AI Lead, Discovery and Development

Alexion is seeking a visionary AI lead to shape and execute the AI strategy across our R&D organization spanning early research preclinical work and clinical development. This role will partner closely with R&D teams to translate scientific challenges into actionable AI opportunities accelerate pipeline productivity enable AI-driven solutions that accelerate innovation enhance scientific rigor and advance transformative medicines for patients with rare diseases.

You will lead the design development and adoption of advanced AI/ML capabilities that elevate target discovery optimize trial design and execution strengthen datadriven decision making and unlock new scientific insights across the R&D lifecycle. This role blends deep technical expertise with strong product thinking scientific acumen and exceptional stakeholder leadership.

You will be responsible for:

• AI Strategy & Portfolio: Identify and prioritize business aligned AI opportunities and define the multi-year AI strategy and roadmap. Govern the portfolio from proof of concept through validation to scaled products with clear stage gates success metrics and value AI opportunities ofconcept through validation to scaled products with clear stage gates success metrics and value tracking.
• Ownership & Delivery: Act as the product owner for AI solutions (e.g. target ID compound optimization translational and clinical decision support). Set problem statements adoption thresholds and benefits realization plans; oversee delivery with internal teams and partners.
• Business Interface & Partnerships: Serve as the primary interface between R&D teams data scientists and external AI partners. Translate scientific and operational needs into AI solutions. Evaluate buybuildpartner options and manage vendors/consortia.
• Workflow Integration & Change: Lead the integration of AI into business workflows data systems and SOPs. Drive change management and adoption programs including stakeholder engagement training communications superuser networks feedback loops and humanintheloop controls.
• Data & Platforms: Partner with the Head of Data and Tech teams to enable access to high-quality well governed research and clinical data promote FAIR principles and influence platform architecture and MLOps/LLMOps considerations to scale AI wellgoverned research and clinical data promote FAIR principles and influence platform architecture and
• Governance GxP & Responsible AI: Ensure AI solutions meet GxP data integrity privacy and audit requirements. Establish practices for model validation bias/robustness testing explainability documentation model monitoring performance SLAs and inspection readiness.
• Impact & Communication: Define OKRs/KPIs tied to R&D outcomes (e.g. hit/lead success rates cycletime reduction protocol optimization enrollment speed cost avoidance risk detection). Track and communicate progress impact and value to R&D and executive leadership with clear narratives and evidence.
• Talent & Culture: Build and nurture a crossfunctional network of superusers and AI champions; set standards and best practices. Foster a culture of scientific rigor product thinking innovation and measurable impact; promote agile ways of working across Alexion.

You will need to have:

• Education: Advanced degree preferred (MS/PhD in life sciences or quantitative fields; or MBA) with strong biopharma R&D exposure and meaningful AI familiarity (coursework certifications executive programs or applied initiatives).
• Experience: 10 years in biopharma/biotech R&D or adjacent life sciences functions with 5 years leading crossfunctional technologyenabled portfolios and driving business outcomes. Demonstrated success sponsoring or directing AI initiatives from concept to scaled adoption including vendor and partner management.
• Business Domain Expertise: Deep understanding of the endtoend R&D value chain. Able to translate scientific and operational needs into AIenabled business solutions.
• Product and Portfolio Leadership: Proven ability to define roadmaps prioritize portfolios manage budgets and deliver measurable impact.
• Stakeholder Management: Credible partner to senior scientific and business leaders; skilled at influencing without authority facilitating decisions and aligning crossfunctional teams around clear outcomes. Comfortable serving as the owner for AI solutions and representing needs to data science and engineering teams.
• Workflow Integration & Change: Experience integrating new capabilities into business workflows; adept at change management adoption and benefits realization.
• Data & Governance Fluency: Knowledge of FAIR principles clinical and research data landscapes and vendor/partnership management. Understand data readiness for AI feature/data access controls and lineage/traceability requirements for model auditability.
• Regulatory & Compliance: Working knowledge of GxP data integrity privacy (GDPR/CCPA/HIPAA) audit requirements and documentation standards in regulated workflows. Familiarity with responsible AI principles model risk management and documentation needed for validation in preclinical and clinical contexts.
• Technical Fluency (noncoding): Comfortable engaging with AI/ML concepts such as predictive modeling NLP/LLMs. Able to assess value risk and feasibility; understand AI and platform considerations to make informed decisions and ask the right questions without needing to code or build models.
• Communication & Storytelling: Exceptional ability to simplify AI concepts for scientific and business audiences; craft outcomefocused narratives and adoption cases; report progress impact and value to R&D and executive leadership with clear evidence and tradeoffs.
  

We would prefer for you to have:

• Rare disease R&D exposure and strategies for smallsample learning and external data augmentation.
• Experience acting as business product owner for AI solutions driving adoption and measurable outcomes.
• Portfolio financial acumen (investment cases ROI) and partnership governance (buybuildpartner success measures IP/publications stance).

In-Office/Hybrid Statement:

When we put unexpected teams in the same room we unleash bold thinking with the power to inspire life-changing -person working gives us the platform we need to connect work at pace and challenge perceptions. Thats why we work on average a minimum of three days per week from the office. But that doesnt mean were not flexible. We balance the expectation of being in the office while respecting individual flexibility. Join us in our unique and ambitious world.

Compensation and other factors:

The annual base pay (or hourly rate of compensation) for this position ranges from $ - $. Our positions offer eligibility for various incentivesan 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.

At AstraZenecas Alexion division for Rare Diseases you will find an environment where work is more than just a jobits a mission. Our closeness to patients brings us closer to our work and each other. With a rapidly growing portfolio in a nimble biotech atmosphere supported by global resources tailored development programs are crafted to improve your skills. These programs encourage a deep understanding of our patients journeys. Here diversity is valued; inclusion is championed; innovation is celebrated; all while making a profound impact on patients lives.

Ready to make a difference Apply now!

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Our mission is to build an inclusive environment where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and 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.