Director, Site IT lead and Business Partner

AstraZeneca•Los Angeles, CA

30d

About The Position

We are seeking an innovative and strategic Director, Site IT Lead and Business Partner specialized in Robotics and Process Orchestration to drive digital transformation across AstraZeneca’s Cell Therapy Development & Operations (CTDO). In this pivotal role, you will be the bridge between CTDO business stakeholders and next-generation IT capabilities, leading the design and execution of polyfunctional robotics, process orchestration, and data strategies that underpin mission‑critical cell therapy operations. You will champion the implementation of advanced manufacturing robotics, process orchestration across MES/LIMS and system integration, and robust data platforms to enable scalable, resilient, and data‑driven operations—enabling a reliable, scalable supply of cell therapies matched to patient demand and achieving measurable reductions in COGM, while advancing AstraZeneca’s Cell Therapy Ambition. This role reports to the Executive Director, Ops IT and may be based in Santa Monica or Tarzana, CA.

Requirements

12+ years in enterprise IT, with 5+ years in biopharma or advanced therapies; direct experience with robotics/automation and MES/LIMS integration in cell therapy preferred.
Bachelor’s degree in engineering, computer science, data/analytics, or related field; advanced degree preferred.
Proven leadership delivering complex programs spanning IT infrastructure, cybersecurity, data platforms, and manufacturing applications.
Direct experience with platforms such as MES/eBR, LIMS/QMS, ERP/SAP, automation/PLC/robotics, historians, integration middleware/APIs, and cloud data/analytics.
Strong understanding of data strategy and governance (master data, lineage, retention, protection), and hands‑on experience enabling analytics and operational use cases.
Demonstrated ability to lead cross‑functional teams and vendors; excellence in stakeholder management, executive communication, and translating technical complexity into business value.
Financial acumen in shaping business cases, managing budgets, and tracking value realization.

Responsibilities

Polyfunctional Robotics program: Lead the IT scope of the process robotics program, covering connectivity, hosting, data management and protection, monitoring and alerting, authentication, cybersecurity, compliance, availability, and BC/DR.
Own IT delivery, including requirements gathering, integrated planning, team formation, execution steps, test plans, documentation and process development; ensuring successful delivery of the program to meet critical business objectives.
Process orchestration and integration: Lead the process orchestration program across MES, LIMS, automated process execution, and integration with external systems (e.g., SAP/ERP, cell orchestration, historian).
Define capabilities, interface design, data integrity, and interoperability across IT/OT boundaries; ensure performance, scalability, and close alignment with business objectives.
Manufacturing data strategy: Define and execute the data strategy for manufacturing and QC systems, including instrument data capture, contextualization, preservation, archival, protection, and accessibility for AI / analytics use cases.
Operations IT‑business partnership: Serve as the primary IT Business Partner for Cell Therapy Operations, aligning platforms, processes, and roles with business priorities; act as a trusted advisor and key member of the site SLT.
Shape investment cases, KPIs, and value realization; present status, risks, and decisions; capture feedback to refine roadmaps and execution.

Benefits

qualified retirement programs
paid time off (i.e., vacation, holiday, and leaves)
health, dental, and vision coverage in accordance with the terms of the applicable plans
opportunity to receive short-term incentive bonuses
equity-based awards for salaried roles and commissions for sales roles

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