AstraZeneca is a global, innovation-driven biopharmaceutical business that focuses on the discovery, development and commercialisation of prescription medicines for some of the world's most serious diseases. But we're more than one of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies. At AstraZeneca, we're proud to have a unique workplace culture that inspires innovation and collaboration. Here, employees are empowered to express diverse perspectives – and are made to feel valued, energised and rewarded for their ideas and creativity.

AstraZeneca is pushing the boundaries of what a bio-pharmaceutical company can be. Global Business Services (GBS) is integral to that push. We are facilitating AstraZeneca’s growth through innovation, whether by bringing the best digital and data capabilities to the organisation, helping deliver our bold transformation agenda or driving excellence in operational service delivery – GBS is focused on creating global, agile and efficient services for the business, to allow them to focus on the science and deliver life changing medicines to our patients.

A new & exciting Robotic & Cognitive Centre (RCC) team was established within AstraZeneca in 2018 to create internal shared services capability to deliver on the broad potential for Automation across the enterprise. Since then the RCC has been scaling process automation across our different functions, and is now a credible, fully formed team, that is continually building increased levels of interest & demand.

To support the continued expansion of the RCC, we are seeking an additional RCC Global Lean/Process Automation Lead to provide end to end oversight of the generation, prioritisation, and delivery of an innovative pipeline of process automation opportunities for one of our dedicated customer groups; and lead projects to analyse and re-engineer more complex process opportunities to unlock additional value from the Automation expertise within the team. The role holder should have a strong desire to gain exposure to leading edge automation techniques and process optimisation opportunities; extensive experience of team management, coupled with core skills in stakeholder & change management.  This experience will be combined with a strong analytical mindset and an ability to communicate simply, with precision and impact across a global user community.  

Main duties and responsibilities

Reporting to the RCC Director, the role will be responsible for the following activities:

• Senior stakeholder management – including briefing/update sessions, alignment on joint-ambition/target areas for automation, reporting on pipeline demand, successful implementations and the resolution of impediments to progress

• Generation and prioritisation of process/automation opportunities into a pipeline ready for development, in conjunction with key business contacts

• Provide input/oversight and in some instances direct support to process analyst resource working closely with business SMEs & technical experts to oversee the delivery of process automations:

• Process Diagnostics & Current State Assessments – through stakeholder interviews, current state process mapping; and the identification of key gaps, improvement areas and prioritization of recommendations;

• Drive the optimisation of processes through the creation of actionable roadmaps focused on quick wins and short/mid-term implementations;

• Assessment of process automation scope, business value and accompanying business case;

• Due diligence across risk factors (complexity, business criticality, compliance and regulation);

• Support adoption & sustainment through embedded change management/user experience;

• Customer/stakeholder management across the end to end delivery lifecycle.

• Monitoring adherence with the standardised RCC approach in collaboration with enabling teams – including standards, methodologies, tools and best practices

• Collaborating with others in the RCC team (including other Pipeline & Delivery Leads, the Process Analyst Team, RCC Operations Lead and members of the IT Delivery team) to embed new agile ways of working and continuous improvement initiatives

Essential requirements

• Significant experience of change projects incl. automation (e.g. RPA, BPM tools)

• Proven experience in the analysis & re-design of complex, multi-function business processes, leveraging recognised business process re-engineering techniques, e.g. Lean six sigma, Kaizen expert

• Demonstrated experience of leading high-profile projects / change management activities

• Excellent stakeholder management, influencing & presentation / oral communication skills

• Energetic and self-motivated, with strong analytical skills

• Willingness to undertake some domestic / international travel (as required)

Desirable:

• Experience and proven results of change projects within the Pharma industry

Competitive rates of pay apply

Opening date: 26th Aug

Closing date: 16th Sept

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.