IT Exceptions Lead

Are you ready to turn complex risk trade-offs into clear, confident decisions that protect people, data and technology? As IT Exceptions Lead in our Cyber Security team, you will build and mature a high-impact exceptions framework that enables secure, pragmatic delivery across a fast-moving global enterprise. Your work will help safeguard the digital backbone behind life-changing science, directly supporting the teams who discover, develop and deliver medicines to patients.

You will lead the design, digitisation and ongoing management of the IT exceptions process end to end — aligning it to risk management practices, embedding strong governance, and increasing speed and consistency across functions and geographies. Can you see yourself guiding senior stakeholders through nuanced, risk-based choices while driving measurable improvements in oversight and accountability?

Accountabilities:

• Process Ownership — Serve as Business Process Owner for IT Exceptions, driving maturity, consistency and continuous improvement across the process

• Risk Alignment — Ensure the exceptions process closely aligns to IT risk management practices, tooling and strategic goals to enable risk-based outcomes

• Digitisation and AI Enablement — Continuously improve and digitise the process, exploiting tools, automation and AI to scale efficiency and control

• Exception Assessment and Approval — Assess and approve IT exceptions content, ensuring timely plans, quality deliverables and clear risk treatments

• Data Quality and Reporting — Drive accountability for the completeness, accuracy and currency of IT exceptions data through monitoring, tracking and reporting

• Trend and Issue Management — Identify, communicate and manage trends in compliance risks, breaches and issues; agree and track mitigations aligned to risk appetite

• Governance and Metrics — Plan, govern and report key compliance metrics and measures to drive accountability across IT

• Regulatory and Audit Readiness — Provide compliance input and evidence for external regulatory and internal governance inspections and forums

• Stakeholder Engagement — Act as the primary contact for IT exceptions-related questions and issues; build trusted relationships with senior IT and business stakeholders

• Training, Education and Awareness — Lead development and rollout of training, education and awareness to embed a strong exceptions culture

• External Insight — Represent the company at industry forums to bring back leading practices that elevate our approach

Essential Skills & Experience:

• BA/BSc and extensive experience in IT risk management and/or compliance application in large IT organisations, preferably in the pharmaceutical industry

• Familiarity with technical concepts in Cybersecurity, infrastructure or applications

• Experience in leading a team, delivering strategies and influencing senior stakeholders

• Experience of operating at senior levels across functions and geographies in large, complex IT environments

• Strong compliance experience/expertise

• Broad IT management experience including project or service management

• Proven challenge, negotiation and influencing capabilities

• Strong collaboration and relationship building skills

• Strong presentation, communication and facilitation skills

• Ability to make pragmatic decisions by analysing highly complex/time-critical situations, assessing risks and stabilising strategic and tactical compliance requirements

• High levels of drive, energy, resilience and a desire for professional excellence

• Ability to hold self and others accountable for actions

• Strong change leadership and team working skills

Desirable Skills & Experience:

• Lean trained

• Experience of providing regulatory support including computerised system validation/assurance activities

• Knowledge of industry good practice and standards such as ISO 9000, ISO 27001, ISO 27002, GxP, ITIL, CMMI, Sarbanes-Oxley

• External qualifications such as ISPE PCC CPIP and ISACA CISM, CISA or CRISC

• Experience in using ServiceNow IRM (formerly GRC)

• Experience of contributing to implementation of a Risk and Compliance strategy with the ability to prioritise and understand the impact of the decisions made

Our Flexible Working Culture

When we put unexpected teams in the same room, we unleash bold thinking with the power to inspire life-changing medicines. In-person working gives us the platform we need to connect, work at pace and challenge perceptions. That's why we work, on average, a minimum of three days per week from the office. But that doesn't mean we're not flexible. We balance the expectation of being in the office while respecting individual flexibility. Join us in our unique and ambitious world.

Why AstraZeneca?

Join a purpose-led global technology community that powers breakthrough science with secure, modern platforms and data at scale. Here you will collaborate with experts across disciplines, translate complex risk into clear business value, and shape how a digital, data-driven enterprise manages security decisions at pace. We combine curiosity with high standards, invest in cutting-edge tools and AI, and value kindness alongside ambition — so you can experiment, learn and deliver impact that ultimately reaches patients.

Ready to make your mark?

Own a mission-critical security governance domain and help protect the science that saves lives — take the next step in your career and apply to lead this change today.

Competitive salary and benefits package on offer!

The successful candidate will have access to a flexible employee benefits fund, including holiday purchase and flexible time off, pension contributions, Share Save Plans, A performance recognition scheme and a competitive, generous remuneration package.

Where can I find out more? 

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