Job Title: IT Director, Enabling Units IT
Location: TRIL GTC
GCL:    G

Job Description / Capsule

The “Enabling Units IT GTC Tower Leader” will be accountable for leading the Enabling Units IT (supporting Finance, Human Resources, Legal, Global Sustainability, Mergers\Acquisitions, Corporate Secretary and Corporate Affairs) team located in AstraZeneca’s Global Technology Centres (GTC) in Chennai and Guadalajara. This role will sit on the Enabling Units IT Leadership Team (reporting to the Head of Enabling Units IT), as well as being a key part the local GTC Functional Leadership Team.

The successful applicant will bring Industry Leading IT Knowledge, business partnering expertise and strong Digital/Technology acumen and win:win attitude to help build a better-for-future IT delivery organisation in Enabling Units IT.

This role will lead a team of ~250 IT professionals delivering a diverse set of services including Application Maintenance, Application Development, DevOps, Data & Analytics, Business Analysis, Architecture and Project Management for Enabling Units IT.

The successful candidate will be helping define, form, evolve and implement the strategy for the Enabling Units IT GTC teams and ensure these teams actively contribute to the overall vision of the wider GTC IT groups. From an operational perspective, they will need to ensure that the services and delivery are as per desired SLAs. An agile win:win attitude and a continuous delivery focus will essential to continuously positively challenge the landscape status quo.

The role will be encouraged to continuously develop the team and identify and build new capabilities in the GTC to help them be the engine room for leading Digital Transformation within Enabling Units IT and across our supported business areas supported. The role should have expertise for delivering business value via leading-edge technological solutions and digital practices. This ability and desire will be tempered with a strong understanding /respect for compliance, data privacy and ethical technology considerations.

Typical Accountability

• Own the strategy and operations for the Enabling Units GTC function by developing a deep understanding of the business strategies, priorities and challenges and ensuring that investments in the center is aligned to business objectives.
• Accountable for leading and continuously developing a team (direct and indirect reporting lines) and individuals who will be seen by peers in the GTC as being at the forefront of technology solutions and capabilities.
• Passionate about ensuring the Operational aspects of IT are maintained all within agreed compliance and privacy guidelines as well as meeting or exceeding Business expectations.
• Ensure the wider AZ IT strategy is clearly communicated and understood by the GTC teams.
• Optimally leading a complex dual location matrix organisation with an agile approach to proactively manage demand with the business and articulate mutual understanding of priorities and value. Working collaboratively with:
• Other GTC Tower Leads / Peers in support of complex cross functional opportunities.
• Business partners to build the understanding of IT strategy, programs and challenges; support effective prioritization and business alignment of investments; ensure investments deliver forecast benefits and business outcomes.
• Senior Business Relationship Managers to ensure demand management, strategic alignment and project delivery.
• Architecture in the development of technical strategies and blue-prints.
• Solution delivery to ensure business expectations are fulfilled around project and operational delivery.
• Maintaining a strong understanding of the latest Industry/Technology trends and standard methodology, and representing AZ at key Industry, local Academic and Vendor events.
• A keen eye for anticipating future trends and ensuring AZ are early adopters as appropriate.
• Flexibility and willingness to transpose these skills\ accountability into wider IT delivery areas should the need arise.
• Working in close partnership with Business and IT partners and ensuring a focus on collaborative working and a Win:Win approach

Typical People Management Responsibility (direct / indirect reports)

250+Approximate number of people handled in total (all levels)

Matrix Manager – (projects/dotted line)

Manager of a team

Grandfather (manager of a manager)

What is the global remit?(How many countries will the role operate in?)

Operates in:

Own country

Another country

2 or 3 countries at a minimum of 40% of time

4 or more countries at a minimum of 40% of time

Remit which covers all AstraZeneca countries

Education, Qualifications and Experience

Essential

• Industry recognized experience in In-House/Captive or global IT service organizations
• Experience in leading large organisations (100+) and providing leadership/development to other managers and managing a diverse range of activities through others in a hybrid line management and matrix organisation
• Collaborative, Innovative, Win:Win Approach
• Forward thinking and independent perspectives on Technology and IT leaderships
• Evidence of leading and developing strategic solutions and business cases providing measurable business Value (Idea through to Delivery/Measurement)
• Experience of defining strategies and influencing the vision of senior leaders
• Working in a complex Global Organisation

Desirable

• Experience working with the Enabling Functions business areas
• Experience in managing IT portfolios across multiple functional areas
• Experience implementing leading edge technologies including AI, NLG, NLP, RPA etc.
• Experience working in the Bio-Pharmaceutical/Life Sciences industry (not essential).
• Bachelors in Engineering + MBA would be the preferred qualification

Skills and Capabilities

• Alignment with AZ Values and Behaviours
• Agile Enterprise approach
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Self-starter who continuously develops new skills and proactively manages own career and development
• Excellent influencing, networking and collaborative working skills
• Able to lead difficult discussions, manage expectations and deliver solutions across complex partner groups.
• Ability to work well in and lead/collaborate across diverse matrixed global teams.
• Expertise in Portfolio planning, project delivery and change management and problem solving.
• Expert sustainable relationship management skills with the ability to influence others to achieve objectives.

Desirable

• Experience working in different countries/cultures.
• Confidence presenting to large internal and external audiences.

Key Relationships to reach solutions

Internal (to AZ or team)

Senior IT Leaders

Senior Business Leaders

IT Business Relationship Managers

Wider IT partners, peers and colleagues

External (to AZ)

Peers in other pharma companies and other industries

Senior Vendor partners

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. 
 

Date Posted

Closing Date

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.