Senior Director, Data Strategy & Performance

AstraZeneca; London; Hybrid; GBP 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

A global pharmaceutical company is seeking a Senior Director, Data Strategy & Performance to enhance data capabilities and ensure alignment with strategic goals. This role requires strong analytical and strategic skills, excellent communication, and extensive experience in the pharmaceutical sector. You will oversee performance metrics and lead a high-performing team to drive continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a business partnering role within a shared services or GBS environment.
• Experience in preparing for high-level customer interactions.
• Understanding of market dynamics in a GBS context.

Responsibilities

• Develop a strategy for the GBS Data Office that enhances data capabilities.
• Oversee GBS Data Office performance delivery with established KPIs.
• Build strong relationships with key stakeholders for strategic alignment.

Skills

Business partnering

Analytical skills

Strategic thinking

Communication

Relationship management

Education

Experience in the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry

Job description

Overview

Senior Director, Data Strategy & Performance

Location: Cambridge, Luton, Lisbon

The Strategy & Performance Director plays a critical role within the Global Business Services (GBS) service, representing a specific area of GBS (either functional or enterprise service) and ensuring its strategic needs are met. This role requires a deep understanding of the holistic strategy of the customer, including pricing, volume, demand, and opportunities across GBS. A key responsibility is to collate and present the GBS story, effectively communicating value and performance to the customer. This role demands a strategic thinker with excellent analytical skills, capable of influencing senior leaders and driving performance improvements across the organisation.

This role will report to the Head of the GBS Data Office. The GBS Data Office provides a broad range of data services covering the Commercial, Finance and Enabling units. Our scope covers Data Governance, Stewardship and Assurance across numerous critical data sets, including the provision of data management services (creation, maintenance and retirement of data across its life-cycle) and the on-boarding of external commercial data to AZ systems. The team has expanded significantly over the last 24 months to c. 150+ team members, reflecting the growing team capabilities, proven track record of transitioning services (either insourcing or role transitions) and the wider enterprise need to invest in the data foundation.

The Data Strategy & Performance Director plays a critical role for the GBS Data office team and covers three main areas:-

• Develop a strategy for the GBS Data Office that will enhance the data capabilities across our existing services, identify opportunities to expand our scope to other data sets and meet emerging business demands. A key measure of success will be translating an ambitious strategy into plan execution: developing implementation approaches, consideration of transition planning, service management framework, ensuring resource management and capability build are in place, which will ultimately realise business value
• In close partnership with the Head of GBS Data office and Data Leaders from other business functions, contribute to the wider AstraZeneca data and analytics strategy development. This can include developing strategic proposals for consideration at AstraZeneca’s Enterprise Data Governance Council, evaluating new data services or capabilities, partnering with functional leaders to assess data challenges and develop business cases that create value or generate cost savings.
• Oversee the GBS Data Office performance delivery, including establishing an annual delivery plan, working with Team Leads to ensure stretch performance targets are in place for service lines, including key KPIs, SLAs and value measures. Monitor monthly performance and provide regular reporting to the GDO LT and wider the GBS team, including analysis on performance issues. Coordinate annual budget activities to ensure internal recharge processes are well executed, including monitoring service pricing and agreeing service provisions with internal customers.

The role demands a strategic thinker with excellent analytical skills, capable of influencing senior leaders, with strong communication skills and a track record of driving change across the organisation.

Typical Accountabilities

• Analysing pricing, volume, demand, and opportunities to inform decision-making and strategic planning.
• Collaborating with GBS teams to ensure alignment of services with customer expectations and strategic goals.
• Enabling the collection and dissemination of information to articulate the GBS value proposition to the customer.
• Driving continuous performance improvements and strategic initiatives within the GBS service.
• Monitoring and reporting on GBS performance metrics, identifying areas for improvement and growth.
• Governance of the overall delivery and relationship with the customer, including risk management.
• Leveraging external perspectives, industry research, and best practices to support innovation and strategic development across GBS.
• Building strong relationships with key stakeholders to influence and drive strategic alignment.
• Driving the development of business cases for the delivery of new demand or services.
• Ensuring compliance with relevant regulations and standards in all strategic activities.
• Long-term strategic planning for the service, including existing and/or new capabilities, working with the Head of Strategy, GBS, to ensure alignment with GBS strategy.
• Defining and delivering the communication plans, aligning with the central GBS Communication team.
• Service design, including operating model inclusive of processes, org design, technology requirements, pricing, etc.
• Lead and inspire a high-performing team, fostering a culture of skill development and accountability through effective people management, strategic leadership and line management where applicable.

Essential skills and experience:

• Proven experience in a business partnering role within a shared services or GBS environment.
• Strong analytical and strategic capabilities with a focus on pricing, volume, and demand analysis.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to influence senior leaders.
• Experience in preparing for and participating in high-level customer interactions and boards.
• Demonstrated ability to align services with strategic goals and drive performance improvements.
• Strong relationship management skills and ability to work effectively in a matrix organisation.
• Ability to synthesise complex information and tell a compelling story about GBS value and performance.
• Experience in the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry.
• Understanding of market dynamics and strategic planning in a GBS context.
• Familiarity with industry best practices and benchmarks in strategy and performance management.

Desirable skills and experience:

• GBS Acumen: Comprehensive understanding of the GBS space, as well as a clear understanding of the external marketplace (current & future) to shape new opportunities. Experience in both Captive and BPO.
• Experience in digital transformation and strategic change initiatives
• Awareness of data governance capabilities

Why AstraZeneca?

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. Join us in our unique and ambitious world.

AstraZeneca is where scientific leadership changes patients’ lives! With science at its heart, this is where breakthroughs born in the lab become transformative medicine for the world’s most complex diseases. We strive to understand diverse populations\' needs and act accordingly, striving to transform healthcare for everyone. Our ground-breaking pipeline promises a bright future with exciting opportunities. Be proud to take your place in our global enterprise as we lead the way for healthcare and society.

Ready to Apply?

Help us shape the future. Submit your application and join a team that’s creating meaningful change for people and communities everywhere.

Date Posted

19-Sept-2025

Closing Date

28-Sept-2025

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.