At AstraZeneca, we’re not afraid to do things differently. We’re building a new kind of organization to reset expectations of what a bio-pharmaceutical company can be. This means we’re opening up new ways to work, pioneering groundbreaking methods and bringing unexpected teams together.

As Innovation & Business Excellence Director you will report to the Country President of Spain.

1. MISSION

As a member of the company's steering committee, the Director of the Innovation and Business Excellence area will have the main objective of maximizing the commercial impact supporting our TAs and brands objectives and long-term ambition by defining and leading the company's strategic plan in order to deliver greater insights and analytics (data science) across the entire organization, support digital marketing with tools and an overarching omnichannel strategy, deliver best in industry capabilities/training for the organization and lead  a few innovative health solutions encouraging the participation of the different stakeholders (health professionals, patients, public entities, societies, associations, etc.) to improve access, adherence and patient results.

For this position, it will be key for the Director to ensure and supervise the analysis of the commercial strategy at a global and regional level, as well as its planning with the other areas of Strategy & Planning, Insight & Analytics, Launch Excellence, Commercial Operations, Digital Customer Engagement, Healthcare Innovative Initiatives and Commercial Learning & Development capabilities.

2. Responsibilities

Business Strategy

• Shape the marketing company's strategic plan, using focused insight and trends that will best position the organization.
• Ensure the marketing company is thinking 6 months to a year out using IBEX analogues and market intelligence to ensure a more sustainable strategy for the marketing company.
• Oversee, evaluate, monitor and help to evolve business activities. Ensure proper ROI are calculated for strategic investments.
• Participate and collaborate in the strategic and financial analysis and planning processes established by the company.
• Represent Spain in regional and global forums, influencing strategies and ensuring the value and optimal use of available resources.
• Work in collaboration with the different external stakeholders to support outlined business objectives of the marketing company.
• Be a change agent, support the transformation of the company. Evolve existing process within the company, using technology as a lever for change.

Team management & development

• Define and share the collective vision of the unit.
• Team leadership, attracting and developing a high performance team by promoting a culture based on the company's values.
• Evaluate, recognise the performance of employees in accordance with the ethics and standards of AZ.
• Coordinate internal resources and external suppliers to guarantee success and compliance with deadlines in all ongoing projects.
• Cross-functional collaboration with business units and international teams.

Capabilities Excellence

• Develop, together with the Senior Leadership Team (SMT), the strategic plan for the training needs of the organization, with a key focus on sales force, marketing teams and access teams.
• Leading the strategy in the planning of training projects and training in commercial skills adapted to the commercial strategy.
• Agree, together with the Medical and Compliance leaders, the orientation of the training material prepared and those messages and/or practices that are transmitted in the training sessions, in order to comply with the company's policies.
• To promote cross-functionality in the design of training plans.
• To lead the strategy of maintenance of the contents in the different training channels (AZ Training).
• Ensure that all activities related to the area of responsibility comply with applicable external and internal regulations (policies, procedures, standards, guidelines and Code of Conduct).

Omnichannel Strategy & Customer Engagement

• To position the patient as the centre of the channel strategy and identify new integrated channels in order to provide differential value to the service and improve the SPN.
• To design a funnel with the patients' journey, which allows for personalised communication adapted to each phase of the process thanks to the patients' insights.
• To design the strategy for each of the existing digital assets, as well as the approach to new ones, and to create a standardised and optimised experience.
• Work on a strategy of dynamic and quality content, both for medical staff and patients, which allows, on the one hand, to provide the most scientific and product information to doctors and, on the other hand, to be a resource and source of reliable information and, therefore, to generate trust for patients.
• To plan a positioning and strategy in Social Media, which will make this channel the reference for contact between the brand, patients and medical staff.
• Incorporate channels into the execution of brand plans and proactively identify opportunities to generate value through innovative and disruptive approaches.
• Identify key metrics within the patient and medical staff communication funnel, and track and analyse them continuously to optimise results and improve conversion and satisfaction ratios.

Business Intelligence & Data Science

• To design a plan for capturing qualitative data that will allow for greater knowledge, within the possibilities, of both patients and clients and, therefore, improve the impact and experience of both.
• Implement the patient and customer data strategy in the company through tools that allow for the definition of the patient/client journey. in order to maximise sales through cross and upselling (in the case of medical staff) and patient loyalty and the personalisation of a unique and individualised service.
• Understand data as a driver in strategic business decision making and develop and implement advanced analytical capabilities in the organisation such as Big Data, AI, Machine Learning and Advanced/Predictive Analytics, always applied to business and in order to anticipate future opportunities/needs.
• Generate quantitative and qualitative knowledge of clients and competitors in close collaboration with the Commercial, Medical and Market Access teams, ensuring an adequate analytical process throughout the Spanish organisation.

Healthcare Innovation & Patient Solutions

• Rethink the current patient care model in order to identify, evaluate and conceptualize (together with the different business areas) new forms, opportunities and proposals of the health service that add value to the current business through innovation and disruptive technologies.
• Define and implement new ways of working in the different areas according to the needs of the business and putting the patient at the centre, including projects to implement innovation methodologies (e.g. agile) in different phases in the development teams.
• Analyse the structure of current systems and propose and/or define the platforms and supports, as well as the tools that are necessary for the commercialisation, dissemination and management of the service, in collaboration with the technology team.

Compliance

• Ensure that all activities related to the role and the unit comply with applicable external and internal regulations (policies, procedures, standards, guidelines, and Code of Conduct).

3. Requirements:

Mandatory

• University degree: Business Schools / Engineering Schools (MBA level).
• At least 7 years of professional experience in strategic roles in related industries.
• Cross-functional business leadership experience within sales and marketing.
• Experience in change management in large companies.
• Experience in project management and ability to lead cross-functional and multidisciplinary teams.
• Demonstrated ability to set and manage priorities, resources, performance objectives and project initiatives.
• In-depth knowledge and practical experience in new technologies and digital channels.
• Business oriented analytical skills.
• Experience in disruptive projects and environments will be an asset.
• A high level of English is essential for job performance.
• Availability to travel nationally and internationally.

 Desirable

• MBA or Master's degree in an appropriate discipline with professional credibility within business and industry.
• Substantial experience in either pharmaceutical industry, or e-commerce; proven success in Business to Business and Business to Customer relationships, as well as, extensive knowledge of the external landscape (e.g. data management, IT, health systems).
• International experience.
• Pre and post product launch experience within the sales and marketing area.
• Effective problem solving and conflict resolution skills and proven team approach.

4. Functional Relationships

Internal

• Spain Leadership Team.
• Project Management function within AstraZeneca.
• Cross functional Project teams.
• EUCAN Region.

External

• External professional and regulatory organizations.

AstraZeneca is an equal opportunity employer. AstraZeneca will consider all qualified applicants for employment without discrimination on grounds of disability, sex or sexual orientation, pregnancy or maternity leave status, race or national or ethnic origin, age, religion or belief, gender identity or re-assignment, marital or civil partnership status, protected veteran status (if applicable) or any other characteristic protected by law. AstraZeneca only employs individuals with the right to work in the country/ies where the role is advertised.

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.