Director, Generative AI – Chemical Development

AstraZeneca; Macclesfield; On-site; GBP 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

AstraZeneca is seeking a Director, Generative AI – Chemical Development to shape the GenAI strategy and drive adoption across Chemical Development. You will enable scientists to make faster, data-driven decisions and embed intelligent automation into daily lab and development activities.

You will own the GenAI portfolio, define multi-year roadmaps, and govern AI use while reporting progress to senior leaders.

Qualifications

• Strong understanding of Generative AI, machine learning, and automation in pharma/chemistry environments.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams and influencing senior stakeholders.
• Proven ability to translate complex workflows into AI use cases and product requirements.

Responsibilities

• Define GenAI strategy for Chemical Development and prioritise high-value use cases.
• Lead governance for AI use and ensure regulatory compliance and data integrity.
• Partner with science, QA, regulatory, and IT to implement scalable AI solutions across workflows.

Skills

Generative AI

LLMs

RAG

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Regulatory compliance

Digital strategy

Automation

Job description

Introduction to Role

Are you ready to shape the future of pharmaceutical development through the power of Generative AI? At AstraZeneca, we are pushing the boundaries of science to deliver life-changing medicines. We are seeking a Director, Generative AI – Chemical Development to drive the strategy, prioritisation, and adoption of Generative AI and agentic workflows across Chemical Development. In this pivotal role, you will transform how our scientists make decisions, accelerate CMC delivery, and embed intelligent automation into everyday ways of working.

Accountabilities

As the Director, Generative AI – Chemical Development, you will define and deliver the GenAI and agent strategy for Chemical Development, ensuring alignment with business processes, CMC milestones, quality, compliance, and AstraZeneca's enterprise digital strategy. You will identify and drive high-value opportunities across areas such as technical report generation, knowledge mining, experiment planning support, documentation workflows, risk assessment, and regulatory content support.

Working closely with the Chem Dev Business Process Network, data and process modelling experts, Enterprise AI, and Lab of the Future teams, you will establish a robust prioritisation framework for use cases grounded in value, feasibility, risk, data readiness, and change impact. Partnering with scientific, quality, regulatory, data, IT, and compliance stakeholders, you will ensure that solutions are usable, governed, and scalable.

You will build organisational confidence in GenAI by setting clear expectations for responsible use, human oversight, validation, and risk management, and by creating a roadmap to embed AI into routine scientific workflows and laboratory and development activities.

Typical responsibilities include owning the Chemical Development GenAI portfolio and defining a multi-year roadmap that positions AI as a core capability underpinning future scientific excellence. You will chair or contribute to governance forums for AI use case approval and value realisation, define success metrics such as cycle time reduction, document quality improvement, knowledge retrieval efficiency, and scientist adoption, and communicate vision and progress to senior stakeholders.

Essential Skills / Experience

• Strong understanding of Generative AI, machine learning, scientific informatics, automation, and digital technologies
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams and influencing senior stakeholders across complex organisations
• Proven ability to lead organisational transformation and technology adoption
• Excellent strategic thinking, communication, and executive influencing skills
• Application of GenAI in a scientific setting or similar, with a strong understanding of chemical development workflows
• Expertise in LLMs, RAG, AI agents, and prompt engineering
• Proven ability to translate scientific workflows into AI use cases and product requirements
• Understanding of GxP, data integrity, compliance, and governance
• Experience leading cross-functional digital or AI initiatives
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills
• Experience with scientific documentation, knowledge management, and regulated data
• Proven ability to lead organisational transformation and technology adoption

Desirable

• Pharmaceutical CMC experience

Why AstraZeneca?

At AstraZeneca, we are driven by our purpose to push the boundaries of science to deliver life-changing medicines. Here, you'll be part of a team that thrives on innovation, where digital and AI are transforming every stage of drug development. We foster an inclusive culture that champions diverse perspectives, empowers bold thinking, and rewards those who challenge the status quo. Join us and help redefine what's possible in pharmaceutical development.

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.