Director, R&D IT Operational Excellence
About the job
- Bachelor's degree in Business, Information Technology, Life Sciences, Engineering, or a related discipline.
- Experience in senior stakeholder management and developing executive-level dashboards, key performance indicators, scorecards, and operational reporting.
- At least 5 years of experience in operational excellence governance, business operations, organizational effectiveness roles, financial management, and performance reporting.
- Experience measuring business outcomes and organizational value derived from digital, automation, and artificial intelligence investments.
- Experience leading cross-functional continuous improvement and organizational transformation initiatives.
- Strong analytical and data-driven decision-making skills.
- Excellent written, verbal, facilitation, and executive communication skills.
- Lead operational excellence activities across assigned R&D IT capability portfolios, ensuring alignment to organizational objectives and enterprise governance standards.
- Partner with senior leaders within R&D IT to identify and assess operational inefficiencies, prioritize and drive process standardization and optimization, automation, and artificial intelligence-enabled improvements that increase organizational effectiveness, consistency, scalability, and employee productivity.
- Partner with R&D IT Operations Leads to facilitate process standardization across functional areas, fostering a collaborative, one-team approach.
- Drive operational discipline through governance reviews, compliance monitoring, risk management, and corrective action planning. Provide regular reporting against targets, broken down by functional area, and partner with stakeholders to course-correct where needed.
- Lead operational cadences, including business reviews, governance forums, operational reviews, and planning activities, including defining agendas and recapping decisions and meeting minutes.
- Build partnerships across Finance, HR, SP&Q, Portfolio Excellence, Enterprise Functions, and broader R&D organizations.
- Influence stakeholders across a complex, matrix environment to achieve organizational objectives and drive sustainable outcomes.
- Own development and consolidation of business, R&D IT, and capability scorecards, frameworks, and executive performance reporting. Provide narrative and speaking-note support for senior stakeholders, including presentation materials for executive-level review and quarterly performance storytelling.
- Establish, review, and maintain operational health indicators and dashboards, key performance indicators, objectives and key results, and executive reporting mechanisms.
- Translate complex operational, financial, workforce, portfolio, and artificial intelligence adoption data into concise, actionable insights for senior leadership.
- Establish and leverage existing reporting frameworks that improve organizational visibility, accountability, and decision-making.
- Support annual and multi-year planning activities, including Mid-Term Planning, Long-Term Planning, business planning cycles, strategic roadmaps, and investment prioritization.
- Support workforce planning activities across assigned portfolios, ensuring workforce capacity aligns with strategic priorities and delivery objectives.
- Oversee organizational headcount governance, including permanent employees and Outside Service Providers.
- Adhere to standards and monitor workforce utilization, organizational capacity, artificial intelligence and digital skill demand trends, and future capability requirements to proactively identify workforce risks and opportunities.
- Lead workforce readiness initiatives focused on artificial intelligence literacy, digital capability development, and adoption of emerging technologies across R&D IT.
- Support long-term sustainability goals, including reducing the organization's carbon footprint.
- Support capability leaders and business partners in business case development, investment planning, value realization assessments, and funding prioritization decisions.
- Lead operational oversight of budget performance against plan, financial governance processes, investment tracking, resource-related expenditures, and recommend corrective actions where necessary.
- Ensure compliance with AstraZeneca financial policies, governance standards, and planning requirements.
- Experience supporting Digital, Data, Artificial Intelligence, Technology, R&D, or Product organizations.
- Pharmaceutical, biotechnology, healthcare, or regulated industry experience.
- Experience with strategic planning cycles, investment governance, and business case development.
- Knowledge of Lean, Operational Excellence, Continuous Improvement, Agile, or equivalent methodologies.
- Experience with workforce planning, supplier governance, and outsourced service provider management.
- Experience leading artificial intelligence adoption, Generative AI initiatives, Copilot deployments, intelligent automation programs, or workforce AI transformation efforts.
- Experience leveraging ServiceNow, Power BI, Jira, or AirFocus.
- Experience with employee engagement or survey programs.
- Familiarity with technology adoption and enablement programs in large, matrix organizations.
- Independence and ability to lead a matrix cross-functional team.
About the company
AstraZeneca develops and markets prescription medicines and vaccines for global health, focusing on oncology, cardiovascular/metabolic, respiratory, and infectious diseases. Its products work by targeting specific biological pathways or cells to treat diseases or prevent infections, using small-molecule drugs, biologics, and vaccines. The company differentiates itself through its dual heritage from Sweden and the UK, a broad pipeline, and strong R&D with collaborations to move from discovery to patient access across multiple therapeutic areas. Its goal is to improve people’s health by discovering, developing, and delivering medicines and vaccines worldwide.
Company Size
10,001+
Company Stage
IPO
Headquarters
Cambridge, United Kingdom
Founded
1913
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- Sept. 29, 2026 FDA filing for Orpathys-Tagrisso targets EGFR-mutated MET-overexpressing lung cancer.
- Oct. 2026 Medicare-negotiation appeal keeps AstraZeneca fighting for U.S. pricing power.
- July 2026 Tagrisso appellate win preserved a blockbuster and validated its patent moat.
What critics are saying
- Forxiga patents face France, Portugal, and Poland challenges, with an October 2026 trial.
- Lynparza faces Canadian generics in October 2026, threatening near-term ovarian-cancer revenue.
- Tagrisso and Forxiga patent losses would puncture AstraZeneca's cash engines before 2027.
What makes AstraZeneca unique
- Sept. 28, 2026 Summit deal extends AstraZeneca's ADC leadership into PD-1/VEGF combinations.
- July 2026 CLARITY-Gastric01 strengthened sonesitatug vedotin, reinforcing AstraZeneca's GI oncology franchise.
- Sept. 25, 2026 baxdrostat registration shows durable cardiovascular depth beyond oncology.
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Benefits
Health Insurance
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
401(k) Retirement Plan
Paid Vacation
Paid Holidays
Flexible Work Hours
Growth & Insights and Company News
6 month growth
↑ 6%1 year growth
↑ 6%2 year growth
↑ 9%AstraZeneca places a $2B bet on a Summit Therapeutics cancer drug. AstraZeneca's equity investment in Summit Therapeutics comes with plans for clinical trial collaborations. The deal brings AstraZeneca into a growing group of pharmaceutical companies testing the pairing of antibody drug conjugates with PD-1/VEGF bispecific antibodies, a drug combination that could offer advantages in cancer treatment. By Frank Vinluan on September 29, 2026 3:25 pm AstraZeneca is making a $2 billion equity investment in Summit Therapeutics, a business deal that also kicks off a research collaboration that could pursue multiple drug combinations with an initial focus on gastrointestinal cancers. The deal announced after Monday's market close is a vote of confidence in the Summit cancer drug ivonescimab, a bispecific antibody designed to bind to two targets, PD-1 on T cells and VEGF on cancer cells. Several oncology-focused pharmaceutical companies have already struck deals to add such drugs to their pipelines. Summit's late-clinical drug gives AstraZeneca access to a contender in the class. Ivonescimab was developed by China-based Akeso Therapeutics. Phase 3 trial results in lung cancer raised hopes for the molecule as data showed it beat Merck's blockbuster PD-1 inhibitor Keytruda in a head-to-head study. But those results were from a trial in China, where the drug has approvals in lung cancers and is marketed by Akeso. For Summit, ivonescimab's prospects ride on the results of clinical trials the company is conducting in outside of China. Summit holds rights to the drug in North and South America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Japan. We are taking a look at how health insurers are using AI, defining success, and managing cybersecurity risks. Give us your opinions by completing our brief, anonymous survey. AstraZeneca is a leader in the development and commercialization of antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) for cancer. The Summit deal gives AstraZeneca the opportunity to test its experimental ADC sonesitatug vedotin (sone-ve) in combination with ivonescimab. In July, AstraZeneca reported sone-ve led to statistically significant improvement in overall survival, meeting the main goal of a Phase 3 test in CLDN18.2-positive gastric cancers. Detailed trial results are scheduled for presentation at the upcoming European Society for Medical Oncology conference in late October. This medical meeting will also include the presentation of data for ivonescimab in biliary tract cancer. Last month, Summit reported preliminary Phase 3 results showing statistically significant improvement. This pivotal study was conducted by Akeso in China. Drug resistance is one limitation of ADCs, but PD-1/VEGF bispecific antibodies may be able to help. In addition to bringing two distinct approaches to cancer, the dual mechanism also makes the tumor microenvironment more favorable to ADCs, which is hoped to overcome resistance. The potential advantages of combining PD-(L)1/VEGF bispecific antibodies with an ADC has led to a flurry of dealmaking to explore such drug pairings. AbbVie, Bristol Myers Squibb, Merck, Pfizer, and have struck business deals for bispecific antibodies in this class. Biotech companies are also striking deals. Late last year, Crescent Biopharma licensed a Kelun Biopharma ADC it plans to test in combination with its PD-1/VEGF bispecific antibody. AstraZeneca's new collaboration could extend beyond sone-ve. The Summit deal includes a non-binding memorandum of understanding that permits additional clinical trials testing ivonescimab in combination with other AstraZeneca cancer drugs, including other ADCs. presented by We have the opportunity to design systems that give people greater capacity for the work where human presence matters most: listening, understanding, reassuring, deciding, and caring. "A core pillar of our oncology strategy is to broaden the reach of our ADC portfolio as the backbone of treatment across tumor types with combinations alongside next-generation immunotherapies," Susan Galbraith, AstraZeneca executive vice president, oncology hematology R&D, said in a prepared statement. AstraZeneca's Summit investment lends additional validation to the class of bispecific PD-(L)1/VEGF antibodies, Leerink Partners analyst Daina Graybosch said in a research note. But she also characterized the deal as "more tepid than an outright acquisition," adding that while the collaboration may lead AstraZeneca to invest more in Summit, it's also possible the pharma company learns from the trials and then licenses a competing drug in the class. That strategy has precedent. Graybosch pointed to a TROP2-targeting ADC that Merck licensed from Kelun. The deal happened after Merck reviewed data from clinical trials it conducted in collaboration with AstraZeneca and Gilead Sciences. Astrazeneca's agreement with Summit calls for the pharma company to buy about 108,955 shares of its new partner for $18.36 each, representing an 18.6% premium over Monday's closing stock price. The companies will jointly contribute to the costs of the planned clinical trials, which they expect will be sponsored by AstraZeneca. Each company also retains development and commercialization rights to its respective molecules. The deal is expected to close by the end of this week.
AstraZeneca seeks US approval for lung cancer combination. The pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca has submitted an application to the FDA for approval of Orpathys in combination with Tagrisso for locally advanced or metastatic EGFR-mutated lung cancer with MET overexpression or amplification after prior EGFR-directed treatment. Today 11:15 This is stated in a press release from the partner Hutchmed. The application is supported by the phase 3 study SAFFRON, in which the combination improved both progression-free and overall survival compared with platinum-based doublet chemotherapy. Orpathys (with the active substance savolitinib) is being developed jointly through a global collaboration between AstraZeneca and Hutchmed. AstraZeneca 1,677.50 SEK +1.64% (+27.0 SEK)
AstraZeneca has announced a $2 billion equity investment in Summit Therapeutics to advance cancer treatment combinations. The investment will give AstraZeneca approximately 12% of Summit's outstanding common stock. The companies have entered a clinical collaboration to evaluate sonesitatug vedotin, a Claudin-18.2 antibody drug conjugate, combined with ivonescimab, a bispecific antibody targeting PD-1 and VEGF, in gastrointestinal cancers. Trials are set to begin imminently. Each company will retain development and commercial rights to their respective medicines whilst jointly contributing to trial costs. The collaboration aims to broaden AstraZeneca's ADC portfolio across multiple tumour types. AstraZeneca recently reported positive results from the CLARITY-Gastric01 trial for sonesitatug vedotin in advanced gastric cancers, with results to be presented at a 2026 medical congress.
Summit Therapeutics Inc. and astrazeneca enter into clinical trial collaboration to evaluate ivonescimab in combination with sonesitatug vedotin in multiple gastrointestinal cancers. Published on 09/28/2026 at 05:30 pm EDT S&P Capital IQ Summit Therapeutics Inc. entered into a clinical collaboration agreement with AstraZeneca to evaluate sonesitatug vedotin in combination with ivonescimab with the intent to start studies in certain gastrointestinal (GI) cancer settings imminently. Under the terms of the clinical collaboration agreement, each company will contribute their respective compound for the combination studies to be conducted, and the parties will jointly contribute to the costs of such studies, which are intended to be sponsored by AstraZeneca. Each company will retain development and commercial rights to their respective molecules. Moreover, Summit and AstraZeneca intend to evaluate ivonescimab with an additional set of AstraZeneca?s cancer medicines, including other antibody drug conjugates (ADCs). The companies intend to share clinical development costs of potential future studies. Each company will retain their current development and commercial rights to their respective molecules, and the agreement is mutually non-exclusive. There are no additional financial considerations associated with milestones, royalties, revenue-sharing, or profit-sharing. The Memorandum of Understanding with respect to the potential clinical trial collaboration between Summit and AstraZeneca is non-binding, and there can be no assurances that the intended clinical trial collaboration comes to fruition. (C) S&P Capital IQ - 2026
College of Pharmacy recognized at national convention. By Benjamin Waldrum Sept. 25, 2026 | The UAMS College of Pharmacy's student chapter of the Student National Pharmaceutical Association (SNPhA) received an award at its annual convention in August, and several pharmacy students were recognized with individual honors. SNPhA is the official student association of the National Pharmaceutical Association (NPhA). Goodlow posing with a placard listing her as a candidate for public relations liaison, for which she was later elected. This year, the UAMS student chapter received an award for 20% membership growth, notable for a smaller chapter. This year's delegates were third-year students Lynn Duncan, Marissa Bones, Ma'Kyah Goodlow, and Mackenzie Rodgers, along with second-year students Tykia Rankin and Bryce Piper-Eason. "It was an incredible experience," Goodlow said. "We all had a wonderful time networking, learning, and representing UAMS on the national stage." Goodlow was elected as the SNPhA national public relations liaison and was a finalist in AstraZeneca's Medical Science Liaison competition. Goodlow, Duncan, and Piper-Eason participated in the CVS Health Leadership Academy. Rodgers was nominated to serve on the Nominations Committee next year, which helps select and vet key leadership positions. "I am incredibly proud to see our students recognized nationally," said Kendrea Jones, Pharm.D., the chapter's co-advisor. "Their accomplishments reflect the mission of SNPhA to support the professional development of pharmacy students while improving the health of underserved communities. These students have demonstrated leadership, professional growth and a commitment to service throughout the year, and their national recognition is a wonderful reflection of their hard work and the strength of our UAMS chapter." Rodgers, the chapter president this year, worked alongside representatives from around the country to vet candidates for the SNPhA National Executive Board, including candidates from Region 4, which includes Arkansas. "I am incredibly blessed and grateful to serve on this committee engaging with the future pharmacists of the nation," Rodgers said. "I'm thankful for the many connections made at the conference and highly encourage students to take any opportunity to attend a conference at least once throughout your academic career - you never know who you will meet."