Executive Director, Enterprise AI for Discovery

AstraZeneca; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 258,000 - 387,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) plan

Health benefits

Paid vacation & holidays

Job summary

AstraZeneca is seeking an Executive Director, AI for Discovery, to lead the company’s strategy for applying advanced AI and ML across Oncology and BioPharmaceuticals R&D. You will drive integration of AI approaches into target identification, mechanism-of-action understanding, compound optimization, and early discovery decision-making.

You will guide a global organization and partner with Discovery Biology, Chemistry, Translational Medicine, and Enterprise AI to deliver AI-enabled insights that

Qualifications

• PhD, MD, or equivalent in computational/biomedical/chemical sciences.
• 10–12+ years in discovery science or AI/ML in life sciences.
• Proven track record applying AI to discovery and mechanistic biology.
• Experience with multimodal data integration and mechanistic modeling.
• Strong publication record in discovery science or AI-driven biology.
• Experience deploying AI/ML in discovery or early research.
• Executive presence with influence across matrixed organizations.

Responsibilities

• Lead AstraZeneca’s enterprise AI strategy for Discovery, spanning target identification/validation, compound optimization, mechanistic modeling, and hypothesis generation.
• Embed AI capabilities across the discovery ecosystem to enable multimodal data integration, mechanistic modeling, and candidate optimization.
• Translate high-level scientific priorities into a clear portfolio of AI-enabled discovery capabilities.
• Guide, partner, and lead strategies and initiatives at the highest levels within AstraZeneca Discovery at SET, EVP, and SVP levels.
• Serve as a member of Discovery leadership teams in both ORD and BioPharma R&D.
• Foster strong relationships across AI for Science Innovation, Enterprise AI, Data Science, and Therapeutic Areas.
• Define operating models and talent-development paths for a world-class team of AI-fluent discovery scientists and engineers.
• Shape and manage external partnerships with technology providers and academic labs.
• Represent AstraZeneca externally in scientific and regulatory forums.
• Build and lead a high-performing global organization promoting rigor, innovation, and collaboration.
• Lead talent development and succession planning for a team of ~20 direct and indirect reports.

Skills

Executive leadership

AI in life sciences

Cross-functional collaboration

Multimodal data integration

Mechanistic modeling

Scientific publications

AI/ML deployment

Strategic influence

Education

PhD/MD or equivalent

Job description

AstraZeneca is seeking an Executive Director, AI for Discovery, to lead the company’s strategy for applying advanced AI and ML across Oncology and BioPharmaceuticals R&D. You will drive integration of AI approaches into target identification, mechanism-of-action understanding, compound optimization, and early discovery decision-making.

You will guide a global organization and partner with Discovery Biology, Chemistry, Translational Medicine, and Enterprise AI to deliver AI-enabled insights that