Axial Data Design Lead – Clinical Supply - 24 Month Secondment

AstraZeneca; Macclesfield; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global pharmaceutical company is seeking an Axial Data Design Lead for a 24-month secondment based in Macclesfield. This role is crucial for driving data standards and governance in the S/4HANA implementation. The ideal candidate will have significant experience in Supply Chain and Distribution, strong leadership qualities, and knowledge of SAP systems. This position provides an exciting opportunity to contribute to a transformative project enhancing data management processes globally.

Qualifications

• Significant subject matter experience in Supply Chain & Distribution.
• Experience designing Data Standards for a global enterprise.
• Demonstrable SAP working knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate business data requirements within S/4 HANA design.
• Define and document clear Data Standards and Governance processes.
• Lead data localisation and transformation activities.

Skills

Supply Chain & Distribution knowledge

Leadership skills

Project Management skills

Tools

SAP

Job description

Axial Data Design Lead – Clinical Supply - 24 Month Secondment

Macclesfield / Sweden

The Axial Programme (Global S/4HANA implementation)

AstraZeneca (AZ) is in a period of rapid 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 innovative 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, the Axial 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.

Introduction to the role

The Axial Data Lead – Clinical Supply is responsible for coordinating on all business data requirements within the S/4 HANA design and deployment process, along with defining and documenting clear Data Standards including robust Data Management and Governance processes and enable data readiness at the point of go-live.

The role is aligned to the Enterprise Process Owner (EPO) organisation and is responsible for owning the relationship between the Axial Data organisation and the EPO team, representing Clinical Supply data demands across interlinked EPO areas, and proactively engaging with the wider business (including Clinical organisation, Data Offices, Governance Forums and local Sites) to ensure that the S/4 data design meets business requirements, aligns to SAP standard where possible and that S/4 data can be used with confidence achieving a Quality Core at go-live.

What you'll do

Land S/4HANA target state business data standards by providing data leadership, stewardship and data subject matter expertise into the process and data design cycles, ensuring process designs align with S/4HANA data best practice concepts, process data requirements are collected and consolidated into robust data documentations and are appropriately managed during interim state.

• Lead the definition, documentation and implementation of S/4 Enterprise Data standards related to assigned data domain, including master data, reference data and metadata – confirming the business context and ensuring approval in accordance with defined data governance. To include the development of conceptual models, business glossary and ontologies.
• Apply data, process and object expertise to support the S/4 process and technical design, acting as an integral part of the EPO process team, considering both business process and analytics requirements.
• Collect and share relevant as-is data structures and harmonisation assessments alongside best practice to-be Data Design proposals and feed into the Global Design process where useful.
• Deliver effective global data management processes and procedures to ensure that each data asset, is governed throughout its lifecycle working closely with the Axial and BAU Data Governance teams.

Ensure data readiness at Axial go-live through leading the data localisation within the assigned data domain enabling the data migration and steering the data quality approach, interim state, and the ongoing management of data to ensure that it remains fit for purpose post deployment.

• Lead data domain related data localisation and transformation activities by integrating closely with the local site and relevant clinical and supply chain teams educating on new Axial data standards identifying and embedding relevant local FLSR driven specifics and supporting the data collections and transformations.
• Pro-actively drive the localisation workshop and working session agenda to land all relevant data requirement inputs in-line with programme plan, which includes acceleration of relevant business process design discussions as and where relevant.
• Act as the gate keeper for overarching domain related data policies during Axial deployments ensure all data aspects comply with the Axial Data Governance Framework, AZ Global Data Standards and overarching R2R EPO process standards.
• Pro-actively drive the data agenda within the Integrated Work Package ensuring relevant data dependencies are prioritised and requirements closed in-line with programme delivery requirements in relevant workshops and working sessions
• Define and drive the change journey from current to future state data design including completion of change impact assessments as well as the broader data education and change initiatives.
• Support relationship with current business data capability to ensure that S/4 design and the wider enterprise data design remain aligned (to include support of interim state).
• Own and execute the Data Management related Testing activities and support the broader data defect resolutions during deployment and go-live phases.

Provide support to the data cleanse & migration processes, providing necessary business inputs (Designs, relevancy rules, harmonisation rules) steering data cleanse scope and priority while enabling the technical migration activities to build from.

Essential Skills & Experience

• Significant subject matter experience and demonstrated business process execution knowledge in Supply Chain & Distribution / R&D Trials or Clinical business
• Experience of designing and implementing Data Standards for a global enterprise with significant geographical and functional footprint.
• Demonstrable SAP working knowledge in an SAP environment, including an understanding of how data integrates within an SAP architecture (S4 desired).
• Strong leadership skills including demonstrate ability to drive clear prioritisation, explain complex data concepts to business users, influence senior stakeholders and negotiate across complex groups to achieve objectives
• Team Leadership and Management experience
• Solid Project Management skills.

Desirable Skills & Experience

• Experience in working with the clinical supply organisation
• S/4 HANA implementation programme experience
• Experience in designing and implementing data management processes
• Experience with global working and across cultures.
• Experience in life sciences and healthcare.

Why AstraZeneca?

At AstraZeneca, we are one purpose-led global organisation. We are 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.

Ready to make a difference? Join us in this exciting journey of transformation and innovation!

Apply Today!

Date Posted

22-Dec-2025

Closing Date

11-Jan-2026

Our mission is to build an inclusive and equitable environment. We want people to feel they belong at AstraZeneca and Alexion, starting with our recruitment process. We welcome and consider applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of characteristics. We offer reasonable adjustments/accommodations to help all candidates to perform at their best. If you have a need for any adjustments/accommodations, please complete the section in the application form.