Director - Global Data Transformation Lead Architect

Introduction to Role

Are you ready to define how enterprise-wide data moves, transforms, and delivers value in a once-in-a-generation transformation? In this role, you will hold global custodianship of the end-to-end Data Transformation Journey—from Cleanse to Migration to Reconciliation—across all deployments, ensuring clean, governed, and reusable data as the foundation for faster decisions, streamlined operations, and ultimately better outcomes for patients.

You will own the Global Data Transformation Functional & Technical Strategy and its associated templates, shaping the standards, patterns, and specifications that power large-scale data transformations and migrations to SAP S/4HANA and adjacent platforms—with a particular focus on operational domains including Manufacturing, Procurement, Quality, and Material Master. From initial scoping and design workshops onwards, you will support the Data Deployment journey to accelerate and integrate, translating ambition into actionable designs that delivery teams can execute at pace.

This is a chance to lead a highly visible capability that touches supply chain, manufacturing, and quality data flows used by tens of thousands of colleagues every day—from bench to patient. You will coach a distributed team and set the roadmap that keeps us ahead of the curve.

Accountabilities

• E2E Data Transformation Custodianship: Hold global accountability for the end-to-end Data Transformation Journey—Cleanse, Migration, and Reconciliation—ensuring coherent design and execution across all deployments.
• Global Functional & Technical Strategy: Own and evolve the Global Data Transformation Functional & Technical Strategy, playbooks, guidelines, and templates that underpin every deployment wave.
• Data Deployment Support: Support the Data Deployment journey from initial scoping and design workshops onwards, accelerating integration and ensuring designs are fit for purpose from day one.
• Migration & Cleanse Scope: Define and govern the Data Migration & Cleanse scope for each deployment, establishing clear boundaries, dependencies, and acceptance criteria.
• Harmonisation & Transformation Mapping: Develop and maintain Global Data Migration Specifications (DMSs), Harmonisation & Relevancy Rules, and Transformation Mapping to ensure consistency and traceability across domains.
• Reconciliation Strategy: Own the Reconciliation Strategy, playbooks, and Report Passports that validate data accuracy and completeness at each stage of the journey.
• Templates & Accelerators: Create and maintain reusable accelerators including C4 Workshop Decks, Data Load Plan Templates, and Entry and Exit Criteria to drive repeatable, efficient deployments.
• Design Standards & Governance: Establish patterns that ensure consistency, traceability, and regulatory-ready quality across diverse operational domains—particularly Manufacturing, Quality, and Material Master.
• Solution Design to Delivery: Provide actionable, high-fidelity design solutions to downstream delivery teams, aligned to delivery constraints and timelines so teams can execute with confidence.
• Cross-Functional Integration: Work closely with Build and Run Leads to embed designs into delivery, enabling repeatable pipelines and aligned cutover strategies across operational workstreams.
• Team Oversight & Coaching: Oversee and guide the work of Data Transformation Architects (including offshore), champion best practices, and resolve design and delivery challenges swiftly.
• Technology Evaluation: Lead evaluation and testing of new technologies relevant to data transformation design—from proofs of technology/value to technical inputs that strengthen business cases.
• Stakeholder Partnerships: Build strong relationships with data, operations, and business stakeholders to understand priorities, shape demand, and evolve the transformation design roadmap.
• Capability Development: Build the Data Transformation Design capability—training, tooling, ways of working, and operating model—to improve throughput, quality, and value.
• Growth & Learning: Manage personal and team development, fostering internal promotion, skills growth, and continuous learning in data transformation technologies and methodologies.

Essential Skills/Experience

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in Computer Science, Data Management, or a related field.
• Very high techno/functional proficiency—deep SAP knowledge, Axial Data Design expertise, and strong command of data transformation processes and tooling.
• Significant experience in complex programme data migration, with practical examples of using modern data platforms to design, support build, and maintain data transformation applications.
• Ability to bring best-practice experience and benchmarks from similar large-scale programmes to accelerate delivery and raise the quality bar.
• Delivery mindset and Business Thinking First—ability to balance technical rigour with pragmatic, outcome-oriented decision-making.
• Proficiency in data engineering techniques and testing methodologies (e.g., data validation, reconciliation, defect triage).
• Proficiency with data and application design patterns and processes for migration.
• Blend of design skills suited to Agile data development projects, serving as technical design authority for transformation and migration.

Desirable Skills/Experience

• Experience leading data transformation and migration design for large-scale ERP programmes, ideally including SAP S/4HANA and SAP data models with depth in operational data domains (Manufacturing, Procurement, Quality, Material Master).
• Proven success industrializing transformation patterns, metadata management, and automation across multiple waves or markets.
• Background in life sciences or other highly regulated industries, with an understanding of compliance, auditability, and validation in data movements.
• Track record leading distributed and offshore teams with measurable improvements in velocity and quality.
• Strong stakeholder influence skills, translating complex design decisions into clear business value and risk trade-offs.
• Experience developing and deploying reusable accelerators (workshop frameworks, load plan templates, entry/exit criteria) at enterprise scale.

EEO Statement

AstraZeneca embraces diversity and equality of opportunity. We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse team representing all backgrounds, with as wide a range of perspectives as possible, and harnessing industry-leading skills. We believe that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be. We welcome and consider applications to join our team from all qualified candidates, regardless of their characteristics. We comply with all applicable laws and regulations on non-discrimination in employment (and recruitment), as well as work authorization and employment eligibility verification requirements.