Be empowered to be innovative and creative where difference is valued

Would you like to be a part of a Data Science & Artificial Intelligence (DS&AI) group that has direct strategic impact on drug development, playing a key role in getting medicines to patients?

At AstraZeneca, we are constantly pushing the boundaries of science to deliver life-changing medicines to patients, with a real passion for discovery and a pipeline to show for it. Here, you’ll have the opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives every single day.

AstraZeneca is investing in data management and analysis capabilities, through its long-term Growth Through Innovation Strategy. The DS&AI team collaborates across R&D to drive innovation through data science and AI. Together we seek to:

• Improve our understanding of disease and uncover new targets
• Transform R&D processes
• Speed the design and delivery of new medicines for patients

This is the place that’s investing in the latest technology, data and innovative ways of working. Here you’ll be backed with everything you need to be at the forefront of digitising our organisation. Whether that’s working on the leading-edge, defining the future of Pharma or upskilling yourself in our Digital and Data Academy.

The R&D Data Office, within DS&AI, is a key organization to deliver upon AstraZeneca’s strategy. Data Office operates a central capability, with R&D wide accountability, to ensure that we harness the power of data to drive innovative science. Data Office will govern data, drive data quality and ensure our data is readied for analytics, creating paved-paths for scientists to perform data-driven research, without compromising our legal restrictions or ethical principles.

Within Data Office, you will work in the Reference and Master Data team. The team owns the development, deployment and subsequent oversight of the end-to-end process of stewarding, curating and provisioning quality Reference and Master data. Our mission is to support R&D users with the highest quality of Reference and Master Data within the rigor of the appropriate compliance framework.

Associate Director, MDM Stewardship and Enablement performs an oversight of BAU Master Data Stewardship services, as well as deeply involved in MDM projects of various nature, like new MDM entities implementations or considerable improvements and changes to already implemented entities. This is a more scientific role, rather than IT. An understanding of drug development processes is required.

As the Associate Director, MDM Stewardship and Enablement, you will be accountable for:

• Delivery of functional leadership to master data stewards for the given domain on a BAU basis:
  • overseeing the governance and quality of master data across R&D,
  • enabling developmental leadership, mentorship, and facilitating professional development opportunities
• Providing strategic direction and technical expertise to enable the successful roll-out and adoption of new master data management (MDM) initiatives
• Managing relationships with key business stakeholders to understand data requirements and ensure alignment with business goals
• Driving continuous improvement in MDM processes, data quality standards, and governance frameworks to support organizational objectives
• Acting as the first point of contact for change/challenge/issue or potential impact on data and collaborating with relevant data groups if required to find a consensus solution
• Defining processes to describe how to handle access requests and exceptions to ensure compliance with Data Protection obligations
• Identifying critical data elements for data assets within their scope in collaboration with Data Domain Leads
• Contributing to completion of any Escalating Risk issues with any Privacy/ IT Security Assessments where appropriate
• Maintaining and managing the data risks
• Leading any mitigation activity for data risks within the scope of the Data Owner
• Supporting Process Owners to ensure key metadata is supplied such as lineage/data transfers/data ownership details on data assets
• Providing oversight and direction for the data champions and business users to ensure standards are embedded and followed
• Deputizing for the Data Owners and organizing and running some data set specific working groups, and attend other relevant Working Groups
• Directing initiatives to cleanse and improve data, in some cases reviewing data before it is loaded
• Defining business rules to monitor Data quality for the critical data elements
• Establishing and owning data-quality metrics and requirements, including defining the values, ranges, and parameters that are acceptable for each critical data element
• Ongoing and detailed evaluation of data quality, the identification of anomalies and discrepancies, and the contribution of expertise to understand the root cause and implement corrective measures
• Optimizing workflows and communications
• Ensuring that access to sensitive data is restricted to only the proper stakeholders using security tools and access policies
• Acting as advocate and thought leader of data, educating employees and keeping a pulse on new best practices and technology
• Identifying and capitalizing on opportunities to raise data literacy, culture and awareness
• Working with dedicated Domain Lead to:
  • Implement and embed data standards
  • Comply with Enterprise D&IG Global Standards
  • Document, review and approve data asset data flow
  • Identify, define and agree on critical data
  • Support development of Data Quality Dashboard to monitor data quality

Essential Requirements

• Scientific background as well as understanding of ISO IDMP standards are essential
• Proven experience in the pharmaceutical/healthcare industry
• Strong knowledge of the Product data flow infrastructure and connections between different systems
• Strong knowledge of all functions involved with management of Products and their key systems and processes
• Strong understanding of E2E Product development process with a key focus on CMC and regulatory aspects
• Process focused
• Strong understanding of data management principles, data quality best practices, and MDM technologies
• Ability to drive change and lead MDM initiatives in a complex, regulated environment
• Leadership skills, including the ability to solve problems that involve many decision makers, and develop multiple options/recommendations
• Networking skills, ability to interact widely and effectively within the company (on both an interdepartmental and interdisciplinary basis)
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and ability to build strong relationships with Pharmaceutical Product Stakeholders
• Demonstrate strong, communication and relationship building skills with experience in collaborating and sharing knowledge between teams
• Problem-solving skills
• Business acumen and technical analysis skills
• Good understanding of database structures

Desirable Requirements

• Experience in technology implementation
• Experience in project management
• Experience in process development
• Cross-Departmental knowledge
• Experience with clinical data curation and familiarity with industry standards
• Good Understanding of Master and Reference Data management
• Operational understanding of common data models, data standards, vocabularies, ontologies, etc. and their implementation within a centralized repository
• Good facilitator, communicator, negotiator, and enforcer
• Experience in data warehousing, data modeling, data profiling, and relational databases
• Understanding external and internal Compliance regulations ensure that data is well organized and maintained, safeguarded against theft or misuse.

Band: E

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.