Senior Director Compliance and Legal Services

In GBS we dare to change the way we work—being brave, resilient, and focused on simplifying how we deliver value. Through our global scale and diverse services, we drive outcomes with innovation and expertise. This requires a team that sees no boundaries, collaborates across functions, challenges the norm, and feels empowered, motivated, and engaged. The Senior Director, Compliance and Legal Services will lead the global build-out and maturation of a cohesive service portfolio spanning Compliance, Privacy, Legal Operations, and eDiscovery within GBS. Reporting to the Head of GBS Operations & Enabling Functions Services, this role supports strategy build, is the GBS Business Partner for the Legal and Compliance function and helps drive execution through robust governance, service management, transformation and continuous improvement of services. The Senior Director will also bring advanced digital skills that can support future transformation and solutions for this highly regulated space, as well as pragmatic experience of delivery. This Senior Director will partner closely with Global Compliance, Legal, Privacy, and IT to deliver reliable, high-quality, and cost-effective services that are tech‑first, data‑driven, and automation‑enabled. The role demands leadership through influence, deep stakeholder engagement at senior levels, and the ability to translate insight into measurable outcomes. Typical Accountabilities The role holder will be accountable for leading and managing the Compliance & Legal Services portfolio within GBS, with an initial scope spanning: eDiscovery and Legal Hold Services (in partnership with Legal and IT) Compliance Services Privacy Operations (data subject request operations) The role holder will be accountable for the Compliance & Legal Services team, including: Strategic Leadership: Define and drive the vision, strategy, and roadmap for Compliance, Privacy, Legal Ops, and eDiscovery services, aligned to GBS and enterprise strategy. Leverage external trends in legal tech, privacy tech, and eDiscovery to enhance service models and accelerate time to value. Set clear objectives, outcomes, and success measures to guide investment and prioritization. Growth Identification and Realization: Identify and qualify growth opportunities (e.g., expansion of privacy operations, scaling eDiscovery managed services). Translate insights into actionable plans with business cases and value tracking to support disciplined scaling and benefits realization. Digital, Data, and Digital Leadership: Drive a tech‑first approach. Partner with GBS Transformation and IT to deploy and optimize platforms such as matter management, workflow/orchestration (e.g., ServiceNow), privacy management suites, eDiscovery and legal hold tools, analytics, RPA/IPA, and GenAI‑assisted capabilities with appropriate guardrails. Champion data integrity, metadata standards, and analytics-driven decision making. Lead change management to secure adoption and value. Service Management and Operations: Own the end‑to‑end service catalogue, including SLAs, KPIs, and OLA alignment with partnering teams. Define service tiers and pricing principles, manage demand intake and triage, and oversee the full service lifecycle from onboarding to retirement. Ensure mature incident, change, and problem management; and drive strong vendor/partner management across legal tech, eDiscovery vendors, alternative legal service providers (ALSPs), and BPOs. Customer Experience (CX): Build a customer‑centric mindset using design thinking to improve user experience, adoption, and engagement for legal and compliance stakeholders. Define “moments that matter,” measure sentiment (CSAT/NPS), and close feedback loops with visible improvements. Education, Qualifications, Skills and Experience Essential Experience: 12–15+ years in Global Business Services/shared services, legal operations, compliance/privacy operations, or closely related multidisciplinary environments, with leadership of global teams. Proven track record transforming services and processes at enterprise scale in complex, regulated environments. Regulatory/Compliance: Demonstrated experience running services with significant legal and/or compliance obligations (e.g., privacy operations, SOX controls, records retention, legal hold, eDiscovery). Tech‑First Delivery: Experience driving tech‑enabled operating models using CLM/matter management, privacy management platforms, eDiscovery/forensics tools, workflow orchestration, analytics, and automation (RPA/IPA; exposure to AI/GenAI with appropriate guardrails). Stakeholder Management: Strong senior‑level engagement skills; ability to influence and partner with Group Compliance, Legal, Privacy, IT, and business leadership. Strategic Thinking: Ability to translate high‑level goals into operational plans, operating models, and measurable roadmaps. Commercial Acumen: Strong financial management, budgeting, and benefits tracking; P&L ownership experience. Technological Literacy: Knowledge of ERP (e.g., Workday/Oracle), ITSM platforms (e.g., ServiceNow), CLM and matter management systems, privacy/GRC tooling, eDiscovery platforms, analytics/BI, and automation tools. Leadership: Proven ability to lead through influence in a matrix, build high‑performing teams, and drive adoption and change across functions and cultures. Vendor Management: Experience negotiating and managing global vendors and ALSPs with outcome‑based contracts and clear performance frameworks. Compliance Mindset: Familiarity with SOX, GDPR and global privacy laws, records management, eDiscovery standards, and internal controls; strong risk and control orientation. Change Leadership: Success leading complex transformations, transitions, and global rollouts with formal change management. Communication: Executive presence with clear, concise communication and the ability to convey complex topics to diverse audiences. Desirable Education: Bachelor’s degree in Business, Law, Finance, Information Management, or related field; MBA or JD/LLM highly preferred. Relevant certifications (e.g., CIPP/E, CIPM, IAPP, CCEP, ACEDS, Lean Six Sigma). Industry: Experience in life sciences/healthcare or other highly regulated industries. Data/AI: Hands-on experience operationalizing analytics and AI/GenAI use cases in legal/compliance contexts with robust governance and privacy-by-design. The annual base pay for this position ranges from $183,342.40 - $275,013.60 USD. 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. Date Posted 26-Jun-2026 Closing Date 16-Jul-2026 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. AstraZeneca is a global, science-led, patient-focused biopharmaceutical company. We focus on discovering, developing and commercialising prescription medicines for some of the world’s most serious diseases. But we are more than one of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies. At AstraZeneca, we’re dedicated to being a Great Place to Work. Where you are empowered to push the boundaries of science, challenge convention and unleash your entrepreneurial spirit. To embrace differences and take bold actions to drive the change needed to meet global healthcare and sustainability challenges. There is no better place to make a difference in medicine, patients, and society. An inclusive culture where you will connect different thinking to generate new and valuable opportunities. Where you will find a commitment to lifelong learning, growth and development for all. Our Inclusion & Diversity (I&D) mission is to create an inclusive and equitable environment where people belong, using the power of our diversity to push the boundaries of science to deliver life-changing medicines to patients. Inclusion and diversity are fundamental to the success of our company, because innovation requires breakthrough ideas that only come from a diverse workforce empowered to challenge conventional thinking. We’re curious about science and the advancement of knowledge. We find creative ways to approach new challenges. We’re driven to make the right choices and be accountable for our actions. As an organisation centred around what makes us human, we put a big focus on people. Across our business, we want colleagues to wake up excited about their day at the office, in the field, or in the lab. Along with our purpose to bring life-changing medicines to people across the globe, we have a promise to you: to help you realise the full breadth of your potential. Here, you’ll do work that has the potential to change your life and improve countless others. And, together with your team, you’ll shape a culture that unites and inspires us every day. This is your life at AstraZeneca.