Director, Data Analytics

Cencora•Houston, TX

About The Position

Cencora Alliance Healthcare UK is seeking a senior data leader to set the direction for and lead delivery of its data and analytics capability during a significant transformation. The role combines strategic leadership with accountability for delivery: shaping a multi-year roadmap, leading the team that delivers it, and improving data governance across the organization. The future technology stack is focused on Azure, Databricks and Power BI, while a large-scale transformation of legacy systems is underway. The Director will translate the enterprise-wide Data & Analytics strategy into business outcomes and position the function for future needs. This includes identifying and embedding responsible uses of AI to streamline work, improve the quality and speed of data and analytics output, and help the business optimize operations, improve customer outcomes and strengthen competitive advantage. The role is accountable for establishing the policies, ownership, tooling and culture needed to keep data trusted, secure and compliant, taking a pragmatic approach to the pace of change the business can absorb. Reporting to the Senior Director, Analytics & Data Management, the Director will own data product delivery, business value realization, governance and compliance, financial and commercial management, stakeholder engagement, and team development. The role also contributes to the wider Cencora and International Business Group data community. Healthcare or pharmaceutical wholesale experience would be advantageous.

Requirements

Significant senior experience leading data, analytics or technology delivery within large, complex organizations.
Demonstrable accountability for a significant budget, including forecasting, business cases and cost control.
A proven record of developing and communicating a strategic data or technology roadmap and successfully executing it.
Leadership experience developing cross-functional teams and managing senior-level stakeholders.
Exceptional communication, presentation and reporting skills, with the ability to engage and influence technical and non-technical audiences.
Deep understanding of data platforms, data governance and analytics solutions and their business applications.
Experience establishing or improving governance in a low-maturity environment.
Practical knowledge of applying AI and machine learning to improve data and analytics processes, including associated governance and risk considerations.
Experience leading change and delivering in fast-moving, high-pressure environments, ideally including cloud migration or legacy platform modernization.
Knowledge of programme or portfolio management methodologies such as Agile, SAFe, Prince2 or equivalent.
Recognized data, governance or programme management qualifications, or experience maturing Data Governance capabilities.
Leadership qualities including strategic vision, delivery focus, financial stewardship, stakeholder influence, collaboration, adaptability, resilience and sound problem-solving.

Nice To Haves

Experience in change management in healthcare, pharmaceuticals, supply chain or similarly regulated industries.
Hands-on familiarity with Azure, Databricks and Power BI.
Familiarity with data governance tooling such as catalogue, lineage and data quality platforms.
Experience with FinOps or cloud cost management.
Healthcare or pharmaceutical wholesale experience.

Responsibilities

Define, own and regularly refresh a multi-year Data & Analytics roadmap aligned with enterprise strategy and future business needs.
Translate the roadmap into a prioritized, sequenced and costed portfolio of initiatives with clear milestones, dependencies, trade-offs and measurable outcomes.
Advise senior leaders on data and AI trends, platform direction, and related business opportunities and risks.
Balance near-term delivery, including legacy migration, with longer-term capability development and innovation.
Contribute to the wider Cencora and International Business Group data community, aligning UK plans with global standards, platforms and shared services where appropriate.
Own end-to-end delivery of data products and oversee planning, prioritization and execution across multiple business areas.
Establish delivery frameworks and standards, set timelines, monitor progress, address risks and delays, and communicate the value of delivered data products.
Lead migration from legacy systems such as Cognos, Oracle and Qlik to Azure, Databricks and Power BI, including decommissioning plans and business continuity.
Improve data quality through proactive monitoring, clear ownership, measurable standards, root-cause analysis and corrective action.
Link data and analytics initiatives to strategic priorities and measurable outcomes, and partner with business owners to define success measures, baselines, benefit targets and ownership.
Embed data products and insights into business processes and decision-making, drive adoption, track benefits, and agree corrective actions where adoption or value is below expectations.
Use evidence from delivered outcomes to refine priorities, scale successful solutions and improve returns on Data & Analytics investment.
Identify and implement practical AI, machine learning and automation opportunities to improve data and analytics processes and outputs.
Embed AI-enabled ways of working, such as automated data quality monitoring, AI-assisted development and testing, metadata and documentation generation, and natural-language access to insight.
Partner with business areas to prioritize and deliver high-value AI use cases across pharmaceutical supply chain, commercial and operational activities, supported by clear business cases.
Ensure responsible AI adoption through appropriate ethics, transparency, security, regulatory compliance and human oversight controls, working with relevant internal and global teams.
Build AI literacy and confidence across the team and business, and evaluate emerging tools and vendors.
Assess data governance maturity and lead a phased improvement plan with defined targets and progress reporting.
Establish and embed governance policies and standards, data ownership and stewardship, cataloguing and lineage, data quality rules and monitoring, master and reference data management, and access controls.
Ensure data initiatives comply with organizational governance frameworks, regulatory standards and requirements for regulated healthcare and pharmaceutical distribution.
Collaborate with Compliance, Legal, Information Security and Privacy teams on data security, privacy and quality.
Establish governance documentation, auditing and reporting processes, and chair or facilitate data governance forums.
Build a practical, proportionate culture of data accountability that is embedded in delivery.
Manage the operating and capital delivery budget, including forecasting, variance analysis and financial reporting.
Build and defend business cases and prioritize investment according to return and strategic value.
Plan resources and headcount against the roadmap and make evidence-based recommendations when demand exceeds capacity.
Monitor cloud infrastructure usage, capacity, performance and cost to optimize investment and maintain financial control.
Build relationships with business leaders, serve as the primary stakeholder contact, balance competing demands and manage expectations.
Communicate technical topics, including AI and governance, clearly to business audiences; negotiate timelines, resources and deliverables; and translate delivery challenges into business-relevant narratives.
Facilitate steering committees, governance forums and executive reporting.
Lead Data Fluency and Data Culture initiatives to increase confidence in using data and AI.
Lead, coach and develop data professionals and foster accountability, collaboration, inclusion and continuous improvement.
Identify capability gaps and build data delivery, governance and AI competencies through hiring, development and partnerships.
Support team wellbeing and resilience during periods of significant change and pressure.