Digital Services – Emerging Technology Innovation Lead

Digital Services – Emerging Technology Innovation Lead Introduction to role: The AstraZeneca Global IT organization is responsible for defining and completing digital and data strategies across the corporation in support of AstraZeneca’s bold ambitions to provide cures for cancer in every form, to transform the lives of people affected by rare diseases and devastating conditions, and to change the lives of billions of people living with chronic diseases for the better. We are looking for a transformative and innovative leader to take on the role of Emerging Technology Innovation Lead. In this pivotal position, you will be responsible for identifying and harnessing the poweground breaking-edge technologies to drive innovation and transformation within AstraZeneca. As the Emerging Technology Innovation Lead within the Insights & Technology Excellence (IGNITE) organization, you’ll work with leaders across the business and Global IT organization to lead the implementation and evolution of our technology innovation capabilities, enabled by Digital Ways of Working, to ensure we continue to deliver efficient and effective services to the broader organization to accelerate our bold ambition. As an integral part of the Digital Services leadership team, you will provide strategic leadership and expert direction, and empower, encourage, and inspire the development of a strong, effective, efficient, ethical, engaged, and professional Technology Innovation team with a clear focus on the delivery of planned outcomes and the continual development of the capabilities and capacities of the individual team members. This role will partner with the Head of Digital Services, driving strategic alignment of all Technology Innovation activities within Global IT, identify process adaptations to ensure that IT services are delivered in a consistent and reliable manner, aligned to operating model principles. The role will also be responsible for defining templates and tooling to accelerate, align and deliver high value and effective emerging technology solutions in the organisation and drive a consistent approach to innovation and value management. Responsibilities will include: • Technology Scouting: Continuously supervise and evaluate emerging technologies, trends, and start-ups that have potential applications in the pharmaceutical sector. Collaborate with relevant functions and business groups to ensure alignment with business goals. • Innovation Strategy: Develop and implement a comprehensive innovation strategy, integrating new technologies like artificial intelligence, blockchain, IoT, and data analytics to improve drug discovery, clinical trials, manufacturing, and supply chain operations. • Cross-Functional Collaboration: Foster collaboration across various departments to implement innovative solutions and ensure the successful scaling and integration of emerging technologies. • Team Leadership: Manage a team of innovation specialists and technologists, providing guidance, mentorship, and resources to drive innovative projects forward. • Pilot Projects: Oversee the design and execution of pilot projects to assess the feasibility and potential impact of emerging technologies within the pharmaceutical sector. • Regulatory Compliance: Ensure that all innovation initiatives adhere to regulatory standards and industry standard methodologies, guaranteeing the safety and efficacy of pharmaceutical products. • Technology Partnerships: Establish and maintain partnerships with technology vendors, academic institutions, and research organizations to access ground breaking tools and expertise. • Budget Management: Manage the budget allocated for innovation projects, optimizing resource allocation and reporting on financial performance. A key part of the role is to adapt to an ever-changing environment. Critical capabilities include: • Leading with confidence in a complex service environment – being able to set and adapt the Technology Innovation engagement and delivery model to ensure it aligns to partners strategic requirements and agreed ways of working. • Going beyond your role boundaries where there is a gap, including working with the technology leaders across business facings and enterprise architecture teams to develop and maintain emerging technology roadmaps. Making the process balanced and able to measure progress and impact and value across our enterprise technology landscape. • Having a service & product lens – pushing the technology innovation and architectural teams to focus on how we bring to bear all available capabilities, structures, and emerging technologies to accelerate out IT strategy and bold AstraZeneca ambitions. • Persistence & drive to enable the teams across IGNITE to take ownership of new technologies and embed/scale relevant technologies at pace to deliver our bold ambition. • Future focus – with Global IT at the forefront our Digital Transformation journey, being genuinely interested in the future direction & strategy. Supporting the Head of Digital Services with thinking about opportunities to optimize our technologies, services, process and practices to accelerate AZ bold ambition. Crucial Skills/Experience: - Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in software engineering or similar - 5 years’ experience as Innovation Lead or similar - Experience in developing and implementing operating models, process adaptions in complex environments - Ability to build strong and credible relationships with excellent communication & interpersonal skills across levels - Extensive experience of working in a matrix team in a global environment - Ability to adapt to constantly changing needs with an open and constructive attitude - Effective analytical skills to find opportunities for optimised ways of working, including performance framework at service/portfolio level - Effective critical thinking and problem-solving skills Desirable Skills/Experience: - Knowledge and experience of Lean Start-up methodology - Crowdsourcing experience - Experience operating in pharma/highly supervised industries - Experience in Agile methodologies and frameworks is a plus. - Knowledge of IT service management frameworks is desirable When we put unexpected teams in the same room, we unleash 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? Leverage technology to impact patients and ultimately save lives. We are one purpose-led global organisation. The enablers and innovators, ensuring that we can fulfil our mission to push the boundaries of science and discover and develop life-changing medicines. We take pride in working close to the cause, opening the locks to save lives, ultimately making a massive difference to the outside world. Are you ready to make a meaningful impact? Apply now and join us in our mission! Date Posted 26-Oct-2023 Closing Date 26-Nov-2023 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 (e.g. race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status). 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. AstraZeneca requires all US employees to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 but will consider requests for reasonable accommodations as required by applicable law. AstraZeneca is an exciting global, innovation-driven biopharmaceutical company. We’re inspired by what science can do. Driven by the desire to meet unmet patient needs in our core therapeutic areas. Bold in our thinking. Proactive in pursuing discoveries beyond imagination. At sites across the world, we bring teams together in a spirit of collaboration to turn great ideas into life-changing medicines – strengthening our product portfolio and harnessing the potential of a pipeline across all stages of the drug development process. You’ll be part of a team that’s rolling back the frontiers of science to turn yesterday’s impossible into the normal of tomorrow. So, if you share our focus and passion, join us and make a difference to patients – and in return, we’ll help you develop way beyond what you thought possible.