Senior Director, Head of AI Governance & Enablement

Senior Director, Head of AI Governance & Enablement

We're building a connected, end-to-end Enterprise AI engine - uniting data foundations, AI technology, process reinvention, and business-facing AI to accelerate results across the whole value chain. Success depends on being exceptional connectors: you'll actively leverage existing capabilities, celebrate and promote reuse, export breakthrough ideas across geographies and functions, and obsess over scaling impact rather than building in isolation. If you thrive in high-collaboration environments where your role is to turn complex, cross-functional problems into reusable, enterprise-wide capabilities - and where the measure of success is adoption and scale, not just innovation - you'll have the platform (and sponsorship) to make it real.

Introduction to role

The Senior Director, Head of AI Governance & Enablement provides enterprise leadership for the governance, oversight, and assurance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) across its full lifecycle. The role ensures AI solutions are developed, deployed, and operated in a way that is compliant, ethical, reliable, and aligned to risk appetite, while enabling innovation at scale.

This role acts as both a governance authority and a trusted partner to delivery teams, embedding right-sized governance. It also provides best-practice guidance to ensure AI model outcomes are performant, explainable, and trusted by the business, regulators, and external stakeholders.

Accountabilities

Demonstrated leadership of diverse, global teams to achieve the following objectives, consistently exhibiting AZ values:

• Maintain and evolve enterprise AI governance processes across various types of emerging needs (e.g. internally developed models, third-party and vendor AI solutions, foundation models, generative and agentic AI, and citizen-developed AI).

• Embed right-sized, proportionate governance across the end-to-end AI lifecycle, aligned to regulatory, ethical, and enterprise risk expectations.

• Drive enterprise-wide adoption of AI governance effectively in a federated environment through stakeholder influence. Own enterprise processes for AI model inventory, accountability, and ongoing oversight, ensuring transparency of AI use across the organisation.

• Ensure AI models are subject to appropriate classification, review, and lifecycle controls based on tiered risk profile.

• Partner with business and delivery teams to navigate end-to-end AI governance, supporting teams through assessment, approval, and operationalisation of AI use cases.

• Provide assurance and best-practice guidance to strengthen AI model performance, reliability, robustness, and trustworthiness.

• Promote good practice across model development and operation, including validation, monitoring, explainability, bias management, and performance drift.

• Establish and lead the enterprise operating model for Data & AI Governance and Enablement, defining clear accountabilities, decision rights, escalation paths, and governance forums, with well-defined stakeholder engagement across business units, regions, and functions.

• Own the measurement, reporting, and analytics of the AI Governance lifecycle, and drive continuous improvement of governance processes by reducing friction in AI governance processes.

• Serve as an advisor on complex or novel AI solutions, enabling proportionate governance decisions rather than default escalation or risk avoidance.

• Raise awareness of relevant governance processes through targeted education and guidance.

• Contribute to a culture of confident, responsible AI adoption across the enterprise.

• Build strong relationships across Legal, Compliance, AZ IT, and Privacy to ensure aligned and consistent governance approaches.

• Demonstrated ability to partner effectively with colleagues across functions and levels, actively listen, resolve conflicts constructively, and co-create solutions to achieve shared goals.

• Demonstrated ability to synthesise complex issues into concise narratives, anticipating stakeholder concerns, navigating ambiguity, and driving alignment and decisions in high-stakes forums.

• Executive presence with the ability to build credibility quickly, communicate with clarity and confidence, and influence senior executive leadership at forums such as Audit Committee, the Data Enablement Council, or SET-area Data Office (SEDO), promoting a culture of responsible and confident Data & AI use.

Essential Skills/Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Information/Data Science, Informatics, Computer Science, Economics, or related discipline – or equivalent number of years of experience.

• Strong understanding of AI lifecycles, model risks, and governance expectations, including regulatory and ethical considerations.

• Ensure governance is applied in a way that enables innovation rather than creating unnecessary friction.

• Proven ability to balance governance rigour with delivery speed and innovation enablement.

• Proven ability to develop strong partnerships with other areas of the business such as Legal, Compliance, Cyber Security, Enterprise Risk Management, Data Offices, etc.).

• Proven ability to partner with senior stakeholders and delivery teams on complex AI initiatives.

• Significant senior experience in governance and model performance within a complex organisation.

• Demonstrated ability to build and lead a high-performing team with deep expertise in governance and model performance.

• Champion a culture of responsible, compliant, and value-focused use of data and AI across the organisation.

• Demonstrated project leadership skills.

• Demonstrate effective communication skills with the ability to influence others to achieve objectives.

• Proven change management, collaboration, and negotiation skills.

Desirable Skills/Experience

• Master’s or PhD in Business Administration, Information/Data Science, Informatics, Computer Science, Economics, or related discipline.

• Experience in life sciences and healthcare.

• Intimate knowledge of relevant key business processes in the Pharma industry.

• Data and / or AI Governance and Data Management education and certifications.

• Practical knowledge of ISO/IEC 42001 (Artificial Intelligence Management Systems)

• Practical knowledge of NIST AI Risk Management Framework.

• Familiarity with relevant data and AI regulations and compliance requirements (e.g. GxP, GDPR, EU AI Act, NIS2, etc.).

• Applied data management, data science, AI development, or AI governance skills, including experience with related tools. Exposure publishing relevant AI governance and /or model performance topics in peer-reviewed journals, conferences, and other scientific proceedings.

Office Working Requirements

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.

The annual base pay (or hourly rate of compensation) for this position ranges from $ 176.677,60  - $ 265.016,40 USD Annual, either as annual base pay or as the hourly rate (annual base pay divided by 2080 hours)]. Hourly and salaried non-exempt employees will also be paid overtime pay when working qualifying overtime hours. Base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. In addition, our positions offer a 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), and commission payment eligibility (sales roles). Benefits offered included a qualified retirement program [401(k) plan]; paid vacation and holidays; paid leaves; and, health benefits including medical, prescription drug, dental, and vision coverage in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable plans. Additional details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment. If hired, employee will be in an “at-will position” and the Company reserves the right to modify base pay (as well as any other discretionary payment or compensation program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, Company or individual department/team performance, and market factors.   

AstraZeneca offers the chance to shape a truly digital and data-led enterprise where work directly influences how life-changing medicines are discovered, developed, and delivered. Here technology platforms, advanced analytics, AI and machine learning are combined with leading science to solve complex problems at pace. Colleagues are encouraged to experiment with modern tools, challenge the status quo, learn continuously through initiatives such as hackathons and mentoring programmes, and collaborate across diverse teams and functions. With strong investment in data capabilities and a constant flow of new challenges in emerging areas, this is a place to take ownership, grow quickly, build industry-defining solutions and see the impact of your work on patients worldwide. . 

#EAI 

Date Posted

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Our mission is to build an inclusive environment where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and employees. In furtherance of that mission, we welcome and consider applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of their protected characteristics. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please complete the corresponding section in the application form.