Senior Director, Operations IT – Strategy and Operational Excellence

Senior Director, Operations IT Strategy and Operational Excellence

Introduction to role:

Are you ready to turn data, AI and operational rigor into a performance engine that speeds life-changing medicines to patients? Can you cut through complexity to set the pace on strategy, governance and measurable outcomes across a global Operations technology landscape?

In this role, you will lead the strategy execution and performance engine for Operations IT, aligning technology priorities with Operations objectives to raise efficiency, quality and delivery reliability. You will translate insight into clear investment choices, strengthen portfolio governance and embed practical, responsible AI to improve analysis, decision-making and execution. You will join a technology function with the backing and investment to scale modern platforms in data, cloud and AI. You will partner closely with senior leaders across Operations, Finance and HR to turn evidence into decisions and decisions into results—helping our enterprise become truly digital and data-led.

Accountabilities:

Performance and Outcomes: Establish a disciplined performance rhythm across Operations IT, aligning governance and delivery for enterprise initiatives to clear roles, timelines and quality standards. Own the OKRs, KPIs and scorecard; interrogate performance with analytical rigour; benchmark within and beyond the industry; and translate insights into actions that demonstrate measurable improvements in productivity, cost, quality and delivery.

Strategy and Investment Clarity: Partner with the Operations IT leadership team to evolve strategy aligned to Operations priorities, long-term technology ambition and the company’s Bold Ambition. Structure ambiguous problems, evaluate options and trade-offs, and recommend evidence-based priorities. Define strategic landmarks, maintain capability roadmaps and facilitate medium-term planning and reporting with robust data and clear executive narratives. Operational Excellence and Data Integrity: Embed operational governance, standards and processes, so they are understood, adopted and effective. Ensure operational data—including the Configuration Management Database and project portfolio information—is accurate, maintained and decision-ready. Simplify processes, remove unnecessary complexity, and fix recurring issues through structured problem-solving.

Use approved AI tools in daily workflows for information synthesis, data analysis, communications, leadership materials and appropriate task automation. Orchestrate leadership communications and partner engagement, deliver effective monthly Town Halls, and coordinate initiatives to realise defined outcomes. Lead employee engagement cycles as a Pulse Champion, converting insights into practical improvements. Portfolio Leadership and Value Realisation: Run end-to-end portfolio governance to drive strategic alignment, prioritisation and delivery to scope, time and quality. Maintain a single source of truth for portfolio health, actively manage risks, dependencies and change, and produce consistent dashboards and decision-ready narratives. Partner with Finance to set budgets, forecast and track spend, optimise investment allocation and benefits realisation, and uphold financial controls and funding guardrails. Use analytical insight to recommend where to invest, accelerate, simplify, reshape or stop activity, balancing business value, risk and capacity.

Essential Skills/Experience:

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience with a minimum of 10 years’ industry experience.

- Strong critical thinking and structured problem-solving skills, with the ability to challenge assumptions, assess evidence, identify root causes and reach sound conclusions.

- An analytical approach, with demonstrated ability to interpret sophisticated financial, workforce, operational and portfolio data and translate it into clear recommendations and action.

- A proven track record of driving measurable results, taking ownership from problem identification through execution and benefits realisation.

- Sound judgement in ambiguous situations, including the ability to evaluate trade-offs, prioritise effectively and make timely, evidence-based recommendations.

- Demonstrated hands-on use of AI and generative AI tools in everyday work. Candidates must be able to explain practical examples of how they have applied AI to improve productivity, analysis, communication or delivery.

- Experience driving strategy alignment, governance and high-quality delivery across complex enterprise initiatives.

- Proven ability to define and track OKRs, KPIs and scorecards aligned with enterprise and Operations business priorities.

- Experience applying analytics and benchmarking to deliver continuous improvement and capability optimisation.

- Experience partnering with senior leaders to develop strategy, strategic priorities, capability roadmaps and medium-term plans.

- Strong operational and portfolio governance experience, including data quality, risk management, financial planning and benefits tracking.

- Ability to influence without formal authority, challenge constructively and secure cross-functional commitment to decisions and delivery.

- Strong executive communication skills, with the ability to present sophisticated information clearly, defend recommendations with evidence and tailor messages to different audiences.

- Experience leading sustainability agendas, employee engagement and organisational change across distributed teams.

Desirable Skills/Experience:

Senior leadership experience within Operations technology environments in life sciences or similarly complex, regulated industries.

- Familiarity with long-range digital technology strategies and OKR frameworks across large global enterprises.

- Expertise with enterprise portfolio management, objectives and key results and data visualisation tools to build transparent, decision-ready scorecards.

- Track record of leading large-scale operating model changes and capability development across distributed teams.

- Experience scaling sustainability programmes and access-to-healthcare initiatives through education and engagement.

- Experience embedding AI-enabled workflows or lightweight automation across teams, with measurable improvements in productivity or quality.

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: Here, technology and science move together at pace to transform how medicines reach patients. You will lead with modern data, AI and cloud platforms, collaborate with diverse experts who tackle enterprise-scale challenges, and have the investment to turn bold ideas into scaled outcomes that matter. We encourage experimentation, value kindness alongside ambition, and rally around clear missions—so your decisions shape how our company operates today and how digital healthcare evolves tomorrow!

The annual base pay (or hourly rate of compensation) for this position ranges from $189,232.80 - $283,849.20 USD Annual. 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.

Date Posted

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.