Associate Director - Enterprise Architect

Job Title: Associate Director - Enterprise Architect

Career Level - F

Introduction to role

In our fast-paced business environment, agility, strategy, and innovation are of utmost importance. As technology and practices progress at outstanding rates, organizations are increasingly realizing the necessity of centralized hubs dedicated to harnessing these advancements effectively. This is where the AstraZeneca Architecture Center of Enablement (ACoE) becomes crucial.

As a member of AstraZeneca’s Architecture Center of Enablement, you will be responsible for delivering and maintaining components of an operating model that emphasizes the creation of reusable building blocks and ensures quality and assurance. These are imbued with standard processes, quality checks, and expert IT knowledge, facilitating self-service and efficient automated deployments across the organization. This approach aims at accelerating solution delivery.

As an Enterprise Architect in AstraZeneca’s Centre of Enablement (‘CoE’), you will lead the creation, development, and governance of a CoE within the organization. The CoE will serve as the central hub for best practices, standards, and reusable assets across technology and business units, enabling accelerated innovation, improved alignment between IT and business strategies, and consistent delivery of digital transformation initiatives.

You will work closely with key stakeholders, including IT leadership, business leaders, development teams, and project managers, to drive architectural consistency, streamline decision-making, and foster a culture of innovation. Your responsibility will be to ensure the enterprise architecture is scalable, secure, and flexible enough to meet the evolving needs of the business.

Accountabilities

Establish the Centre of Enablement

CoE Framework

• Lead the development of an Agile framework for the CoE, focusing on creating reusable architectural patterns, tools, methodologies, and standards.
• Lead the development of architectural assurance and ensure that the agreed-on standards and principles are realized and adhered to.
• Identify key proficiencies and resources vital for the CoE to drive innovation and operational excellence.

2. Governance and Standards

• Lead the definition, implementation, and maintenance of architectural best practices, frameworks, and technology standards across all business and IT functions.
• Lead the development and application of governance policies for the use of new technologies, ensuring adherence to architecture standards and compliance requirements.
• Provide oversight and mentorship to stakeholders on adhering to CoE standards and using reusable assets.

3. Cross-Departmental Collaboration

• Collaborate with architects across the enterprise, product owners, and IT teams to ensure that the CoE supports the delivery of strategic objectives.
• Act as a bridge across business and technology domains, ensuring alignment in priorities and accelerating the deployment of key digital solutions.
• Facilitate communication and knowledge-sharing across teams, fostering a collaborative and innovative culture.

4. Solution Design and Enterprise Architecture

• Be accountable for supporting the development of agile architecture standards, technology domain strategies, roadmaps, and blueprints templates for core focus areas.
• Understand implications of IT architecture requirements to ‘As-Is’ architectures and define/update ‘To-Be’ architectures applying AZ architecture guiding principles.
• Design and develop enterprise-wide solutions that ensure integration, scalability, security, and maintainability.
• Establish and manage an architectural repository of design patterns, reference models, and technology standards for future projects.
• Support strategic projects and initiatives by providing architecture expertise and ensuring alignment with long-term business and IT strategies.

5. Performance Measurement and Continuous Improvement

• Measure and report on the CoE’s efficiency in enabling project teams and optimizing technology investments.
• Drive continuous improvement by gathering feedback from team members and regularly reviewing and improving CoE capabilities.
• Ensure the CoE operates as a centre of excellence, constantly refining methods to deliver faster, more reliable, and higher-quality solutions.

Essential Skills/Experience

• Relevant technical degree or equivalent
• Demonstrated technical depth & experience in at least one technical or architectural domain.
• Experience influencing and/or developing solution direction and standard adoption through the use of architecture capability building blocks, strategies, and roadmaps
• Experience developing and leading innovative business capability definition and creation activities within one or more technical or architectural domain.
• Proven experience inspiring change and challenging approaches/ideas.
• Experience developing and handling relationships with business team members & third-party suppliers
• Experience working within and developing policies, procedures, and guidelines within a secure, quality, and compliance environment.
• Big-picture thinking, being able to consider the broader context and long-term implications of decisions or strategies
• Critical thinking, ability to question assumptions, weigh evidence, and consider alternative perspectives before reaching a conclusion
• Openness to change, willingness and ability to accept new insights, adapt to different circumstances, and support innovation
• Strong communication, facilitation, and relationship-building skills
• Awareness of developments in the marketplace and understand the relevance and potential impact to AZ IS

Desirable Skills/Experience

• Exposure to large Justification phase work – product evaluation, argument formulation
• Experience working in global diverse working environments.
• Good business acuity
• Understanding of the pharmaceutical/healthcare industry and competitor activity on a particular architecture and Information Management
• Ability to work well in diverse, multinational teams and validated ability to influence others to achieve positive outcomes
• Demonstrate initiative, strong customer orientation

When we put unexpected teams in the same room, we unleash ambitious 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. Join us in our unique and ambitious world.

There's never been a better time to join Technology at AstraZeneca. We've been busy building and developing our technology which is now enabling our transformation to become a digital and data-led enterprise. There's a huge opportunity to develop, explore and thrive during our next chapter. Here our work has a direct impact on patients by redefining our ability to develop life-changing medicines. We empower the business to perform at its peak by combining pioneering science with leading digital technology platforms. Join us at this crucial stage of our journey in becoming a digital enterprise.

Ready to make an impact? Apply now!

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.