Head of GBS Operations & Enabling Units Services
Gaithersburg, MD - USA
Job Summary
Head of GBS Operations & Enabling Units Services
Gaithersburg USA - All GBS Locations considered
About the role
In GBS we dare to change the way we work we are brave resilient and take smart risks with a focus on simplifying the way we work. Through our global scale and diverse services we look to drive value through our innovation and expertise. This requires a team who see no boundaries can collaborate and challenge the norm and feel empowered motivated and engaged.
Reporting to the GBS VP as part of the GBS Leadership Team the Head of GBS Operations & Enabling Units Services will both set the strategy for and deliver shared services to our Legal Compliance Finance and Operations organization. The Head of GBS Operations & Enabling Units Services is accountable and responsible for understanding global Legal Compliance Finance and Operations strategies and translating this into operational strategy to deliver effective efficient ways of working embracing new technology and agile delivery techniques that robustly deliver day in and day out to our growing needs.
Over the next 2-5 years we expect to see a large increase in our Legal Compliance Finance and Operations activities with these functions handing increasing regulatory requirements legal pressure advancing technology and handling more new product launches reflecting our industry leading pipelines. The leader of GBS Operations & Enabling Units Services is required to understand and adapt to expected volatility in demand large scaling and growth targets while keeping quality and responsiveness high and delivering in year efficiencies to how we work. Bringing external best practice benchmarks and clarity to delivery through appropriate measures is critical to support clear structured customer engagement.
The current scope of services provided by GBS to these functions range from established (compliance services) to early stages of ideation. This new role is being established to drive business partnering ahead of business case development and process design implementation and delivery. This requires a leader with ambition entrepreneurial drive and a strong ability to partner listen and drive for enterprise outcomes.
In addition to the work with our Legal Compliance Finance and Operations organization the Head of GBS Operations & Enabling Units Services willdevelop business strategiesto leverage existing GBS capabilitiesacrosstheenterprise and directly input shape and develop the enterpriseGBS strategy to deliver the needs of the Legal Compliance Finance and Operations organisations.
The leader of GBS Operations & Enabling Units Services requires leadership through influence gravitas and vision to position and lead the GBS agenda with the Legal Compliance Finance and Operations SET members and the ability to build teams/organisations processes and utilisation of technology to execute on the vision.
This role will provide the opportunity to shape drive and deliver so we are looking for an individual motivated by:
The chance to help shape and design the future shared services strategy for AstraZeneca
Leading and shaping a Legal Compliance Finance and Operations expansion agenda to release value through shared services that frees up time money and reduces organisational risk.
Operating at the heart of a large and complex function and be part of a multi-disciplinary and diverse team
Key Accountabilities
The role holder will be accountable for:
Shaping and leading the overall GBS Legal Compliance Finance and Operations strategy. Accountable for the delivery and growth of all GBS services delivered specifically into the Legal Compliance Finance and Operations organisation.
Representing GBS with Legal Compliance Finance and Operations leadership at all levels to drive shaping of the Strategic plans through in-depth Legal Compliance Finance and Operations input and rigorous assessment
Bringing the new: Through external benchmarks understanding technology and disruptive thinking bring new solutions suggestions and options for process improvement. Focused on high quality delivery efficiency and user experience bring fresh ideas to the organisation and leadership teams to drive innovative thinking and step change in delivery.
Leading the GBS Operations & Enabling Units Services in developing implementing running and optimising services delivered exclusively to the Legal Compliance Finance and Operations Organisation
Driving ongoing Process and Continuous Improvement across processes implementing best practices to enhance efficiency and effectiveness of delivery
Ensuring high quality and timely Legal Compliance Finance and Operations services to employees customers and other stakeholders while maintaining service level agreements and compliance with relevant regulations
Vendor management: managing relationships with external vendors and service providers to ensure the delivery of critical activities undertaken by 3rd parties
Developing and monitoring KPIs and CSAT to measure the effectiveness of delivery and customer satisfaction driving ongoing improvement initiatives.
Contributing to broader AZ GBS Strategy through active role in opportunity development and organisation development. Lead areas of new opportunities to scale GBS.
Driving industry leading strategies; shape and lead external engagements partnerships and Customer centric solutions
Communicating and influencing other senior leaders internally and externally in order to support adoption and acceleration of key priorities
Lead by example in creating an inclusive high performance team in an innovative and collaborative organisation. ; seek opportunities to change paradigm and removes barriers within and outside the team
Delivering for the Legal Compliance Finance and Operations organisation: Leading the team to deliver high quality assets and services globally on time (24/7) and on budget. Ensuring operations comply with all regulatory requirements with robust business continuity plans and strategies in place.
Essential Criteria
Strategic & Analytical Capabilities: Ability to see ahead to future possibilities and translating them into breakthrough strategies based on data and insight driven analysis.
Legal Compliance Finance and Operations acumen and delivery: Focus on delivering high-impact opportunities at scale by implementing Legal Compliance Finance and Operations specific Capabilities. Experienced in Legal Compliance Finance and/or strategies and the capabilities used to deliver them.
Stakeholder Alignment & engagement: Track record of strong cross-functional collaboration ability to lead in a matrix environment with good influencing networking stakeholder management skills. Ability to effectively engage with senior stakeholders
Leadership & Talent Development: Proven track record of attracting and developing diverse teams and optimizing team performance. Ability to motivate lead and inspire high performing teams
Strategic Clarity & Messaging: Successful experience in working in the Legal Compliance Finance and/or Operations/GBS space to support our customers); translating insights into into a compelling strategy and enterprise benefits.
Disruptive thinking to drive scaled performance: Track record of deploying disruptive thinking to bring the new innovative and technologically relevant process solutions to organisations to change ways of working improve user experience excellence in delivery and step change productivity.
Right touch insight: Collaborate with internal stakeholders to drive innovative approaches around building a culture of continuous improvement.
Develop a Great Place to Work: Able to actively engage inspire and create follower ship of large diverse teams with experience of working cross-cultures and cross-borders. Engenders trust empowers team and has courageous conversations. Makes fair impartial and informed talent decisions. Ability to assess and implement changes to organisational model including size & structure to build the future proof capabilities.
Seasoned pharmaceutical/biotechnology executive (over 10 years) with significant experience and proven leader with sophisticated Shared services management Legal Compliance Finance and/or Operations leadership skills with a solid track record of accomplishment
Demonstrates strategic and tactical abilities in developing and successfully delivering GBS Capabilities with year on year improvement and high NPS.
Desirable Criteria
GBS Acumen: Comprehensive understanding of the GBS space as well as the clear understanding of the external marketplace (current & future) to shape new opportunities. Experience in both Captive and BPO
Why AstraZeneca
At AstraZeneca were dedicated to being a Great Place to Work. Where you are empowered to push the boundaries of science and unleash your entrepreneurial spirit. Theres 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. Were on an exciting journey to pioneer the future of healthcare.
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.
So whats next
Are you ready to bring new ideas and fresh thinking to the table Brilliant! We have one seat available and we hope its yours.
Where can I find out more Our Social Media Follow AstraZeneca on LinkedIn Follow AstraZeneca on Facebook Follow AstraZeneca on Instagram
If this sounds like you.. Apply today!
Date Posted
31-Mar-2026Closing Date
14-Apr-2026Our 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.
Required Experience:
Director
Key Skills
About Company
AstraZeneca is an equal opportunity employer. AstraZeneca will consider all qualified applicants for employment without discrimination on grounds of disability, sex or sexual orientation, pregnancy or maternity leave status, race or national or ethnic origin, age, religion or belief, ... View more