Associate Director, Data & AI Policy, Assurance and Monitoring

About the role

AstraZeneca is looking for an Associate Director to turn Data and AI principles into trusted, repeatable ways of working that accelerate science to patients. The role translates approved policies, standards and controls into practical guidance, templates and monitoring routines, partnering across data, technology and enterprise control functions. It is an in-office role in Barcelona with a minimum of three days per week on site; remote or travel flexibility is not available.

Key responsibilities

• Apply approved Data & AI policies, standards and controls to real-world scenarios, developing guidance, templates, process steps and adoption materials.
• Support the implementation and ongoing operation of standards and controls under accountable owners.
• Lead assigned implementation workstreams across Data Offices, Data Owners, business domains and technology teams, tracking milestones, dependencies, risks, evidence and actions.
• Maintain documentation linking regulatory expectations, risks, requirements, controls, assurance activities and adoption for audit-ready traceability.
• Gather implementation evidence, control metrics and stakeholder feedback, analyse results and produce decision-ready reporting for Director-level review.
• Execute control testing and monitoring, document outcomes, track remediation and escalate material findings.
• Resolve routine questions and escalate significant interpretation matters, exceptions and risks to the accountable owner.
• Facilitate working sessions with Legal, Compliance, Privacy, Cyber Security, Enterprise Risk Management, Enterprise Data Enablement, Enterprise AI and Data Offices.
• Prepare governance materials and deliver communications, training and practical guidance for change adoption.

Required profile

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Information or Data Science, Informatics, Computer Science, Economics or a related discipline, or equivalent experience.
• Practical experience in Data & AI governance, data governance, risk, compliance, controls or assurance.
• Working knowledge of Data & AI regulatory requirements such as GxP, GDPR, the EU AI Act and NIS2.
• Experience implementing or supporting adoption of policies, standards or controls across multiple stakeholder groups.
• Experience managing workstreams through to completion, including actions, risks, dependencies, evidence and milestones.

Required skills

• Strong analytical capability to test, monitor, assess evidence and report accurately.
• High attention to detail in documentation and evidence capture.
• Clear written and verbal communication and effective stakeholder facilitation.
• Ability to simplify guidance and processes for complex environments.

Desirable: Master's or postgraduate qualification; life sciences or healthcare experience; exposure to control automation or control-by-design; awareness of ISO/IEC 42001 and the NIST AI Risk Management Framework; certifications in Data & AI governance, risk, compliance or audit; applied experience with data management, data science, AI development or GRC tooling; active engagement in professional communities.