The Digital Procurement Team deliver digital and technology expertise across Global Procurement focusing across the AZ value chain from Source to Pay, including third party risk and buying channels. The main responsibilities of the team are to select, implement and manage the digital platforms supporting the procurement organisation, ensuring they align with business requirements and using lean and design thinking techniques for continuous improvement. Effective partnering with AZ IT, the Strategy and Operational Excellence team and platform suppliers will be critical to success.

The Platform Continuous Improvement Manager is a critical role within the team involving all aspects of continuous improvement for a portfolio of technology platforms. This will include identification and assessment of innovation and improvement opportunities through a strong internal and external network. The role will be responsible for leading the assessment, development and implementation of platform and process enhancements, working with business process owners, system owners as well as AZ IT teams and vendors to drive innovation and improve the total end user experience.

This is temporary opportunity for 12 months contract.

Typical Accountabilities

• Works with cross-functional teams and suppliers to deliver best practice end to end improvements for a portfolio of technology platforms 
• Ensures adequate supervision, instruction and training is provided to all members of team 
• Manages or provides technical support for technology platforms on a day-to-day basis 
• Keeps own knowledge of process and technology changes and improvement best practice approaches up to date 
• Supports new projects and platform change activity by acting as a Subject Matter Expert for technology platforms 
• Ensures platform configuration alignment to latest business process and operating model designs 
• Maintains and champions a detailed platform delivery roadmap of proposed and planned enhancements 
• Evaluates user experience and emerging requirements to identify platform and process enhancements  
• Engages with a Super User network across the end user base globally to assess improvement opportunities 
• Develops business cases for significant platform and process improvements, including cost analyses 
• Presents opportunities and secures approvals for platform improvements from Change Board and relevant leadership 
• Monitors platform, process and user community key performance indicators to track improvement  
• Ensures adequate documentation of platform reporting, analytics and dashboard configurations are maintained 
• Works with the platform support manager to diagnose problems and develop effective solutions 
• Develops relationships across AZ, external companies and potential suppliers to promote AZ and to identify opportunities for innovation and improvement 
• Leads and supports on-going change management and continuous improvement 

Key Relationships Internal and External

• AstraZeneca Operations IT Teams
• Procurement Strategy and Operational Excellence Team
• All Members of AZ Procurement function
• Supplier customer support teams

Education, Qualifications, Skills and Experience

Essential

• Experience of procurement processes and practices
• Experience in a process or technology management role
• Experience of leading projects, especially change management activities
• Digital mindset and a dedication to user experience
• LEAN and Design Thinking or equivalent experience
• Strong communication and influencing skills, ability to network internally and externally

Desirable

• Experience in leading a relevant process or technology platform
• Experience of working with procurement technology, especially Jaggaer
• Knowledge of data security and data privacy requirements
• LEAN and Design Thinking or equivalent experience
• Degree or equivalent qualification

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.