Director, Digital – Statistics & Data Analytics Location: Durham Function: Pharmaceutical Technology & Development (PT&D) Group: Global Product Development (GPD) Reports to: Director, Digital Product Development Working arrangement: Hybrid (3 times per week at office)
About AstraZeneca AstraZeneca is a global, science-led biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialisation of prescription medicines. By combining scientific expertise, digital innovation and collaborative partnerships, we aim to improve patient outcomes and address some of the world’s most complex healthcare challenges.
Within Global Product Development, digital capabilities are helping transform how pharmaceutical products are developed, evaluated and delivered. Our teams bring together scientific, technical and digital expertise to support evidence-based decisions, strengthen development processes and accelerate innovation across the product portfolio.
The role We are seeking a Director, Digital – Statistics & Data Analytics to provide strategic, scientific and people leadership for a multidisciplinary team of statisticians and data analysts within Digital Product Development.
This is a broad digital leadership role with the opportunity to shape and execute the Global Pharmaceutical Development digital strategy, connect GPD priorities with the wider AstraZeneca digital ecosystem, and define the direction of data, analytics and statistics across the portfolio.
You will translate scientific and business needs into clear priorities, align specialist resources to the areas of greatest impact, and ensure the delivery of scientifically rigorous, pragmatic and timely support for pharmaceutical product development, regulatory submissions and evidence-based decision-making.
Working in a diverse digital environment, you will partner with senior leaders, drug project teams, technical specialists and external collaborators. You will also help strengthen data accessibility, standards and governance, while driving the development and adoption of emerging digital capabilities, including agentic AI.
This role offers the opportunity to build future-focused capabilities, develop talent and enable sustained adoption of digital tools in a fast-paced, highly regulated environment.
Key responsibilities
- Shape digital strategy: Contribute to the definition of the GPD digital science strategy and lead execution of its data, data analytics and statistics components.
- Identify opportunities for impact: Collaborate with drug project teams to identify digital opportunities that deliver tangible benefits, develop tailored digital strategies and ensure effective deployment of specialist resources.
- Lead statistical and analytics expertise: Provide scientific and strategic leadership to a global team of statisticians and data analysts, ensuring rigorous, timely and fit-for-purpose support for pharmaceutical product development, regulatory submissions and evidence-based decisions.
- Partner with senior stakeholders: Act as a trusted adviser and thought partner to senior leaders, helping translate complex scientific, technical and business needs into clear priorities and practical solutions.
- Build digital capability: Develop statistical, data and digital capability through coaching, training and communities of practice. Promote broader access to digital tools and encourage their effective adoption across the organisation.
- Advance emerging technologies: Support the development and adoption of innovative digital capabilities, including agentic AI, modelling, simulation and advanced analytics where they can enhance pharmaceutical development.
- Strengthen data foundations: Help improve data accessibility, standards, governance and collaborative workflows, ensuring that data and analytical practices support business objectives and regulatory expectations.
- Collaborate across the ecosystem: Establish effective partnerships with internal and external collaborators, technical teams, project teams and other digital leaders to ensure alignment with broader business goals.
- Support regulatory readiness: Monitor and advocate for relevant regulatory changes, helping the organisation prepare for and comply with evolving industry regulations and standards.
- Develop people and culture: Lead, mentor and coach team members, foster excellence and innovation, build capabilities for the future, and promote a culture of continuous improvement and Lean thinking.
- Lead change: Drive culture change and enable sustained adoption of new digital tools, approaches and ways of working in a complex, regulated environment.
Required qualifications and experience
- PhD in Statistics, Applied Mathematics, Chemical Engineering or a related field, plus at least 10 years of relevant experience; or a master’s degree in one of these fields plus at least 12 years of relevant experience.
- Proven experience defining and executing digital strategies.
- Demonstrated experience leading digital transformation within the pharmaceutical industry, with a strong understanding of how statistics and data analytics support business priorities.
- Significant expertise in data, data analytics or statistics, with the ability to guide specialists and ensure scientifically sound approaches to pharmaceutical product development.
- Broad digital understanding, including how modelling, simulation and AI can support pharmaceutical development.
- Broad knowledge of pharmaceutical product development and the scientific context in which digital solutions are applied.
- Ability to translate scientific and business needs or opportunities into clear priorities for statistics, data analytics and digital solutions.
- Demonstrated ability to broaden access to and promote adoption of digital and AI tools.
- Significant experience managing and leading teams, with a proven record of developing talent and providing effective coaching.
- Ability to set strategic direction, manage competing priorities, allocate specialist resources and remain engaged with complex technical and operational issues.
- Strong communication, collaboration and influencing skills.
- Cultural awareness and the ability to work effectively across diverse teams and geographies.
- Experience leading change and enabling culture change.
- Commitment to continuous improvement and fostering a Lean culture.
Preferred qualifications and experience
- Awareness of relevant regulatory developments.
- Recognition for expertise within the business or wider industry.
- Experience in inhaled drug-product development.
- Experience applying statistics to pharmaceutical development, quality and problem-solving.
- Experience supporting regulatory submissions or interactions with health authorities.
- Experience collaborating with technical teams to develop data products or digital tools.
- Experience in data governance, data visualization or advanced analytics.
Leadership scope This role manages a team and has a global remit, operating across at least two or three countries, with international responsibilities expected to account for a minimum of approximately 40% of working time.
The successful candidate will lead and develop a multidisciplinary team while working closely with colleagues across Global Product Development, Digital Product Development and the wider AstraZeneca digital ecosystem.
Why join this team?
This role provides the opportunity to:
- Shape the future of pharmaceutical development by connecting statistics, data analytics, digital strategy and emerging technologies to meaningful portfolio outcomes.
- Lead at enterprise scale by influencing priorities across GPD and partnering with senior stakeholders throughout AstraZeneca.
- Make a scientific and patient-focused impact through rigorous analytics and evidence-based support for product development and regulatory decision-making.
- Build the capabilities of the future by developing statisticians, data analysts and digital leaders through coaching, training and communities of practice.
- Advance responsible innovation by helping the organization adopt digital tools, AI and agentic AI in a scientifically sound and regulated environment.
- Work in a collaborative, multidisciplinary culture that values scientific excellence, continuous improvement, inclusion and practical delivery.
Please submit your CV and a cover letter explaining how your experience in statistics, data analytics, digital transformation, pharmaceutical development and people leadership aligns with this opportunity.
AstraZeneca is committed to creating an inclusive and diverse workplace. We welcome applications from qualified candidates of all backgrounds and are committed to providing a fair and accessible recruitment process. If you require reasonable adjustments during the application or interview process, please contact <accessibility or recruitment contact.
The annual base pay (or hourly rate of compensation) for this position ranges from $175,498.40 - $263,247.60 USD Annual. Our positions offer eligibility for various incentives - an opportunity to receive short-term incentive bonuses, equity-based awards for salaried roles and commissions for sales roles. Benefits offered include qualified retirement programs, paid time off (i.e., vacation, holiday, and leaves), as well as health, dental, and vision coverage in accordance with the terms of the applicable plans.
Date Posted 10-Nov-2026 Closing Date 24-Nov-2026Our 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.
