Head of AI for IT

AstraZeneca · Gaithersburg · $203,214–$304,820 (stated in the posting)

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Head of AI for IT

UK, USA & Spain

About the role

The Head of AI for IT leads the execution of AstraZeneca’s AI-for-IT strategy, developing, deploying and scaling AI across the IT function. The role embeds AI into core IT practices including the project lifecycle, IT operations, cloud migration, software development, quality, observability and service management. It builds and operates the foundational AI for IT platforms, and leverages enterprise platforms and standards for agent orchestration, knowledge systems and guardrails to deliver secure, reusable and scalable agentic AI. As AstraZeneca’s recognised internal expert for AI for IT, the role creates a global community that accelerates adoption, sharing and reuse while ensuring measurable value.

Key Responsibilities

The role is accountable for turning the AI-for-IT strategy into scaled, secure and measurable transformation across AstraZeneca IT globally

AI for IT Strategy and Development

• Develop and implement the AI-for-IT strategy to maximise speed and value across design, development, delivery, deployment, quality, compliance and operations.
• Use a value-stream approach to identify, prioritise and scale high-value use cases across IT.
• Define adoption roadmaps, investment priorities, operating measures and outcomes.

AI for IT Platforms

Influences IT platforms/tooling while leveraging EAI's token management, AI gateway, MCP gateway and agentic orchestration standards.

Leverage agent orchestration standards, knowledge systems, guardrails and Model Context Protocol platforms for agentic AI.

Contributes to the enterprise agent catalogue, owned by EAI, keeps agents consistently registered and linked to governance, cyber, legal and privacy.

AI-Native IT Practices

• Embed AI into the project lifecycle, software development lifecycle, testing, quality, compliance, cloud migration and operations.
• Partner on AI-native IT service management, including intelligent ticketing, resolution automation and proactive service management.
• Enable AI-assisted development, code review and testing through build-with and build-for principles.
• Advance AI-driven observability, anomaly detection, predictive incident management and AI Operations.

Token Economics and Operational Governance

• Partner with EAI on token economics on shared EAI tooling and standards
• Continuously optimise AI for IT value versus costs by adapting LLM models, their usage, architecture and operation.
• Ensure agents are secure, observable, resilient, compliant and cost-effective.
• Define measurable controls for lifecycle management, performance, risk and value realisation.

Community, Adoption and Expertise

• Act as a recognised internal expert for AI for IT.
• Create an IT community of practice that shares knowledge, assets, patterns and reusable agents.
• Influence leaders, product teams and practitioners to redesign work and adopt AI safely at scale.

Success Measures

• Collaborate with the Enterprise AI organisation to leverage existing AI platforms, standards, patterns and best practices.
• Encourage use of and contribute to enterprise standards for agentic AI development.
• Increased adoption and reuse of AI agents, platforms and shared patterns across IT.
• Faster delivery, higher engineering productivity and improved service performance.
• Measurable automation of IT workflows and reduction in manual effort.
• Improved reliability, observability, compliance and user experience.
• Transparent and optimised token consumption and AI operating cost.

Essential Skills, Capabilities & Experience

• Recognised thought leadership in applied AI, agentic AI or AI-enabled IT transformation
• Agentic AI architecture and orchestration
• Experience with agentic AI, Model Context Protocol, retrieval and enterprise knowledge systems
• Experience with AI-native ITSM, AIOps, developer tooling or cloud migration
• Knowledge of token economics, FinOps or consumption-based AI services
• Knowledge of LLMs and associated AI technologies, including their capabilities, applications, ecosystem, and regulatory landscape across the US, Europe, and China.
• Understanding of retrieval, knowledge graphs, semantic systems and model operations 
• Platform product and engineering leadership
• Software engineering, IT operations and service-management fluency
• AI governance, security, compliance and observability
• Token economics and consumption optimisation
• Product mindset, value-stream thinking and outcome orientation
• Executive influence, storytelling and organisational change
• Community building, knowledge sharing and talent development

Why Join Us? 

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. 

The annual base pay for this position ranges from $203,213.60 - 304,820.40 USD. 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.

If you are ready to take on this exciting challenge and be part of a team dedicated to revolutionizing talent acquisition in the pharmaceutical industry, we want to hear from you! Join us at AstraZeneca and let's make a real difference in the lives of patients around the world. 

Office Working Requirements 

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.

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.

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