Associate Director, BI&T Technical Engineering Lead - Analytics & AI, Drug Development

Summary

The Technical Engineering Lead is responsible for the technology strategy, architecture, delivery, and lifecycle management for analytics and AI capabilities supporting Clinical Operations — anchored today in GDO Workbench, with a remit that extends to analytical and AI needs surfacing elsewhere across Drug Development. This role serves as the senior technology leader partnering with Global Development Operations and BI&T leadership to deliver digital solutions that improve study execution, increase operational efficiency, enable AI-driven decision making, and accelerate the delivery of medicines to patients. The successful candidate will lead a matrixed team of architects, engineers, data specialists, and vendor partners while driving platform modernization, enterprise integration, and AI-enabled innovation across Clinical Operations.

Key Responsibilities

Product & Technology Leadership

• Define and execute the technology strategy and roadmap for Clinical Operations Intelligence platforms.
• Partner with business, product, and digital leaders to translate strategic priorities into technology solutions.
• Drive innovation through analytics, AI, automation, and digital capabilities.
• Ensure technology investments deliver measurable business value and user adoption.
• Serve as the trusted advisor for platform capabilities, scalability, and future direction.

Architecture & Platform Strategy

• Own the target-state architecture for GDO Workbench and related platforms.
• Lead platform modernization and technology transformation initiatives.
• Define architecture across applications, data, analytics, cloud, and integrations.
• Drive decisions related to platform convergence, data architecture, and enterprise integration.
• Ensure solutions align with enterprise technology, security, and data standards.

Delivery & Engineering Leadership

• Lead cross-functional teams responsible for design, development, testing, deployment, and support.
• Provide technical leadership across multiple product pods and development workstreams.
• Establish delivery governance and release management processes.
• Drive execution excellence through Agile product delivery and engineering best practices.
• Balance innovation, stability, technical debt reduction, and operational efficiency.

Data, Analytics & AI Enablement

• Partner with Data Products and enterprise data teams to deliver integrated data and analytics solutions.
• Enable AI-driven insights, intelligent recommendations, automation, and decision-support capabilities.
• Drive adoption of modern data platforms and scalable analytics architecture.
• Support self-service analytics and next-generation digital user experiences.

Stakeholder & Governance Leadership

• Build strong partnerships across Global Development Operations, BI&T, R&D, and enterprise technology teams.
• Present technology roadmaps, architecture recommendations, risks, and investment opportunities to senior leadership.
• Lead governance discussions supporting platform strategy, prioritization, and investment decisions.
• Influence outcomes across highly matrixed organizations and external partners.

Quality, Compliance & Risk Management

• Ensure all solutions meet BMS quality, security, privacy, compliance, and regulatory requirements.
• Establish governance processes supporting architecture, development, release management, and operations.
• Drive continuous improvement in engineering quality and operational excellence.
• Identify and proactively mitigate technology and business risks.

Qualifications Required

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, Data Science, or related field.
• 12+ years of experience leading technology platforms, digital products, or enterprise applications.
• 5+ years of leadership experience managing cross-functional technology teams.
• Proven experience developing and executing technology roadmaps.
• Experience leading large-scale digital transformation initiatives.
• Strong executive communication and stakeholder management skills.

Preferred

• Advanced degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Business, or related discipline.
• Experience in Pharmaceutical, Biotechnology, Clinical Development, or Life Sciences organizations.
• Experience with cloud platforms, data platforms, analytics, and AI-enabled solutions.
• Experience leading Agile product development organizations.
• Experience managing strategic technology vendors and consulting partners.

Leadership Competencies

• Strategic mindset with strong business acumen.
• Ability to influence across complex matrix organizations.
• Strong product and customer orientation.
• Exceptional collaboration and communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to lead through ambiguity and organizational change.
• Passion for innovation, talent development, and continuous improvement.