Senior Director, Program Management

**About AstraZeneca**:
AstraZeneca is a global, science-led, patient-focused biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery, development and commercialisation of prescription medicines for some of the world’s most serious diseases. But we’re more than one of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies. At AstraZeneca, we are pioneering new frontiers by identifying and treating patients earlier, working towards the aim of eliminating cancer as a cause of death.

This role sits within the Project Management Office (PMO) which is an Enabling Unit within the Oncology Research & Development (ORD) Chief Operating Office (COO). The PMO delivers key high visibility R&D programs to transform how we work and support our thriving drug portfolio. Our bold ambition is to eliminate cancer as a cause of death.

**Job Role**:
You will be responsible for overseeing large scale transformational programmes working closely with the PMO as part of the PMO leadership team. In addition to this you will support the Enabling Units LT in working with any portfolio requests that need a pre-initiate proposal including ensuring it aligns to either R&D Transformation, ORDLT Strategic Priorities or Functional needs.

**Scope & Core Accountabilities**:
There are 5 key phases to running a project; Pre-initiate, Initiate, Plan, ‘Execute, Monitor & Control and ‘Close & Realise Benefits’.
- Responsible for ensuring that the business case is signed off before moving forward.
- Develop the Programme Charter, Programme scope, design, structure, and governance working with the relevant stakeholders.
- Manage recruitment and onboarding for the programme working with PMO, including capacity management and line management.
- Responsible for ensuring that the scope agreed in the business case is understood and managed using a scope change management process. Support delivery of benefits realization and have clear tracking mechanism in place to help in discussions regarding progress against benefits expected.
- Work closely with Lean lead to ensure metrics are in place to measure performance, in particular benefits documented in the business case.
- Responsible for ensuring the programme has a risk management process which supports risk &Issue identification, mitigation, and communication and that it is being followed.
- Work with the Change manager to determine the impact of the programme on the rest of the organization.
- Work with the Director Program Management and the Business Lead to manage the interdependencies within the programme and across related programmes.
- Responsible for reporting progress and issues to the Steering Committee
- Accountable for following up on ‘Lessons Learned’ actions for the programme and PMO.
- Accountable for ensuring that KPIs and monitoring is in place so that Programme benefits can be tracked in order to be able to recommend remedial action where needed.
- Nurture / coach project managers and Director Program Management.
- Lead and participate in PMO learning culture, coaching, and mentoring to share experience.
- Provide thought leadership using specialist experience where helpful.

**Stakeholder and Functional Complexity**:

- Responsible for planning and managing program-specific Steering Committee meetings, working closely with the Business lead and Sponsor.
- Responsible for building relationships with relevant senior leader stakeholders whose functions will be affected.

**Autonomy**:

- Individual contributor and reports directly to Head of PMO
- Self-awareness of own development needs and works with line manager to develop plan.

**Essential Requirements**:

- Extensive experience in programme management
- Consultancy-like mindset, with management consulting experience preferred
- Excellent leadership, communication and stakeholder management skills
- Expertise in Standards and good practice when running projects.
- Business acumen to be able to lead creating a business case for a senior stakeholder.

**Desirable Requirements**:

- Experience working in R&D life sciences, including biopharma
- Experience of working in a global organisation with complex/geographical context
- Program Management certification or equivalent