Business UAT Lead

AstraZeneca•Durham, NC

About The Position

AstraZeneca is a global, science-led, patient-focused biopharmaceutical company. We focus on discovering, developing and commercialising prescription medicines for some of the world’s most serious diseases. But we are more than one of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies. At AstraZeneca, we’re dedicated to being a Great Place to Work. Where you are empowered to push the boundaries of science, challenge convention and unleash your entrepreneurial spirit. To embrace differences and take bold actions to drive the change needed to meet global healthcare and sustainability challenges. There is no better place to make a difference in medicine, patients, and society. An inclusive culture where you will connect different thinking to generate new and valuable opportunities. Where you will find a commitment to lifelong learning, growth and development for all. Our Inclusion & Diversity (I&D) mission is to create an inclusive and equitable environment where people belong, using the power of our diversity to push the boundaries of science to deliver life-changing medicines to patients. Inclusion and diversity are fundamental to the success of our company, because innovation requires breakthrough ideas that only come from a diverse workforce empowered to challenge conventional thinking. We’re curious about science and the advancement of knowledge. We find creative ways to approach new challenges. We’re driven to make the right choices and be accountable for our actions. As an organisation centred around what makes us human, we put a big focus on people. Across our business, we want colleagues to wake up excited about their day at the office, in the field, or in the lab. Along with our purpose to bring life-changing medicines to people across the globe, we have a promise to you: to help you realise the full breadth of your potential. Here, you’ll do work that has the potential to change your life and improve countless others. And, together with your team, you’ll shape a culture that unites and inspires us every day. This is your life at AstraZeneca.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field
Proven experience in software testing, business analysis, QA, or validation with hands-on UAT leadership
Practical experience using Jira for test management, defect tracking, reporting, and traceability
Proficiency with test tools and test data management
Strong written and verbal communication and presentation skills
Effective stakeholder management with SMEs, project managers, system owners, and IT leads
Flexibility and adaptability in dynamic environments
Solid understanding of System Lifecycle Management, release management, and change control
Knowledge of GxP and working in regulated environments
Analytical problem solving and defect resolution
Experience with UAT metrics and reporting including coverage, defect trends, exit criteria
Experience onboarding business testers to tools, execution protocols, and the defect lifecycle

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree or equivalent or relevant professional certifications
Experience in pharmaceutical, biotech, or other highly regulated industries including validation, documentation, and audit readiness
Experience using and developing automated test tools and frameworks and understanding where automation supports UAT versus manual business validation

Responsibilities

UAT Strategy and Planning: Define and execute the UAT approach, ensuring the Project Lead and key stakeholders understand objectives, scope, acceptance criteria, test levels/cycles, risks, time/effort/cost estimates, resource needs, and incident management plans. Adapt plans based on progress and results, documenting changes as needed.
Scope, Scripting, and Approval: Consolidate the UAT scope with business and IT stakeholders. Drive UAT scenario design and scripting with business SMEs, manage modifications, and obtain required approvals.
Execution Management: Schedule, coordinate, and facilitate UAT sessions with business users and stakeholders. Monitor test cycles, track results, assess exit criteria, and ensure timely defect triage and resolution.
Tooling and Test Readiness: Ensure business testers are onboarded to Jira and relevant test tools, including how to run scripts, record results, and raise/track defects. Coordinate test data setup and maintain adequate configuration management for traceability across requirements, test cases, defects, and releases.
Governance, Compliance, and Training: Ensure UAT activities meet GxP and organizational policies. Confirm CornerStone UAT training completion before test execution. Create the UAT Test Report and coordinate formal sign-offs.
Stakeholder Engagement: Align the business test strategy and plan with the Project Manager, System Owner, IT Test Lead, and other stakeholders. Communicate the testing perspective to adjacent activities such as integration planning and release management.
Metrics and Reporting: Establish and track suitable metrics for test progress, coverage, defect quality, and product readiness. Ensure UAT status and outcomes are accurately documented in Jira and reflected in the UAT Test Report, highlighting risks, dependencies, and recommended go/no-go decisions.
System Validation and Release Readiness: Ensure system validation activities are completed and documented, and secure approval to launch into production in line with validation protocols.
Resource Coordination: Confirm SME allocation for UAT, manage tester availability, and proactively communicate delays or constraints impacting UAT execution.
Policy and Strategy Contributions: Write or review the project test strategy and contribute to the organization’s test policy and continuous improvement of testing practices. Support Access Management activities.
Backup Responsibilities: Act as backup to the System Owner/Functional Process Owner within the assigned area when required.