Director, Digitalization Transformation, Dosage Form Design & Development

AstraZeneca • Gaithersburg, MD

30d • Hybrid

About The Position

Introduction to role:
Are you ready to lead a digital transformation that reshapes how dosage forms are designed and developed, accelerating therapies to patients? In this role, you will set the digital strategy and roadmap for a high-impact function, turning data, platform capabilities and scientific know-how into practical tools that improve decision quality and speed from lab to launch.
You will partner with multidisciplinary experts to deliver end-to-end digital projects—from requirements and proof of concept to pilots and scaled deployment—so teams can learn faster, reuse knowledge and reduce development risk. Can you see yourself orchestrating matrix teams and modern technologies to unlock smarter experimentation, stronger predictions and measurable outcomes for patients?
Accountabilities:
Digitalization Strategy: Define and iterate a function-specific strategy aligned to business objectives and emerging trends, translating vision into executable plans that deliver measurable impact.
Functional Roadmap Ownership: Own the multi-year roadmap; prioritize initiatives against transformation goals to drive near-term wins while building scalable foundations.
End-to-End Delivery: Collaborate with expert functions (e.g., DSM, APD) to deliver projects from requirements through PoC, pilot and production, ensuring stakeholder engagement and adoption at each stage.
Matrix Leadership: Lead and contribute to functional matrix teams, fostering close collaboration and accountability to deliver high-value projects on time and to quality.
Adoption and Capability Building: Accelerate adoption through training programs, communication plans and KPIs that track impact, strengthen behaviors and inform continuous improvement.
Capability Shaping: Partner with leadership to assess and evolve talent, technology and capacity so the function can scale delivery of the roadmap efficiently and sustainably.
Functional Representation: Represent Dosage Form Design & Development in transformation teams (e.g., BDAT), influence cross-functional decisions, and proactively share plans and progress across the department.
Cross-Functional Programs: When required, lead major digital transformation initiatives that span multiple functions, connecting technical work to business value such as reduced cycle times, improved predictability and better knowledge reuse.
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.

Requirements

• Masters degree in a related field with 8 years of experience or PhD with 6 years of experience
• Develop, drive, and iteratively refine a functional specific Digitalization strategy aligned with business objectives and emerging trends.
• Define and maintain the functional roadmap, ensuring prioritization and alignment with departmental transformation goals.
• Collaborate with expert functions (e.g. DSM, APD) to manage end-to-end delivery of digitalization projects, ensuring stakeholder engagement from requirements definition through PoC, pilot, and full production deployment.
• Lead and serve as a key contributor to functional matrix teams, fostering close collaboration with expert functions to deliver functional projects.
• Accelerate adoption by creating training programs, communication plans, and KPIs to measure impact and success.
• Partner with leadership to assess and adapt functional capabilities (talent, technology, capacity) to accelerate and scale delivery of the multi-year roadmap.
• Represent Dosage Form Design & Development in transformation teams (e.g., BDAT), ensuring functional requirements are met by actively influencing cross-functional decisions. Proactively share functional plans and progress with the wider department.
• Lead major cross-functional digital transformation projects when required.

Nice To Haves

• Proven experience leading to digital transformation in product or process development within pharmaceuticals or complex R&D environments.
• Strong track record implementing data, analytics and AI-enabled solutions that improve scientific decision-making and reduce development cycle time.
• Familiarity with DSM, APD and related platforms, plus the ability to translate scientific workflows into scalable digital products and services.
• Expertise in changing leadership, including designing training, communications and KPIs to drive adoption and behavior change.
• Demonstrated success delivering PoCs and pilots through robust production deployments with measurable business outcomes.
• Experience working in matrix organizations, influencing cross-functional stakeholders and aligning roadmaps across functions.
• Knowledge of data governance, interoperability, FAIR principles and regulated environments; ability to balance speed with compliance.
• Proficiency with modern delivery approaches (Agile, Lean, product management) and vendor/partner management.

Responsibilities

• Define and iterate a function-specific strategy aligned to business objectives and emerging trends, translating vision into executable plans that deliver measurable impact.
• Own the multi-year roadmap; prioritize initiatives against transformation goals to drive near-term wins while building scalable foundations.
• Collaborate with expert functions (e.g., DSM, APD) to deliver projects from requirements through PoC, pilot and production, ensuring stakeholder engagement and adoption at each stage.
• Lead and contribute to functional matrix teams, fostering close collaboration and accountability to deliver high-value projects on time and to quality.
• Accelerate adoption through training programs, communication plans and KPIs that track impact, strengthen behaviors and inform continuous improvement.
• Partner with leadership to assess and evolve talent, technology and capacity so the function can scale delivery of the roadmap efficiently and sustainably.
• Represent Dosage Form Design & Development in transformation teams (e.g., BDAT), influence cross-functional decisions, and proactively share plans and progress across the department.
• When required, lead major digital transformation initiatives that span multiple functions, connecting technical work to business value such as reduced cycle times, improved predictability and better knowledge reuse.

Benefits

• qualified retirement program [401(k) plan]
• paid vacation and holidays
• paid leaves
• health benefits including medical, prescription drug, dental, and vision coverage in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable plans
• short-term incentive bonus opportunity
• eligibility to participate in our equity-based long-term incentive program (salaried roles)
• to receive a retirement contribution (hourly roles)
• commission payment eligibility (sales roles)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees