At AstraZeneca, we are united by a common purpose: to push the boundaries of science to deliver life-changing medicines. Our work helps to make hearts healthier, helps people breathe easier, and helps more people survive cancer. Every single day, we make a difference by delivering potentially life-changing medicines to millions of people worldwide and by leading breakthrough science that promises to transform the treatment of disease. Our IT deliveries to the R&D functions are truly at the heart of making this possible.
Our purpose is ambitious and so is our approach. Becoming a more agile and creative company means building a dynamic, inspiring culture where we celebrate diverse, bold thinking and act with a sense of urgency. We are courageous, taking risks and learning from both success and failure. We are curious, creative, and open to new insights and ways of working. Above all, we are passionate about science and driven to always put patients first. Join us and be part of an outstanding place to work.
**Typical Accountabilities**
- Define and run the Solution Architecture Principles for the given portfolio(s).
- Accountable for the architecture and design of comprehensive set of solutions that meet business requirements and are aligned to AstraZeneca's Enterprise Architecture, providing domain expertise to ensure business opportunities are identified and realised in line with a standard and efficient architecture.
- The role will guide and support other architects (including third party suppliers) in the development and documentation of IS/IT architectures for sophisticated and business critical projects.
- The role will be accountable for driving solution evaluation and selection decisions, buy vs. build decisions, and early-phase project estimates which contribute to the business case.
- Lead the effort to ensure that common architecture decisions support the business and IS strategy, and that the architectures delivered are aligned with relevant AZ architecture standards, blueprints and roadmaps.
- Participate in Architecture Assessments & Reviews either as Lead Reviewing Architect or as a domain expert in the review team.
- Contribute to the development of the Architecture Capability within IS, by documenting and sharing knowledge and best practices with peer Architects
- Guide and support other architects (including third party suppliers) in the development and documentation of IS/IT architectures for sophisticated and business critical projects.
- Build estimates for solution delivery including expertise to validate third party estimates and hence ensure value for money
- Deliver feedback to Enterprise Architects on how to improve Architecture Standards
- Document best practices, drive reuse of existing solutions and in collaboration with other Architects promote new solutions for reuse.
- Call out (to Enterprise Architects) architecture design issues related to possible alternative solutions
- Review Statement of Work responses from Suppliers
**Essential Skills**
- Relevant technical degree or equivalent
- Experience demonstrating proficiency in at least one technical domain.
- ** Experience implementing and maintaining business solution architectures under any formal framework for their domain of architecture**.
- Shown consultancy experience crafting end to end solutions that operate across all domains of IT.
- Experience developing and leading innovative solutions
- Proven experience of leading change and challenging approaches/ideas.
- Proven track record to influence across business and IT.
- Experience developing and handling relationships with third party suppliers
- Experience with policies, procedures and guidelines within a quality, compliant, and secure environment
- Experience with large scale solution Justification phase work - product evaluation, business case formulation
- Experience advising multi-functional teams
- Strong networking skills with good internal/external links
- Well developed communication and facilitation skills
- Ability to interpret and communicate technical information into business language at all levels of leadership.
- Awareness of developments in the marketplace for domain focus and potential impact to AZ IS
**Desirable**
- Demonstrated initiative, strong customer orientation, and cross-cultural working
- People Development experience
- Proven business insight
- Understanding of the pharmaceutical/healthcare industry and of competitor activity, on a particular architecture and Information Management
- Ability to work well in diverse, multinational teams and consistent track record to influence others to achieve positive outcomes
- Masters and/or Professional Certification