Senior Director - IT Business Partner, HR

We are seeking a senior, enterprise-level technology leader to partner with the Human Resources (HR) leadership team and lead AI and technology-driven transformation of how AstraZeneca attracts, develops, serves and empowers its people.  This role sits at the intersection of people strategy, technology innovation and executive leadership. You will be a trusted advisor to the CHRO organisation and the Heads of the HR Centres of Excellence, shaping how AI, agents, data and modern platforms reimagine talent, learning, workforce planning, reward, HR service delivery and the employee experience.  This is not a traditional IT delivery role. It is a business-embedded, outcome-led leadership position for someone who can influence at the top table, translate HR strategy into action, and scale AI and digital transformation with pace and discipline including building and leading a high-calibre, product-centric HR IT team that orchestrates a world-class partner ecosystem, and proving in partnership with HR how technology value is unlocked.  Executive Partnership & Influence  • Serve as the primary technology and transformation partner to the HR Leadership Team and Heads of COEs, aligned to the HR Digital Strategy.  • Act as a credible thought partner at executive level, shaping priorities and influencing investment decisions.  • Translate complex people and workforce challenges into clear, outcome-driven technology strategies and multi-year roadmaps.  AI & Technology Transformation at Scale  • Lead enterprise-grade AI and digital initiatives across HR from experimentation to sustained value, driving the shift from proof of concept to proof of value with measurable outcomes.  • Identify and scale high-impact AI, agentic automation and analytics use cases across talent acquisition, learning, performance, people analytics and employee services.  • Embed digital-first, AI-powered ways of working so that HR processes are redesigned around the employee, not simply automated.  HR Platform & Experience Strategy  • Set the strategy and evolution path for the HR platform estate including Workday, ServiceNow HRSD, Eightfold and the wider talent, learning and skills ecosystem; balancing innovation with simplification and value for money.  • Scout, pilot and scale next-generation capabilities (e.g. AI-driven recruiting, skills-based talent models, conversational employee services, predictive people analytics).  • Ensure a connected, data-driven employee experience across HR processes and platforms.    Reshaping HR IT Talent & Product-Centric Operating Model  • Reshape the HR IT workforce into a high-calibre, high-performing team: driven, strategic thinkers and recognised thought leaders who challenge the status quo and set the standard for business-embedded technology leadership.  • Lead the move from project and run-based delivery to a product-centric operating model, with persistent, empowered product teams aligned to HR value streams (e.g. talent, learning and skills, workforce planning, employee services, people analytics) and accountable for outcomes, adoption and continuous improvement.  • Define the skills, personas and career paths the future team needs- product ownership, AI and agent engineering, data and analytics, platform architecture, value management and partner orchestration and close gaps through targeted hiring, reskilling and succession planning.  • Set a high-performance culture: clear outcome ownership, fast learning cycles, curiosity about emerging technology, and visible external presence through forums, communities and peer networks.  • Orchestrate the in-house team and strategic partners as one integrated product organisation, with the in-house core focused on strategy, architecture, product leadership and valu