Director, RDU IT - Business Partner, Global Medical Affairs IT

Role Overview
As Director, IT Business Partner – Global Medical Affairs, you will serve as the primary IT leader interfacing with Medical Affairs in the Rare Disease Unit (RDU). In this strategic role, you will drive the development and execution of a forward-looking technology roadmap for Medical, championing digital transformation, continuous improvement, and operational excellence.
By proactively identifying opportunities for innovation and supporting Medical’s evolving scientific, clinical, and business priorities, you will ensure that Medical is equipped with modern, efficient, and compliant technology solutions that advance scientific engagement and patient outcomes.
You will also help identify and progress practical Generative AI and Predictive AI opportunities, working with Enterprise Data & AI, Architecture, Quality, Privacy, Security, and business teams to support responsible adoption, measurable value, and effective human–AI collaboration.
Accountabilities
Strategic partnership: Act as a trusted advisor and thought partner to Global Medical Affairs leadership, translating business strategy and needs into actionable technology initiatives.
Technology roadmap: Build and maintain a comprehensive Medical IT roadmap aligned with RDU priorities and the global enterprise IT strategy.
Program delivery: Lead the successful delivery of Medical IT projects and programs, including business process improvements, data integration, and system digitization, while ensuring quality, timeliness, and regulatory compliance, including GxP, privacy, and security requirements.
Business cases and value realization: Facilitate the development of business cases, value-realization plans, and executive communications to support technology investments across Medical. Partner on cross-functional initiatives with Commercial, R&D, and enabling functions.
Innovation and emerging technologies: Drive the evaluation and adoption of innovative technologies, including digital health, data analytics, and AI, to address critical Medical business challenges and improve Medical-to-Market capabilities.
AI use cases and pilots: Partner with business and technical teams to translate priority use cases into appropriately governed pilots and scalable solutions, with clear success measures, user feedback, and value-realization plans.
Responsible AI delivery: Apply company AI governance, data privacy, security, GxP, and validation requirements across the solution lifecycle. Escalate higher-risk use cases to the appropriate governance and assurance forums.
Data readiness and governance: Work with Medical, Data & AI, and data-owner teams to improve the readiness, quality, governance, and appropriate reuse of priority data for analytics and AI, aligned with FAIR principles where applicable.
AI-enabled ways of working: Enable adoption of AI-assisted ways of working through role-based AI literacy, change management, user support, and transparent communications that build confidence while maintaining appropriate human oversight and accountability.
Performance measurement: Define and monitor practical measures for AI-enabled initiatives, including adoption, usability, quality, efficiency, stakeholder outcomes, and realized business value. Use results to guide iteration or retirement.
Change management and adoption: Oversee effective change management, communications, and solution adoption across diverse Medical teams and stakeholders.
Stakeholder and vendor relationships: Maintain and develop collaborative relationships across AstraZeneca/Alexion IT, the broader RDU, and external partners and vendors.
Continuous improvement: Lead post-implementation reviews and lessons learned to continually enhance project delivery and process performance.
Talent leadership: Manage and develop talent within the Medical IT business partnership, fostering a culture of high performance, learning, and continuous improvement.
Leadership role modeling: Model responsible and confident use of AI in day-to-day leadership. Encourage appropriate experimentation, curiosity, and continuous learning while reinforcing human accountability, sound judgment, and compliance expectations.
Organizational change: Lead the people and organizational change required for AI-enabled ways of working by setting clear expectations, coaching team members, addressing adoption barriers, sharing lessons learned, and creating a psychologically safe environment for responsible testing, feedback, and improvement.
Enterprise activities: Support key enterprise activities, including annual operating planning, system strategy, and regulatory reporting as they relate to Medical.
Essential Skills and Experience
Education: Bachelor’s degree in business, information systems, life sciences, data science, or a related field.
Industry experience: Twelve or more years of technology leadership experience in the pharmaceutical, biotech, or life sciences industry, particularly supporting Medical Affairs, Medical IT, or adjacent business areas.
Program leadership: Demonstrated experience leading and delivering large, complex projects or programs in a global, matrixed organization.
Business and technology acumen: Strong business acumen, with experience implementing or optimizing enterprise technology, digital, data, or analytics platforms in a regulated environment, including GxP and GDPR requirements.
AI and analytics experience: Working knowledge of Generative AI and Predictive AI concepts, with experience contributing to AI, analytics, automation, or digital initiatives from use-case definition through adoption and value measurement.
Responsible AI: Understanding of responsible AI principles, including privacy, security, transparency, bias awareness, human oversight, and risk-based governance in a regulated environment.
Executive stakeholder management: Track record of building and maintaining productive relationships with executive stakeholders, including influencing and negotiating to align strategy and delivery.
Problem-solving: Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to translate business needs into technology solutions.
Communication: Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present to senior leaders.
People leadership: Demonstrated leadership skills, including experience developing teams and fostering a collaborative, high-performance environment.
Change leadership: Demonstrated ability to lead technology-enabled change through visible role modeling, coaching, capability building, and sustained reinforcement of new behaviors, including responsible AI-assisted ways of working.
Organization and prioritization: Strong organizational, prioritization, and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
Desirable Skills and Experience
Business relationship management: Demonstrated expertise in Business Relationship Management, acting as a strategic partner to senior business stakeholders in a complex, matrixed life sciences or healthcare organization.
Medical and IT partnership: Experience building and scaling business partnerships between Medical functions and IT, with a proven track record of influencing business strategy and enabling transformation through technology.
Pharmaceutical or biotech expertise: Deep knowledge of the pharmaceutical or biotech industry, particularly Medical Affairs business processes, digital engagement models, and technology enablement.
Innovation leadership: Experience developing and leading innovation programs, pilots, or co-creation initiatives that drive measurable business value and stakeholder engagement.
Governed AI delivery: Experience supporting governed Generative AI pilots or products in life sciences, including cross-functional collaboration with data, architecture, risk, compliance, and change-management partners.
Interpersonal skills: Advanced interpersonal skills, with evidence of effective stakeholder management, conflict resolution, and networking across diverse business, technical, and vendor communities.
Process and value realization: Experience facilitating business process redesign, business case development, or value-realization exercises in partnership with functional and technical leaders.
Governance: Strong understanding of governance frameworks for business demand management, prioritization, and value delivery in a Medical or regulated environment.
Languages: Additional language capabilities beyond English are considered an asset.
The annual base pay for this position ranges from $153,018 to $229,527 USD. Our positions may be eligible for various incentives, including short-term incentive bonuses, equity-based awards for salaried roles, and commissions for sales roles. Benefits may include qualified retirement programs, paid time off—including vacation, holidays, and leave—as well as health, dental, and vision coverage, in accordance with the terms of the applicable plans.
AstraZeneca is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion and to providing a workplace free from discrimination. AstraZeneca is committed to accommodating persons with disabilities. Accommodation is available upon request for all aspec