digitalization transformation roadmap, prioritizing and delivering digital tools aligned with business objectives. They will rapidly evaluate emerging technologies, coordinate requirements through PoC, pilot, and deployment, scale successful pilots, and ensure projects remain on track and within budget by tracking scope, risks, timelines, and budgets while escalating key decisions to the Digital Transformation Sponsor and relevant Transformation Teams. In addition, this role will spearhead function-wide digitalization change management, fostering a culture of continuous learning, promoting data-centric behaviors, and clearly communicating the vision and value of our data across the organization.

As Manufacturing Science’s representative on cross-functional transformation teams (e.g. BDAT), this role will ensure functional priorities are incorporated into broader initiatives while providing visibility into key functional projects. This position also offers the opportunity to lead and/or participate in cross-functional projects, driving collaboration and delivering shared organizational objectives.

Ideal candidates will be strategic leaders with a proven track record in implementing digitalization initiatives within the Manufacturing Sciences or related functional area. They will be passionate about digital transformation and skilled at guiding cross-functional teams to achieve measurable outcomes and meaningful change. They should be comfortable operating in a matrix, coordinating SMEs, and driving measurable outcomes and adoption. Experience in and understanding Manufacturing Sciences work and its role within BPD is key knowledge for this position as well as experience generating ideas for digitalization opportunities and successfully implementing them into practice are key attributes.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, drive, and iteratively refine a functional specific Digitalization strategy aligned with business objectives and emerging trends.

• Define and maintain the functional roadmap, ensuring prioritization and alignment with departmental transformation goals.

• Collaborate with expert functions (e.g. DSM, APD) to manage end-to-end delivery of digitalisation projects, ensuring stakeholder engagement from requirements definition through PoC, pilot, and full production deployment.

• Contribute directly to detailed design (e.g., data models, user flows, integration specifications) and hands-on execution activities (e.g., configuration, testing, validation) to ensure fit-for-purpose solutions

• Lead and serve as a key contributor to functional matrix teams, fostering close collaboration with expert functions to deliver functional projects.

• Accelerate adoption by creating training programmes, communication plans, and KPIs to measure impact and success.

• Partner with leadership to assess, accelerate and scale delivery of the multi-year roadmap.

• Provide input to leadership on capability needs, adapt functional capabilities (talent, technology, capacity); escalate risks, dependencies, and resourcing constraints

• Represent Manufacturing Sciences in transformation teams (e.g., BDAT), ensuring functional requirements are met by actively influencing cross-functional decisions. Proactively share functional plans, provide regular updates on functional projects and escalate key decisions as needed.

• Lead major cross-functional digital transformation projects when required.

Qualifications & Experience

• Proven experience delivering digitalization or data-centric projects in a scientific or R&D context, operating within a matrix organization.

• Deep understanding of BPD scientific processes and pain points, with the ability to translate needs into actionable requirements and deliverables.

• Demonstrated experience managing complex, multi-stakeholder projects and leading cross-functional teams.

• Exposure to technologies for data storage, consumption, automation, and reuse; ability to collaborate with specialist teams to deliver solutions.

• Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills, with an emphasis on clarity, outcomes and adoption.

• Bachelor's degree in a related field with 6+ years of experience or Master's degree with 4 years of experience

Preferred Attributes

• Passion for innovation and digital transformation.

• Ability to translate scientific needs into practical, scalable digital solutions.

• Collaborative mindset with a strong focus on delivering measurable outcomes.

The annual base pay for this position ranges from 133.969,60 - 200.954,40 USD Annual (80% - 120%). Hourly and salaried non-exempt employees will also be paid overtime pay when working qualifying overtime hours. Base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. In addition, our positions offer a short-term incentive bonus opportunity; eligibility to participate in our equity-based long-term incentive program (salaried roles), to receive a retirement contribution (hourly roles), and commission payment eligibility (sales roles). Benefits offered included a qualified retirement program [401(k) plan]; paid vacation and holidays; paid leaves; and, health benefits including medical, prescription drug, dental, and vision coverage in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable plans. Additional details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment. If hired, employee will be in an “at-will position” and the Company reserves the right to modify base pay (as well as any other discretionary payment or compensation program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, Company or individual department/team performance, and market factors.   

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 outstanding and ambitious world.  

Join a team with the backing and investment to win! You'll be working with brand-new technology. This marriage between our purposeful work and the use of high-tech platforms is what sets us apart. Lead the way in digital healthcare. From exploring data and AI to working in the cloud on new technologies. Join a team at the forefront. Help shape and define the technologies of the future with the backing you need from across the business.  

 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.  

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