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

Introduction to role: 

Are you ready to harness AI to reinvent how medical science is developed, communicated, and acted on for patients and healthcare professionals worldwide? This senior enterprise leader will set the vision and operating model that makes AI, data, and modern platforms routine tools for more than 3,000 medical colleagues—elevating scientific engagement and accelerating evidence-informed decisions across headquarters and the field. 

Based in Gaithersburg (US), you will partner closely with Enterprise AI, IT, Medical leadership, and cross-functional partners to translate high-impact medical use cases into scalable products with measurable value. Can you turn sophisticated possibilities—GenAI, agentic workflows, real-time insight synthesis—into compliant, responsible capabilities that change how we work and the outcomes we deliver? 

Accountabilities: 

• Vision and Strategy: Define a multi-year AI/digital acceleration strategy aligned to enterprise AI direction and portfolio priorities, with clear value cases, adoption targets, and an investment roadmap. 
• Global Standards and Transformation: Set global standards for scientific engagement, insight generation, capability building, and field excellence—balancing global consistency with regional adaptability to ensure impact in diverse markets. 
• Performance Measurement and Insight: Embed AI/digital-enabled performance tracking across headquarters and field activities with KPIs and dashboards that elevate scientific engagement quality, execution, and strategic decision-making. 
• Responsible AI Governance: Establish an ethics-by-design framework covering model governance, transparency, bias and risk management, and effective human-in-the-loop oversight; ensure privacy, security, and regulatory alignment across markets. 
• Use Case to Product Delivery: Translate high-value medical use cases into functional, non-functional, data, and AI requirements; partner with Enterprise AI and IT to deliver secure, scalable solutions and continuously improve based on user feedback. 
• Architecture and Integration: Co-define technical specifications, architecture documentation, and integration patterns; contribute requirements for component authoring, DAM, orchestration, analytics, identity/consent, CRM, and platforms such as Veeva and Salesforce. 
• Omnichannel Medical Content and Engagement: Co-develop omnichannel medical content and engagement strategies with global and local teams; optimize HCP journeys, drive modular content reuse, and elevate scientific relevance by segment. 
• Platform Reliability and Data Quality: Ensure platform reliability, robust data quality, and lifecycle management with strong compliance and audit outcomes. 
• Change Leadership and Ways of Working: Inspire change management and AI/digital-first ways of working through executive sponsorship, playbooks, training, and communities of practice—building momentum from early wins to sustained, enterprise-wide adoption. 
• Capability Building at Scale: Build and scale AI/digital proficiency across 3,000+ medical colleagues via role-based curricula, certifications, and ongoing mentor; enable leaders to champion new capabilities. 
• Outcome and Value Realization: Deliver enterprise adoption with measurable improvements in efficiency, quality, reach, and frequency of medical engagement; reduce cycle times for planning, content creation, insight synthesis, and key decisions; increase the completeness and action-ability of scientific insights. 

Essential Skills/Experience: 

• Bachelors Degree or equivalent international education
• A minimum of 10 years in pharma/biotech with dynamic responsibility across Medical Affairs, Medical Excellence, Digital/IT, or Commercial Operations; proven track record in large, regulated enterprises 
• A minimum of 5 years leading AI/digital transformation at scale in life sciences/medical contexts, including practical deployment of GenAI/NLP/ML solutions in Medical Affairs (e.g., insight analytics, content augmentation, predictive engagement), with model governance and responsible AI practices 
• A minimum of 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 
• Validated ability to translate sophisticated technical topics into business value; outstanding communication and stakeholder leadership skills with influence across senior levels 
• Strong understanding of global/local medical regulations, scientific exchange standards, privacy, data governance, and audit/compliance requirements 
• Portfolio prioritization and benefits realization expertise; comfortable with enterprise project management and agile delivery 

Desirable Skills/Experience: 

• Sophisticated Scientific Degree (MBBS, PharmD, PhD, or MD) or equivalent international education
• Deep Medical Affairs experience (HQ and/or Field) 
• Technical fluency and hands-on capability 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 (e.g., MCP) and with medical data platforms (Veeva, Salesforce, knowledge management, DAM) 
• Vendor ecosystem leadership and contract negotiation in AI/digital platforms 

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. 

Why AstraZeneca: 

Here, scientific rigor meets bold technology to shape the future of healthcare at pace. You will lead in an environment that values kindness alongside ambition, where unconventional combinations of experts spark new ideas and translate them into products that change medical practice. With a rich, fast-advancing pipeline across multiple therapy areas and deep partnerships across development, evidence, and external experts, your work will directly improve how science reaches patients—while giving you room to experiment, learn, and scale innovations that endure. 

The annual base pay for this position ranges from $283,386 to $425,080 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

Closing Date

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.