Executive Director, Global Head of Medical AI/Digital Strategy & Enablement

AstraZeneca • Gaithersburg, MD

26d • $283,386 - $425,080 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Executive Director, Global Head of Medical AI/Digital Strategy & Enablement will set the vision and operating model for making AI, data, and modern platforms routine tools for more than 3,000 medical colleagues. The role aims to elevate scientific engagement and accelerate evidence-informed decisions across headquarters and field teams. Based in Gaithersburg, US, the position partners with Enterprise AI, IT, Medical leadership, and cross-functional partners to turn high-impact medical use cases into scalable, measurable products.

The leader will define a multi-year strategy, establish global standards and responsible AI governance, guide use cases through product delivery, and shape architecture and integrations. The role also advances omnichannel medical content and engagement, platform reliability and data quality, change leadership, and capability building. Success includes enterprise adoption and measurable improvements in the efficiency, quality, reach, and frequency of medical engagement, as well as reduced cycle times and more complete, actionable scientific insights.

The role is based in an in-person working model averaging at least three office days per week, with flexibility. The annual base pay range is $283,386 to $425,080, with a short-term incentive bonus opportunity and eligibility for the equity-based long-term incentive program for salaried roles. Benefits include a qualified retirement program (401(k)), paid vacation and holidays, paid leaves, and medical, prescription drug, dental, and vision coverage.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent international education.
• At least 10 years of experience in pharma or biotech with dynamic responsibility across Medical Affairs, Medical Excellence, Digital/IT, or Commercial Operations, including a proven track record in large, regulated enterprises.
• At least 5 years leading AI or digital transformation at scale in life sciences or medical contexts, including practical deployment of GenAI, NLP, or ML solutions in Medical Affairs and model governance and responsible AI practices.
• At least 10 years of people leadership, including building and leading global, matrixed teams and developing leaders.
• Proven success implementing medical systems and medical information platforms, learning systems, analytics/BI, and omnichannel medical engagement across multiple regions.
• Ability to translate sophisticated technical topics into business value, with outstanding communication and stakeholder leadership skills and influence across senior levels.
• Strong understanding of global and local medical regulations, scientific exchange standards, privacy, data governance, and audit and compliance requirements.
• Portfolio prioritization and benefits realization expertise; comfort with enterprise project management and agile delivery.

Nice To Haves

• Sophisticated scientific degree (MBBS, PharmD, PhD, or MD) or equivalent international education.
• Deep Medical Affairs experience in headquarters and/or field roles.
• Technical fluency and hands-on ability to shape prototypes, evaluate AI outputs, and specify architectures; familiarity with agentic AI frameworks, context engineering, and Agent Skills development.
• Experience with integration standards and patterns such as MCP and medical data platforms including Veeva, Salesforce, knowledge management, and DAM.
• Vendor ecosystem leadership and contract negotiation in AI/digital platforms.

Responsibilities

• Define a multi-year AI and digital acceleration strategy aligned with enterprise AI direction and portfolio priorities, including value cases, adoption targets, and an investment roadmap.
• Set global standards for scientific engagement, insight generation, capability building, and field excellence while balancing global consistency with regional adaptability.
• Embed AI- and digitally enabled performance tracking across headquarters and field activities using KPIs and dashboards.
• Establish an ethics-by-design responsible AI framework covering model governance, transparency, bias and risk management, human-in-the-loop oversight, privacy, security, and regulatory alignment.
• Translate high-value medical use cases into functional, non-functional, data, and AI requirements, and partner with Enterprise AI and IT to deliver and continuously improve secure, scalable solutions.
• Co-define technical specifications, architecture documentation, and integration patterns; contribute requirements for component authoring, DAM, orchestration, analytics, identity and consent, CRM, Veeva, and Salesforce platforms.
• Co-develop omnichannel medical content and engagement strategies with global and local teams; optimize HCP journeys, modular content reuse, and scientific relevance by segment.
• Ensure platform reliability, data quality, lifecycle management, compliance, and audit outcomes.
• Lead change management and AI/digital-first ways of working through executive sponsorship, playbooks, training, and communities of practice.
• Build AI and digital proficiency across more than 3,000 medical colleagues through role-based curricula, certifications, and ongoing mentoring; enable leaders to champion new capabilities.
• Deliver enterprise adoption and measurable improvements in efficiency, quality, reach, and frequency of medical engagement; reduce cycle times and increase the completeness and actionability of scientific insights.

Benefits

• Short-term incentive bonus opportunity.
• Eligibility to participate in the equity-based long-term incentive program for salaried roles.
• Qualified retirement program (401(k) plan).
• Paid vacation and holidays.
• Paid leaves.
• Medical and prescription drug coverage.
• Dental coverage.
• Vision coverage.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director