Director, Digital - Statistics & Data Analytics

Key responsibilities

• Shape digital strategy: Contribute to the definition of the GPD digital science strategy and lead execution of its data, data analytics and statistics components.
• Identify opportunities for impact: Collaborate with drug project teams to identify digital opportunities that deliver tangible benefits, develop tailored digital strategies and ensure effective deployment of specialist resources.
• Lead statistical and analytics expertise: Provide scientific and strategic leadership to a global team of statisticians and data analysts, ensuring rigorous, timely and fit-for-purpose support for pharmaceutical product development, regulatory submissions and evidence-based decisions.
• Partner with senior stakeholders: Act as a trusted adviser and thought partner to senior leaders, helping translate complex scientific, technical and business needs into clear priorities and practical solutions.
• Build digital capability: Develop statistical, data and digital capability through coaching, training and communities of practice. Promote broader access to digital tools and encourage their effective adoption across the organisation.
• Advance emerging technologies: Support the development and adoption of innovative digital capabilities, including agentic AI, modelling, simulation and advanced analytics where they can enhance pharmaceutical development.
• Strengthen data foundations: Help improve data accessibility, standards, governance and collaborative workflows, ensuring that data and analytical practices support business objectives and regulatory expectations.
• Collaborate across the ecosystem: Establish effective partnerships with internal and external collaborators, technical teams, project teams and other digital leaders to ensure alignment with broader business goals.
• Support regulatory readiness: Monitor and advocate for relevant regulatory changes, helping the organisation prepare for and comply with evolving industry regulations and standards.
• Develop people and culture: Lead, mentor and coach team members, foster excellence and innovation, build capabilities for the future, and promote a culture of continuous improvement and Lean thinking.
• Lead change: Drive culture change and enable sustained adoption of new digital tools, approaches and ways of working in a complex, regulated environment.

Required qualifications and experience

• PhD in Statistics, Applied Mathematics, Chemical Engineering or a related field, plus at least 10 years of relevant experience; or a master's degree in one of these fields plus at least 12 years of relevant experience.
• Proven experience defining and executing digital strategies.
• Demonstrated experience leading digital transformation within the pharmaceutical industry, with a strong understanding of how statistics and data analytics support business priorities.
• Significant expertise in data, data analytics or statistics, with the ability to guide specialists and ensure scientifically sound approaches to pharmaceutical product development.
• Broad digital understanding, including how modelling, simulation and AI can support pharmaceutical development.
• Broad knowledge of pharmaceutical product development and the scientific context in which digital solutions are applied.
• Ability to translate scientific and business needs or opportunities into clear priorities for statistics, data analytics and digital solutions.
• Demonstrated ability to broaden access to and promote adoption of digital and AI tools.
• Significant experience managing and leading teams, with a proven record of developing talent and providing effective coaching.
• Ability to set strategic direction, manage competing priorities, allocate specialist resources and remain engaged with complex technical and operational issues.
• Strong communication, collaboration and influencing skills.
• Cultural awareness and the ability to work effectively across diverse teams and geographies.
• Experience leading change and enabling culture change.
• Commitment to continuous improvement and fostering a Lean culture.

Preferred qualifications and experience

• Awareness of relevant regulatory developments.
• Recognition for expertise within the business or wider industry.
• Experience in inhaled drug-product development.
• Experience applying statistics to pharmaceutical development, quality and problem-solving.
• Experience supporting regulatory submissions or interactions with health authorities.
• Experience collaborating with technical teams to develop data products or digital tools.
• Experience in data governance, data visualization or advanced analytics.

Leadership scope

This role manages a team and has a global remit, operating across at least two or three countries, with international responsibilities expected to account for a minimum of approximately 40% of working time.