DIRECTOR, R&D IT – DATA, ANALYTICS & AI, BUSINESS ANALYSIS

ABOUT ASTRAZENECA AstraZeneca is a global, innovation-driven BioPharmaceutical business that focuses on the discovery, development and commercialisation of prescription medicines for some of the world’s most serious disease.
But we’re more than one of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies.
At AstraZeneca we’re dedicated to being a Great Place to Work.
Where you are empowered to push the boundaries of science and unleash your entrepreneurial spirit.
There’s no better place to make a difference to medicine, patients and society.
An inclusive culture that champions diversity and collaboration.
Always committed to lifelong learning, growth and development.
ABOUT OUR IT TEAM  You will be joining R&D IT - an outstanding organisation at the forefront of the technology revolution in healthcare.
It supplies the technology, engineering, data and analytics expertise which delivers the Data Platform underpinning AstraZeneca’s data and digital strategy.
We are looking for data, technology and change experts to join R&D IT that will ensure this ambition is met.
In the R&D IT Imaging & Omics platform, we enable scientists to perform at their peak and lead a new way of working, combining pioneering science with both our digital capabilities and FAIR* data.
All with a passion to impact lives through data, analytics, AI, machine learning and more.
Join us at a crucial stage of our journey in becoming a digital and data-led enterprise.
There are countless opportunities to learn and grow, whether that’s exploring new technologies in hackathons, or transforming the roles and work of colleagues, forever.
Shape your own path, with support all the way.
A diverse set of minds that work multi-functionally and inclusively together.
Be part of a team that has the backing to innovate, disrupt an industry and change lives.
FAIR= Findable, Accessible, Inter-operable, Re-usable.
ABOUT THE ROLE? You will be taking a leading role in helping to deliver transformative strategic projects to build next-generation R&D solutions.
You will provide expert business analysis for the Imaging and Omics Platform across its different work streams, applying hands-on business analysis skills as well as building and supporting a community of analysts across the Platform to raise quality, standards, and analyst performance more broadly.
Typical Accountabilities Analysis Practice Development – Define what good looks like in terms of analytical approaches, templates and tooling, and coach the platform analyst community to improve the quality of analysis.
Business Needs Identification - Assess and define business needs and areas for improvement, proactively seek out opportunities to enhance and improve in line with strategic goals.
Lead process improvement activities through identification of current AS-IS processes and refinement of TO-BE workflows to improve value to the business and our users.
Business Analysis Planning - Select the right analysis approach for a piece of work.
Independently plan and manage activities to meet deliverables and deadlines.
Ensure the quality of analytical work is delivered, both for your own and the work of others.
Stakeholder Analysis & Change - Identify stakeholders, and actively build relationships according to individual partner needs and levels of influence.
Contribute to communication plans and change management to ensure stakeholder expectations are optimally managed throughout product delivery life cycles.
Requirements Analysis and Design Definition - Deliver requirement management plans in an agile framework, including requirement elicitation and prioritization support, risk and dependency identification and impact analysis.
Lead the work with the Imaging & Omics Platform Architecture and Engineering teams to identify functional and technical requirements, to ensure technical solutions deliver the agreed business benefits.
Solution Evaluation – Collaborate effectively with the Imaging and Omics team Architecture and Engineering leads to assess solution proposals, supplying clear supporting reasoning for solution selection, including  business readiness, time, cost and effort, alongside the business value anticipated.
ESSENTIAL SKILLS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED? A proven track record of delivering results  MSc or BSc in Biology, informatics, Computer Science, Analytics or related quantitative field Strong bias for action and results Good written and verbal skills, fluent English.
High level awareness of developments in the Information Technology marketplace  Proficiency in planning, change management and problem solving Proven ability to relate and respond to business needs in an IT environment  Experience of successfully deploying business analysis tools/techniques to enable business change Practical usage of Agile Methodology, including capturing requirements as user stories and use of JIRA.
Strong engagement, communication and stakeholder management skills, including excellent presentation and influencing skills Desirable for the role Experience of leading other analysts and evidence of raising their competency, capability and quality of output.
Experience of working with and managing third party suppliers/vendors Formal certification in business analysis practice and or SAFe PM/PO Experience of working in a global organisation with complex/geographical context Exposure to User Centred Design and Design thinking (User Experience, User Interface Design and Business Process Design) 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.