Digital & Tech Business Partner - Category & Advanced Research in Surrey

About the role

Haleon is hiring a Director, IT Business Partner – Category Growth & Future Horizons to translate category ambition into technology reality. You will partner with Global Category Leads, R&D, Markets and D&T to build multi‑year digital and data roadmaps that accelerate innovation and growth across Oral Health, VMS, Pain, Respiratory, Digestive Health and Skin. You’ll lead Future Horizons technologies (RWD, AI/ML, sensory/virtual testing, external innovation systems), shape portfolio investments with Strategy and Finance, and act as the enterprise integrator across scientific, commercial and technology teams. We’re looking for a senior techno‑functional leader with deep experience in digital products, data/AI and consumer health/R&D ecosystems—someone who can influence executive stakeholders, drive adoption and deliver measurable business impact.

Key Responsibilities

• Translate category strategies into multi‑year digital & technology roadmaps spanning platforms, data assets, AI/ML, automation, and advanced analytics.
• Identify digital enablers, capability gaps, and cross‑category reuse opportunities needed to power innovation pipelines across categories - Oral Health, VMS, Pain, Respiratory, Digestive Health, and Skin.
• Shape category specific value cases integrating consumer, scientific, and technology insight.
• Ensure all roadmaps align with enterprise architecture, cybersecurity, and data governance standards.
• Connect breakthrough sciences to scalable tech to minimize fragmentation and maximize value creation.
• Lead the identification and evaluation of category enabling futuristic digital platform and services including Rx to OTC switches opportunities (AI/ML, digital health, advanced data platforms, sensors, virtual testing, etc.) that support Real World Data, Consumer Sensory, and External Innovation.
• Partner with RWD and Data Science teams to define technology needs for acquisition, integration, and analysis of real-world data.
• Support Consumer Sensory and Insights teams with digital tools for sensory panels/Observatory, experiment design, virtual shelves, and preference modelling; ensure outputs are integrated into data products used by R&D and Category teams.
• Work with External Innovation team to define systems supporting opportunity scouting, evaluation, due diligence, and partnership management.
• Ensure future‑horizon insights are incorporated into category strategies, R&D and Digital & Tech planning cycles, and enterprise technology roadmaps.
• Act as the “connective tissue” across R&D, Category, Commercial, Regulatory, Medical, Supply Chain, and Digital & Tech to align on technology‑enabled innovation priorities.
• Facilitate and chair cross‑functional forums to assess technical feasibility, digital readiness, data requirements, and resource implications for key initiatives.
• Negotiate platform prioritization, sequencing, and trade‑offs with senior leaders, balancing short‑term delivery and long‑term strategic investments.
• Build strong, trust‑based relationships across scientific, commercial, and technology stakeholders to drive adoption of digital and data‑enabled ways of working.
• Provides senior governance required to harmonize platform strategies, avoid duplicative investments, improve sequencing and prioritization, strengthening interoperability across categories and markets.
• Partner with R&D Portfolio, Digital & Tech Portfolio Management, Finance, and Strategy to shape a category‑aligned technology investment portfolio across Growth and Future Horizons.
• Apply consistent evaluation frameworks that consider business value, technical complexity, re‑use of platforms, risk, and time‑to‑impact.
• Contribute to annual operating plans and long‑range planning with clear technology and data perspectives for each category and Future Horizons initiative set.
• Define, track, and communicate value realisation metrics for key initiatives.
• Ensure Haleon leads and is able to match emerging tech with market opportunities leading to uniquely differentiated competitive advantage.
• Serve as senior product owner for key core enabling digital products.
• Collaborate with the rest of the product function to ensure there is no overlap and redundancies.
• Work closely with Product, Data & Analytics, Architecture, Cybersecurity, and Delivery teams to prioritize backlogs, manage dependencies, and ensure timely, high‑quality delivery.
• Ensure solutions are designed for scalability, interoperability, and reuse across categories and markets.
• Drive robust change management and adoption plans, including training, communications, and ongoing user engagement.
• Monitor emerging technologies, digital health trends, data science advancements, consumer‑tech innovation, and competitors’ digital moves relevant to Haleon’s categories.
• Engage with external partners, vendors, startups, academic institutions, and innovation networks to identify new digital and technology opportunities.
• Bring forward curated insights and options that shape category strategies, Tier 3 /breakthrough innovation bets, and R&D Digital & Tech exploration.

Knowledge, Skills & Competencies (Who you are)

• Deep understanding of digital product development, data platforms, analytics, and R&D / consumer health technology ecosystems.
• Strong familiarity with Real World Data, consumer insights/sensory science platforms, and/or external innovation systems.
• Ability to translate category, consumer, and scientific needs into technology requirements, data models, and platform strategies.
• Skilled in assessing technical feasibility, architectural implications, and implementation risk.
• Proven ability to synthesize complex scientific, commercial, and technical inputs into clear strategic recommendations and roadmaps.
• Experience with opportunity assessment, scenario planning, and value‑case development for technology‑enabled initiatives.
• Demonstrated ability to influence and challenge senior leaders in a matrixed, global organization.
• Exceptional stakeholder management, negotiation, and consensus‑building skills.
• High curiosity and foresight to spot emerging digital, data, and technology trends and translate them into practical options for Haleon.
• Extensive experience across R&D Tech, digital strategy, category strategy, innovation leadership, data & analytics or IT business partnering.

Success Measures (First 12–18 Months)

• Clear, approved multi‑year digital & data roadmaps for Category Growth and Future Horizons.
• RWD, Consumer Sensory, and External Innovation teams use modern, integrated tools as part of their standard ways of working.
• Demonstrable impact of digital and data initiatives on category growth, innovation hit‑rate, and speed of decision‑making.
• Category and R&D leaders regard the Director, IT Business Partner – Category Growth & Future Horizons as a trusted, strategic advisor and key member of the extended leadership team.

Equal Opportunities

Haleon are committed to mobilising our purpose in a way that represents the diverse consumers and communities who rely on our brands every day. It guides us in creating an inclusive culture, where different backgrounds and views are valued and respected – all in support of understanding and best serving the needs of our consumers and unleashing the full potential of our people. It’s important to us that Haleon is a place where all our employees feel they truly belong.

Adjustment or Accommodations Request

If you require a reasonable adjustment or accommodation or other assistance to apply for a job at Haleon at any stage of the application process, please let your recruiter know by providing them with a description of specific adjustments you are requesting. We’ll provide all reasonable adjustments to support you throughout the recruitment process and treat all information you provide us in confidence.