Associate Director - Project Management Axial Program (S/4 HANA)

Job Title - Associate Director - Project Management Axial Program (S/4 HANA)

Career Level - F

We are one purpose-led global organisation. The enablers and innovators, ensuring that we can fulfil our mission to push the boundaries of science and discover and develop life-changing medicines. We take pride in working close to the cause, opening the locks to save lives, ultimately making a massive difference to the outside world.

AstraZeneca (AZ) is in a period of strong growth and our employees have a united purpose to make a difference to patients around the world who need both our medicines and the ongoing developments from our science.   In this journey AZ must continue to work across borders and with partners and new colleagues in a fast and seamless way.  The ambition, size and complexity of the organisation, coupled with the opportunities afforded by new technology, has led the Board to approve a large-scale transformation programme – Axial.

The Axial Programme will be powered by S/4HANA a new ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) system which will be implemented right across the organisation and will provide our business with standardised processes, enhanced financial management, common data and real time reporting, transforming the way we work through our entire supply chain - from bench to patient.

The new system will be used by more than 20,000 employees daily, is foundational to all AZ entities and is central to most core business processes.  This is a once in a generation programme for AstraZeneca and will shape our ways of working globally for many years to come.

The Axial programme needs the best talent to work in it.  Whether it’s the technical skills, business understanding or change leadership, we want to ensure we have the strongest team deployed throughout.  We are aiming to deliver a world class change programme that leaves all employees with a fuller understanding of their role in the end-to-end nature of our global company.  This programme will provide AZ with a competitive edge, to the benefit of our employees, customers and patients.

The S/4HANA Senior Associate Director (PM) leads project teams typically larger projects / programmes from initiation to close, to deliver or support delivery of effective solutions that meet approved customer and business needs. Associate Directors are accountable for resolving and delivering solutions to approved budget and schedule commitments whilst meeting required quality and compliance standards.

Focus areas include risk management and delivery of business benefit ; and follow established project management standards and contribute to continued development of the project management capability.

This role may have PMs delivering into their programme responsibility.

Key Accountabilities/Responsibilities

• Agree and deliver plans for projects / programmes, including activities, resources, costs, roles, responsibilities, and quality as defined in the IT Project Management Methodology (ADF and SAP Activate).

• Run projects or programme budgets, forecasts, tasks, schedules, risks, organisational change, and status to support effective decisions and project reporting to customers and review boards. Coordinate status and delivery of project workstreams. Identify and lead dependencies between projects (intra-programme and across portfolio).

• Build a cohesive project team across AZ IT, including offshore and inhouse delivery teams in UK, India and US and provide the leadership vital to improve the team’s success.

• Manage relationships with key business collaborators to ensure the effective capturing of business requirements and dedication to project/programme objectives. Responsible for steering and partner meetings, communication of status, issues and risks.

• Effectively collaborate with and lead Internal and External Suppliers to ensure delivery of agreed products and services while ensuring adherence to AZ project delivery standards

• Ensure effective risks, issue and organisational change processes are in place and effectively used. Resolve problems and increase as appropriate ensuring that all impacts and changes are approved and appropriately communicated to partners and review boards.

• Ensure encouraged benefits realization is consistent with project deliverables and clearly understood by partners and project team.

• Develop and assure service transition plans to ensure project delivered solutions are sustainable within a BAU operations environment, including controlled hand-over into operational support.

• Support continued development of an elite project management capability and ensure that standard methodology is adopted and reinforced.

• Typical project cost up to $200M, with an internal project team of up to 20 people plus external support where required.

Education, Qualifications and Experience

• Shown project and programme management skills, including:

• Setting up and leading project controls

• Negotiating governance requirements

• Handling and controlling project budgets and benefits delivery

• External supplier management

• Problem solving

• Stakeholder management

• Significant (typically 5+ years) proven experience as a PM across the whole project lifecycle

• Technical or business degree or relevant equivalent experience

• Experience leading and developing project teams with a diverse blend of skills and capabilities

• Broad understanding of IT systems and technology implemented within a business context

• Effective communication and consulting skills to work with a diverse range of partners

• Excellent eye for business.

Desirable

• Experience in SAP ACTIVATE, traditional and agile delivery methods, including familiarity with SAFe

• Project / Programme Management certifications

• Experience working in a global organization where collaborators and project team members are geographically dispersed

• Pharmaceutical industry experience and/or experience of delivery in a highly-regulated environment

• Lean & Six Sigma Skills

• Master’s degree or equivalent experience

• Experience of collaboration platforms for project delivery – e.g. Jira, PPM tools, testing tools.

Why AstraZeneca?

At Astrazeneca we’re dedicated to being a Great Place to Work. Where you are empowered to push the boundaries of science and unleash your entrepreneurial spirit. There’s no better place to make a difference to medicine, patients and society. An inclusive culture that champions diversity and collaboration, and always committed to lifelong learning, growth and development. We’re on an exciting journey to pioneer the future of healthcare.

So, what’s next?

• Are you already imaging yourself joining our team? Good, because we can’t wait to hear from you.

• Are you ready to bring new ideas and fresh thinking to the table? Brilliant! We have one seat available and hope its yours

• If you’re curious to know more then we welcome your application no later than

Where can I find out more?

Our Social Media, Follow AstraZeneca on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/1603/

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