Director, Rare Disease Unit Commercial IT Portfolio Management Lead

The Director of Rare Disease Unit Commercial IT Portfolio Management at Alexion AstraZeneca Rare Disease is responsible for crafting and implementing a strategic IT portfolio that aligns with the Commercial IT Rare Disease Unit's vision and mission. This role is critical for the performance, operational delivery, and financial oversight of the Alexion Commercial IT portfolio to ensure it meets business needs. This position is under the Head of IT Strategy and Performance within the Enabling Functions IT – Alexion AstraZeneca Rare Disease.

Director, Rare Disease Unit Commercial IT Portfolio Management is a key role that provides strategic and operational assistance to the Head of Commercial IT - Rare Disease Unit and serves as a chief of staff. This role will help the Head of Commercial IT-Rare Disease Unit and the leadership team to improve goal setting, metrics reporting, engagement, and interpersonal efficiency ensuring consistency of actions and messages between IT team leaders and business commercial leaders.

The Director, Rare Disease Unit Commercial IT Portfolio Management will lead a small team of regional portfolio managers (Europe Canada & International, United States, IT Delivery, and Agile Delivery) that is responsible for harmonizing the portfolio, metrics, project methodologies and operational metrics.

In addition to IT Portfolio Management the Director, Rare Disease Unit Commercial IT Portfolio Management will lead/drive several key Alexion IT initiatives that include Agile transformation, Product-based methodologies and roadmaps, Product & Service Catalogues, IT Change Management, and interpersonal evolution.

You will be responsible for:

• Lead development of IT priorities and multi-year strategic roadmaps for the Rare Disease Unit Commercial IT, aligning with regional commercial goals.
• Build and scale strategic roadmap materials, including change management plans, success metrics, dashboards, metrics, and communication tools.
• Handle the Rare Disease Unit Commercial IT Portfolio lifecycle, ensuring benefits realization from programs and projects.
• Lead all aspects of fiscal project planning, budgeting, and cost tracking within the portfolio.
• Provide leadership to achieve business outcomes, collaborating with internal IT partners and managers to drive success.
• Implement standardized practices for demand planning, project management, and operational reporting to improve efficiency.
• Scale agile/scrum and product management methodologies across the Commercial IT teams.
• Ensure effective use of ServiceNow for consistent portfolio management and reporting.
• Develop Portfolio Management maturity within the teams and conduct regular portfolio review sessions.
• Lead performance metrics, risks, and dependencies within the portfolio, adhering to IT governance and promoting continuous improvement and Agile adoption.

You will need to have:

• Bachelor's Degree
• 10+ years of relevant experience
• Confirmed ability and/or a consistent record of success in IT portfolio management.
• Consistent record of leading change in organizations, developing critical initiatives and/or process improvement programs.
• Expertise and experience in scaling agile/scrum methodologies in an organization.
• Ability to navigate effectively in a matrix led environment, including accountability to multiple leaders.
• Advanced experience in developing and leading end-to-end business process controls.
• Expertise in resource and budget management and prioritization frameworks
• Demonstrate advanced communication, analytical, critical thinking, and advanced presentation skills.
• Speak up approach to challenge the status quo and raise and gain consensus for recommendations.
• The ability to be an initiative-taker and effective at prioritizing and leading multiple tasks concurrently.
• The duties of this role are conducted in an office environment. As is typical of an office-based role, employees must be able, with or without an accommodation to use a computer; engage in communications via phone, video, and electronic messaging; engage in problem solving and non-linear thought, analysis, and dialogue; collaborate with others; maintain general availability during standard business hours.

We would prefer for you to have:

• Strong leadership skills, with ability to direct and engage teams to achieve strategy and performance objectives.
• Highly skilled at facilitation and information gathering.
• Excellent decision-making and critical thinking skills to analyze and resolve complex raised issues.
• Project Management Institute (PMI), Agile Methodologies certifications or similar formal training/experience required.
• Solid understanding of Generative Ai (ChatGPT), ServiceNow, Project Portfolio Management Tools, including Jira
• Work experience within Biotech or Pharmaceutical is helpful.
• MBA, or equivalent level of experience
• The ability to relate well to a wide variety of diverse styles, types, and classes; open to differences; effective up, down, sideways, inside, and outside; builds diverse networks; quick to find common ground; treats differences fairly and equitably; treats everyone as a preferred customer.

The annual base salary for this position ranges from $148,759.20 to $223,138.80. However, 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) or to receive a retirement contribution (hourly 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 salary (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.

Expectation of working in the office 3 days a week statement: When we put unexpected teams in the same room, we unleash bold thinking with the power to inspire life-changing medicines. In-person working give 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 outstanding and ambitious world. 

AstraZeneca embraces diversity and equality of opportunity. We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse team representing all backgrounds, with as wide a range of perspectives as possible, and harnessing industry-leading skills. We believe that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be. We welcome and consider applications to join our team from all qualified candidates, regardless of their characteristics. We comply with all applicable laws and regulations on non-discrimination in employment (and recruitment), as well as work authorization and employment eligibility verification requirements.