Senior Director, Digital and AI Transformation – Cell Therapy Clinical Operations (CTCO)

Join us to transform the future of cell therapy. At AstraZeneca, we’re advancing life‑changing medicines and building a digital, AI‑enabled clinical ecosystem to accelerate patient impact. Cell Therapy Clinical Operations (CTCO) drives the delivery of cell therapy trials across Oncology, BioPharma, and Rare Diseases, partnering across R&D, Medical, and Commercial to bring breakthrough therapies to patients faster and more equitably.

Accountabilities:
As a member of the Cell Therapy Leadership Team, you will set the vision and lead the enterprise‑aligned digital and AI transformation across Cell Therapy R&D—spanning global and local/field execution. You will define and deliver a digital‑first roadmap, embed reusable capabilities and new ways of working, and ensure seamless integration of technology into clinical operations to improve end‑user experience (sites, patients, AZ study teams, and field operations). You will lead a cross‑functional team that identifies, pilots, and scales innovative solutions, working closely with TA Digital Strategy leaders across SET areas and with stakeholders in R&D, Medical Affairs, and Commercial to ready the clinical ecosystem for future commercial pathways.

You will bridge strategy and delivery: continuously scanning for high‑value digital solutions; introducing automation, AI products, new platforms, and IT‑supported capabilities; and championing Test/Start/Scale to move from proof‑of‑concept to enterprise adoption. You’ll own operational readiness, governance, and change enablement so innovations translate to measurable improvements in trial efficiency, quality, and scalability. You will contribute to CTCO global workstreams and cross‑functional initiatives.

What you’ll lead

• Strategic leadership and vision
  • Define and execute a compelling, enterprise‑aligned roadmap for emerging technologies within CTCO.
  • Act as a strategic partner across R&D, IT, Data Science & AI, Commercial, and Clinical Operations to integrate new technologies at scale.
  • Anticipate, evaluate, and adopt digital solutions that transform or automate study conduct, positioning AZ at the forefront of next‑generation clinical development.
  • Develop predictive models using multimodal AI (clinical, genomic, imaging, digital pathology) to optimize trial design, patient selection, and long‑term safety.
  • Ensure solutions scale from controlled trials to real‑world commercial pathways (patient detection, MDT collaboration, seamless referrals, remote monitoring).
• Innovation and technology enablement
  • Lead the introduction, scaling, and adoption of automation, AI, and new business platforms; ensure interoperability across therapy areas and functions.
  • Champion Test/Start/Scale to evaluate, prioritize, and operationalize high‑impact digital capabilities.
  • Build a pipeline of novel technologies that deliver tangible business and patient outcomes.
  • Shape AZ’s external digital ecosystem through partnerships with technology, data, and healthcare organizations to create interoperable, scalable infrastructure for advanced therapies.
• Operational excellence and delivery readiness
  • Bridge strategy with execution through governance, training, and workflow integration; future‑proof solutions for enterprise scalability.
  • Drive readiness so innovations yield measurable improvements in efficiency, quality, and scalability.
  • Define, monitor, and deliver digital KPIs (e.g., reduction in time‑to‑patient identification; patients identified via AI; proportion of digitally enabled cell therapy sites; RWE‑driven payer engagement metrics).
  • Partner with CTCO Leadership to use insights for continuous performance and patient outcome improvement.
• Leadership and culture
  • Provide clear direction for technology and central services, ensuring compliance with industry regulations and AZ Global/Local Policies.
  • Foster a culture of digital fluency—embedding AI and data literacy and upskilling teams to champion new ways of working.
  • Translate customer requirements into actionable priorities, balancing near‑term delivery with long‑term value creation.
  • Analyze performance and trends, share insights, and guide the CTCO LT in implementing solutions that improve business performance.
  • Inspire, attract, and develop top talent; provide mentorship and career development to build high‑performing teams ready to lead the next era of clinical innovation.
    

Essential requirements

• 5+ years in pharma or life sciences building and leading global teams in complex matrix environments.
• Master of Science in a relevant discipline or equivalent professional experience.
• Deep understanding of business processes, technology, clinical trial information, regulations, and guidelines impacting drug development.
• Proven ability to define and execute a strategic vision, aligning emerging technologies and innovation with enterprise transformation goals.
• Strong digital acumen with experience evaluating, implementing, and scaling digital health solutions, AI/ML, automation, or advanced data platforms in clinical/life sciences settings.
• Demonstrated capability in capability building and upskilling teams to maximize value from digital tools and innovative operating models.
• Ability to identify opportunities, lead cross‑functional collaboration, and improve performance across the end‑to‑end clinical development value chain.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and manage through change, using transformation to drive business value.
• Experience working successfully with external partners, vendors, and alliances; strong partnership mindset.
• Proven leadership that promotes motivation, empowerment, and accountability to achieve objectives.
• Project management expertise with a track record of delivering on time, within budget, and to quality in large‑scale, complex projects.

Why AstraZeneca, Why cell therapy

• Purpose‑driven science: Be part of a company committed to turning ideas into life‑changing medicines, bringing first‑in‑class cell therapies to patients.
• Scale with impact: Work at enterprise scale while innovating with speed—your roadmap will shape how we design, deliver, and commercialize advanced therapies globally.
• Inclusive culture: We value diverse perspectives and experiences. Your leadership will help build equitable, digitally enabled clinical experiences for patients and sites.
• Growth and visibility: Senior leadership exposure, cross‑SET collaboration, and the opportunity to lead a flagship transformation in a strategic therapeutic area.
  

When we put unexpected teams in the same room, we unleash bold thinking with the power to inspire life-changing medicines. In-person working gives us the platform we need to connect, work at pace and challenge perceptions. That's why we work, on average, a minimum of three days per week from the office. But that doesn't mean we're not flexible. We balance the expectation of being in the office while respecting individual flexibility.

Ready to lead digital and AI transformation in cell therapy? Apply to shape the next generation of clinical development and accelerate patient impact.

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.