Global Axial (S/4 HANA) Programme

We are one purpose-led global organisation. The enablers and innovators, ensuring that we can fulfil our mission to push the boundaries of science and discover and develop life-changing medicines. We take pride in working close to the cause, opening the locks to save lives, ultimately making a massive difference to the outside world.

AstraZeneca (AZ) is in a period of strong growth and our employees have a united purpose to make a difference to patients around the world who need both our medicines and the ongoing developments from our science. In this journey AZ must continue to work across borders and with partners and new colleagues in a fast and seamless way. The ambition, size and complexity of the organisation, coupled with the opportunities afforded by new technology, has led the Board to approve a large scale transformation of the IT landscape by the replacement of current ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) systems with one global solution.

Our current technology is used by more than 20,000 employees daily, is foundational to all AZ entities and is central to most core business processes. This programme provides the opportunity for real transformation and to shape the way of working globally for many years to come.

This programme requires the best. Whether it be the technical skills, business understanding or change leadership, we want to ensure we have the strongest team deployed throughout. The programme seeks to deliver a world class change programme that leaves all employees with a fuller understanding of their role in the end-to-end nature of our global company. This programme will provide AZ with a competitive edge, to the benefits of its employees and patients.

We are now recruiting for an System Remediation Partner - IT R&D and Commercials. This is an exciting opportunity which will be at the centre of a significant SAP S/4 programme. Working with the R&D and Commercials business, Finance and Finance/Operations Application teams to support the transition to the new technology solution being defined by the S/4 programme. Our transformation journey will result in a significant change on the end-to-end business technology landscape this team will be responsible for making sure we manage the changes to the integrated application landscape.

Candidate Focus & Challenge

Application Impact assessment

Responsible for team of System Analysists that will manage and coordinate the change to applications which will be impacted by the S/4 transformation programme. We'll look to you to manage the team who will execute a process of collecting and maintaining relevant data in a tool that will support the impact assessment and scoping of changes needed to the non-SAP application landscape.

Collaborate with the S/4 solution design team to understand the data process impact then coordinate with the non-SAP application teams to complete an impact assessment process. This will include agreeing estimates plans and managing dependencies, issues and risks. You will be responsible for overseeing prioritising the work and proactively escalating and managing issues and problems as they occur to ensure the changes are coordinated with the broader Axial S/4 programme delivery dates.

Application change delivery

During the deployment of the SAP project you will manage a team who will monitor and manage the delivery of changes to large number of Integrated applications. Monitor and manage dependencies, making sure issues and risks are raised to ensure the delivery to the overall programme timelines.

The Remediation Partner is responsible for monitoring and ensuring the control of the scope definition and change that has been agreed. If there is any deviation from the agree change or scope definition it is the Remediation Partner’s responsibility to raise and trigger the change process. They will also need to facilitate change impact assessments for externally highlight/proposed changes.

Stakeholder Analysis

The Remediation Partner will be responsible for understanding the AZ matrix organisation for the your area of responsibility. A key function of your role is to create a partnering relationship with the application teams and BTG’s to facilitate a smooth delivery of changes due to the scoped deployment of Axial S/4. Allowing the BTG applications teams to continue to support and manage BAU support and change delivery in parallel to updating these systems for Axial. This will also include creating and maintaining an influence network across IT and business.

Support continuous improvement

It is expected that the Remediation Partner become a champion of continuous improvement and supports and nurtures this within their team. Providing input to continuous improvements of not just the technical solution but also the approach and ways of working in supporting the Application remediation workstream in the Axial programme. Our expectation is that we should be creating an enduring capability which can be transitioned to the BTG’s once the Axial programme has finished.

Work collaboratively with:

IT Business Partners to develop and maintain the business relationship, support business process changes and act as point of contact for application development

Various levels of Business partners to ensure that solutions fulfil their future strategic needs and challenges

Business customers to identify business requirements and effectively communicate impact, cost and benefits of new and changed demands

Process owners to identify and devise solutions that optimise business process performance, capability and competitiveness

Internal SAP team/non SAP application support teams to transition requirement demands to ensure there is a clear understanding of configuration or development requests that are being made.

IT Architecture, Delivery and Support to ensure clear understanding of requirements and effective testing so that the solutions delivered to the business are efficient and effective, meeting the customer experience expectations.

Project managers to update and maintain artefacts needed to support controlled delivery of the changes required. Including creation and maintenance of the delivery plans and RAID items. Provide updates to the Weekly status reporting to ensure there is a clear and accurate picture of progress and status of changes currently scopes. Trigger or facilitate change impact assessment as a change to scope is identified.

Candidate Knowledge, Skills & Experience

Essential

• Experience working in a Matrix organisation

• Experience managing a team

• Experience and knowledge of AZ’s, IT and business operating models for R&D and Commercials

• Existing user network knowledge within the current IT R&D and Commercials team - Preferred

• Formal certification in business analysis practice preferred

• Professional experience as a Business Analyst preferred

• Professional experience working with applications supporting the R&D and Commercials Functional area

• Experience working with R&D and Commercials applications.

• Experience in work with multi-functional teams to deliver technology related business change projects/programmes.

• Experience of successfully using business analysis tools/techniques to enable business change

• Experience of working with complex integrated systems, using creative and critical thinking to deliver exceptional results

• Engagement, communication, and stakeholder management skills, including excellent presentation and influencing skills

• Experience of virtual collaboration to lead, shape and develop innovative solutions

• Experience of working with third party suppliers/vendors

Desirable

• Experience with AstraZeneca R&D and Commercials applications.

• Experience designing and creating automatic dashboards, tools to keep an up to date inventory list of the applications.

• Experience and knowledge in Finance processes & systems.

• Experience of managing change across multiple applications in Parallel