Executive Director Business Transformation and Agility

Biologics Engineering (BE) and Oncology Targeted Discovery (OTD) are pivotal organizations which have experienced significant organizational evolution concurrent with pipeline growth, with over 1000 employees working on powerful science and building AZ portfolio across Biopharmaceuticals, Oncology and Vaccines & Immunology to deliver on our promise to patients. As we embark on our next phase of our journey and with our new bold ambition of delivering at least 20 new medicines to patients by 2030, the BE and OTD organizations must adopt creative ways of working, build next generation talent, expand to new capabilities and demonstrating agility in a fast-paced product development process. To enable our commitment to deliver with organizational excellence, BE/OTD have created a new role of Head of Business Transformation and Agility.

This role will report to the SVP Biologics Engineering & Oncology Targeted Discovery. They would have responsibilities for leading and implementing global business transformation strategies, integration of new teams and global footprint, maximizing talent acquisition and development in key geographies while delivering on business simplification, efficiency, and effective ways of working. This role requires a blend of critical thinking, while having a steadfast focus on delivering significant and tangible value for the business

The ideal candidate for this role will be curious, creative, analytical with a natural leadership striving to bring solutions beyond immediate challenges; challenge the status quo with outstanding communication and influencing skills. This leader will share frequent interactions with senior leaders across R&D, as well as close collaboration with leaders of BE/OTD. Success in this role will result in improved business decision-making, accelerated innovation, and enhanced productivity. A passion for transformation, combined with relationship-building, leadership, and communication skills will be key to success.

Key Accountabilities:

Business Transformation & Execution:

• Accountable for defining and driving BE and OTD business transformation strategies which will enable outstanding quality, effectiveness and efficiency of the business whilst ensuring delivery of top priority objectives to achieve the 2030 ambition
• Elevate the organization through internal and external visibility by supporting with presentations
• Enable successful organizational integration of respective discovery teams across the sites, ensuring consistent and sustainable organization growth to deliver on 2030 bold ambition
• Align TA strategic and AI initiatives across Biopharmaceuticals, Oncology and Vaccines & Immunology.
• Actively collaborate with key networks across AZ and externally to gain awareness of current industry trends to contribute and influence new evolving practices.
• Drive alliances, simplification and productivity initiatives and achieve cost efficiencies for BE and OTD organizations
• Share strategic outcomes of key strategy implementation and Business transformation projects with senior leadership teams, outlining benefits from a cost, speed and quality perspective and demonstrating the return on investment
  
  
  

Ensuring Great Place to Work

• Oversee global implementation and management of projects involving the transformation of organizations, and skills related BE/OTD sites
• Develop a sustainable plan in innovating process, projects, and organizational talent in ensuring seamless delivery of new medicines
• Build a trusting relationship with senior leaders and other key stakeholders across the enterprise to advise and influence entrepreneurial changes supporting our 2030 ambition
• Articulate and engage on proactive communication on strategy implementation
  
  
  

Basic Qualifications

• PhD in a scientific subject area with 8+ years pharmaceutical experience or strong experience in consulting and analytics
• OR MS degree and 10+ years experience
• OR BS degree and 12+ years of experience
• Deep scientific thinking and experience of drug development
• Proven experience of strong stakeholder management and engagement, and also successfully leading cross-functional teams on complex projects
• Change management & change leadership experience, comfortable with ambiguity and the ability to logically structure issues and recommend resolutions
• Demonstrated ability to set and lead priorities, resources, performance targets and project initiatives in a global environment
• Operational expertise in proactive risk management and contingency planning
• Conceptual, analytical, with validated critical thinking capability
  
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Oncology project management experience, preferably in early-stage development
• Experience with driving lean/six sigma/process improvement
• Excellent knowledge of AstraZeneca policies, procedures and guidelines