Senior Director, Data & AI Policy, Assurance, and Monitoring in Macclesfield

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.

Introduction to role

The Senior Director, Data & AI Policy, Assurance, and Monitoring leads the enterprise approach to defining, implementing, and assuring Data and AI standards and controls, owning how these are monitored, tested, and reported on for effectiveness. This role turns regulatory, ethical, and risk requirements into pragmatic, automated, and scalable policies and controls that enable safe, responsible use of data and AI at scale. By converting standards into embedded controls and overseeing monitoring and assurance, this position drives policy-to-practice execution and provides clear, insightful reporting to senior leadership. Ready to shape how a global organisation uses data and AI with confidence?

Accountabilities

• Lead the ownership, maintenance, and right-sizing of the enterprise Data & AI standards and control framework, ensuring alignment with business strategy, risk appetite, and external regulations.
• Translate regulatory and ethical requirements into clear, pragmatic, and scalable enterprise standards that cover key data and AI use cases across the organisation.
• Design, build, or partner to embed associated Data & AI controls into business processes, platforms, and tooling, with a strong emphasis on automation and “control-by-design”.
• Drive enterprise-wide adoption of Data & AI standards and controls in a federated environment, influencing stakeholders and shaping change management plans that enable consistent, sustainable implementation.
• Continuously improve Data & AI standards and controls based on stakeholder feedback, emerging technologies, evolving risks, and regulatory change.
• Act as the enterprise authority on Data & AI control expectations, providing interpretation and guidance to senior stakeholders, technology teams, and business leaders.
• Establish robust monitoring and assurance to evaluate Data & AI control effectiveness and sustain compliance, including KPI and maturity reporting to senior leadership.
• Drive improvements in performance measures related to Data & AI standards and controls, ensuring tangible impact on risk management and value delivery.
• Establish and lead the enterprise operating model for Data & AI Policy, Assurance, and Monitoring, defining accountabilities, decision rights, escalation paths, governance forums, and stakeholder engagement across business units, regions, and functions.
• Partner effectively across functions and levels to actively listen, resolve conflicts constructively, and co-create solutions that achieve shared goals.
• Synthesise complex issues into concise narratives for high-stakes forums, anticipating stakeholder concerns, navigating ambiguity, and driving alignment and decisions.
• Demonstrate strong executive presence, building credibility quickly and communicating with clarity and confidence to influence senior executive leadership in forums such as Audit Committee or data governance councils.

Essential Skills/Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Information/Data Science, Informatics, Computer Science, Economics, or related discipline – or equivalent number of years of experience.
• In-depth and demonstrated knowledge of standards, controls, assurance, and monitoring for Data and AI capabilities applicable to the Pharma industry.
• Demonstrated ability to build and lead a high‑performing team with deep expertise in enterprise Data & AI standards and controls.
• Champion a culture of responsible, compliant, and value‑focused use of data and AI across the organisation.
• Familiarity with relevant data and AI regulations and compliance requirements (e.g. GxP, GDPR, EU AI Act, NIS2, etc.).
• Demonstrated project leadership skills. Demonstrate effective communication skills with the ability to influence others to achieve objectives.
• Proven change management, collaboration, and negotiation skills.

Desirable Skills/Experience

• 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.
• 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 leading teams responsible for red‑teaming, control testing, and second‑line assurance over Data & AI risks and controls.
• Exposure publishing relevant data and / or AI governance and policy topics in peer-reviewed journals, conferences, and other scientific proceedings.

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 offers the chance to shape a truly digital and data-led enterprise where work directly influences how life-changing medicines are discovered, developed, and delivered. Here technology platforms, advanced analytics, AI and machine learning are combined with leading science to solve complex problems at pace. Colleagues are encouraged to experiment with modern tools, challenge the status quo, learn continuously through initiatives such as hackathons and mentoring programmes, and collaborate across diverse teams and functions. With strong investment in data capabilities and a constant flow of new challenges in emerging areas, this is a place to take ownership, grow quickly, build industry-defining solutions and see the impact of your work on patients worldwide.

If this role excites you and you are ready to help shape AstraZeneca’s digital journey in Data & AI Policy, Assurance, and Monitoring, apply now.