Director Data & AI Policy, Assurance, and Monitoring

We're building a connected, end-to-end Enterprise AI engine - uniting data foundations, AI technology, process reinvention, and business-facing AI to accelerate results across the whole value chain. Success depends on being exceptional connectors: you'll actively leverage existing capabilities, celebrate and promote reuse, export breakthrough ideas across geographies and functions, and obsess over scaling impact rather than building in isolation. If you thrive in high-collaboration environments where your role is to turn complex, cross-functional problems into reusable, enterprise-wide capabilities - and where the measure of success is adoption and scale, not just innovation - you'll have the platform (and sponsorship) to make it real.   

The Director Data & AI Policy, Assurance, and Monitoring will help put policy into practice by translating enterprise Data & AI requirements into actionable standards, controls, and guidance that work for business domains to make data AI-ready, trusted, and fit for responsible use at scale. 

Reporting to the Senior Director, Head of Data & AI Policy, Assurance and Monitoring, this role will own selected standards and controls, lead initiatives to secure approval and endorsement, and champion adoption with Data Offices, Data Owners, Business Technology Groups and other enterprise partners. 

The role is designed to make governance practical and repeatable, ensuring that standards are not only written and approved, but embedded into day-to-day ways of working, supported by clear ownership, change management, evidence of adoption and measurable risk reduction. 

Typical Accountabilities 

• Translate policy requirements for Data & AI into practical implementation expectations, adoption plans and guidance that can be applied across business domains. 

• Champion adoption of approved Data & AI standards and controls across SET-area Data Offices, Data Owners, business domains and technology teams. 

• Serve as owner or delivery lead for assigned Data & AI standards and associated controls, including requirements, implementation guidance and lifecycle management. 

• Maintain traceability between regulatory expectations, enterprise risks, standards, controls, assurance activities and adoption measures. 

• Partner with Legal, Compliance, Privacy, Cyber Security, Enterprise Risk Management, Enterprise Data Enablement and Data Offices to ensure standards remain current, proportionate and business-relevant. 

• Lead initiatives to progress standards and controls through review, endorsement and approval forums. 

• Facilitate working sessions with Data Offices, business domains and enabling functions to resolve issues, clarify ownership and build consensus. 

• Develop and execute change management, communications, training and stakeholder engagement plans to support consistent implementation. 

• Identify implementation barriers and drive pragmatic resolution with accountable owners and senior stakeholders. 

• Lead cross-functional projects that strengthen adoption of standards and controls. 

• Support assurance and monitoring activities for controls through coordination, leadership, and influence. 

• Use stakeholder feedback, assurance insights and implementation lessons to simplify standards, improve controls and increase adoption. 

• Demonstrated ability to synthesise complex issues into concise narratives, anticipating stakeholder concerns, and navigating ambiguity. 

• Executive presence with the ability to build credibility quickly, communicate with clarity and confidence, and influence senior leadership at forums such as the Enterprise Data Enablement LT, or SET-area Data Offices Leadership. 

Essential: 

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Information/Data Science, Informatics, Computer Science, Economics, or related discipline – or equivalent number of years of experience. 

• Proven ability to translate policy requirements for Data & AI into practical implementation expectations, adoption plans and guidance that can be applied across business domains. 

• In-depth and demonstrated knowledge of standards, controls, assurance, and monitoring for Data and AI capabilities applicable to the Pharma industry. 

• Champion a culture of responsible, compliant, and value‑focused use of data and AI across the organisation. 

• Familiarity and up to date on relevant data and AI regulations and compliance requirements (e.g. GxP, GDPR, EU AI Act, NIS2, etc.). 

• Proven ability to develop strong partnerships with other areas of the business such as Legal, Compliance, Cyber Security, Enterprise Risk Management, Data Offices, etc.). 

• Experience with the enterprise-wide rollout of standards and / or controls related to Data and AI. 

• Strong project leadership skills.  

• Effective communication skills with the ability to influence others to achieve objectives. 

• Proven facilitation skills to lead workshops. 

• Proven change management, collaboration, and negotiation skills.  

• Ability to simplify complex issues, navigate ambiguity, and drive stakeholder alignment.  

• Executive presence with the credibility and influence of engaging senior leaders across Enterprise Data Enablement and Data Offices. 

Desirable: 

• Master’s or PhD in Business Administration, Information/Data Science, Informatics, Computer Science, Economics, or related discipline.  

• Experience in life sciences and healthcare. 

• Intimate knowledge of relevant key business processes in the Pharma industry. 

• Experience operationalising controls through automation (“control-by-design”). 

• Practical knowledge of ISO/IEC 42001 (Artificial Intelligence Management Systems). 

• Practical knowledge of NIST AI Risk Management Framework.  

• Data and / or AI Governance and Data Management education and certifications.  

• Applied data management, data science, AI development, or AI governance skills, including experience with related tools.  

• Experience with red‑teaming, control testing, and/or second‑line assurance over Data & AI risks and controls. 

Why AstraZeneca?  

At AstraZeneca we’re dedicated to being a Great Place to Work. Where you are empowered to push the boundaries of science and unleash your entrepreneurial spirit. There’s no better place to make a difference to medicine, patients and society. An inclusive culture that champions diversity and collaboration, and always committed to lifelong learning, growth and development. We’re on an exciting journey to pioneer the future of healthcare.  

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.