Director, Operations IT - Program Manager

At AstraZeneca, we are dedicated to being a Great Place to Work. Where you are empowered to push the boundaries of science and ignite 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. Always committed to lifelong learning, growth and development.

Introduction to the role

The Director, Operations IT - Program Manager is responsible for steering projects and/or programs to success in a fast-paced and complex environment. As leader, coordinator and facilitator, you will be accountable for end-to-end delivery of projects and/or programs within allocated budget and timeline, ensuring the use of adequate project management methodologies, tools and techniques that will ensure business value delivery in each phase of the project.

Accountabilities

• Managing medium to large-scale programs and projects with budgets exceeding USD 5 million; your primary responsibility will be to ensure projects of high complexity are delivered to the business. This involves strategically overseeing all facets of the project, including scope, schedule, budget, and resources, while actively identifying and mitigating risks.
• You will ensure that all activities align with organizational goals and values, and provide regular updates and reports to senior leadership and key partners.
• Identifying dependencies that may affect the project adversely and implement measures to mitigate these impacts.
• Financial management is vital as you will manage and report on finances accurately, including timely accruals and forecasting, while creating program roadmaps that outline business benefits.
• Manage third party statements of work, deliverables, acceptance criteria, and costs.
• Adhering to AstraZeneca's established project management standards and leading the continuous improvement of the project management practice.
• Effective coordination with internal teams and external vendors is also necessary to ensure seamless execution of project phases within a complex matrix environment.
• Governance and compliance are critical elements, with the expectation to establish and enforce project governance while ensuring adherence to good practices and applicable regulations.
• The use of verification techniques is essential for managing changes and overseeing project plan updates, ensuring that stakeholders are adequately informed.
• Continuous monitoring and re-assessment of stakeholder engagement, risks, and dependencies, coupled with the implementation of best practices, will contribute to project success.
• Finally, coaching and mentoring Technical Project Managers or Technical Leads when applicable is part of the accountability in fostering growth and competency within the team.
• Effective communication and team management are crucial elements of this role.

Essential Skills & Experience

• Bachelor's degree (technical or business) or equivalent experience.
• Formal certification on project management methodologies.
• Proficient at strategically managing each of the project typical areas: scope, budget, risk, resources and quality.
• Strategic approach for planning and decision making.
• Extensive experience working in global organizations, leading globally disperse teams and stakeholders.
• Broad experience managing end-to-end medium to large projects (from 5 USD M or project teams bigger than 15 people).
• Proven experience managing demanding deadlines and business goals.
• Experience leading IT projects (platform integrations, infrastructure, IT/OT, etc.).
• Prior experience working in manufacturing, supply chain and quality domains as an SME.
• Superb communication skills, including experience dealing with diverse teams.
• Conflict management and negotiation skills.
• High flexibility and resilient style of leadership, prior experience acting as people manager.
• Comfortable working with ambiguity.
• Experience leading teams through change.
• Experience leading the technical teams in their way to shaping immature demands into structured or introducing new technologies or scaling existent solutions.
• Proficiency in managing relationships with third-party vendors, ensuring deliverables meet requirements and expectations.

Why AstraZeneca?

At AstraZeneca, our work has a direct impact on patients by transforming our ability to develop life-changing medicines. We’re a network of high-reaching self-starters who contribute to something far bigger. Ready to make a meaningful impact? Apply today!