Associate Director, Data Capability Lead

Company Overview Top global pharmaceutical company with a diverse range in pipeline Job Description Overview This role leads data and AI capabilities within the IT organization of a global pharmaceutical company. The focus is on delivering large-scale data and AI programs in Japan with a stakeholder-centric, data-driven approach. The ideal candidate is assertive, energetic, and strategic, with experience in digital health and a strong track record in areas like Sales & Marketing, Market Access, Patient Support, and Medical Affairs. The individual will be responsible for setting functional strategies, conceptualizing and delivering data and analytics solutions, and overseeing both internal and vendor delivery teams. Experience working with disparate datasets, data lakes, engineering workflows, and data science tools is crucial. Key Responsibilities Translate business needs into a data and AI framework and lead implementation in collaboration with business and IT stakeholders. Drive data management initiatives and deploy best practices for master data, reference data, and metadata management. Design and deliver data engineering solutions, integrate multi-modal datasets, and support AI/ML-based digital applications. Promote adoption of data products and AI/ML insights across various business functions. Act as a consultant to global and regional stakeholders and align projects with organizational strategy. Lead cross-functional teams of analysts, data engineers, and AI developers throughout the full project lifecycle. Requirements Requirements 8+ years of experience in leading data engineering and AI/ML initiatives across multiple business functions and geographies. Strong understanding of data domain modeling, taxonomy/ontology design, and master/reference data (e.g., HCP, product, patient hierarchies). Expertise in building conceptual/logical data models and integrating them with internal/external data systems. Proficiency in BI and data visualization tools (e.g., Qlik Sense, Power BI) and data science programming (e.g., Python, R). Experience with modern cloud data platforms (e.g., AWS, Snowflake), data pipelines (e.g., dbt, FiveTran), and governance tools (e.g., Immuta, Collibra). Knowledge of data privacy regulations and healthcare standards (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA, HL7, FHIR). Hands-on experience with Git, DataOps, CI/CD pipelines, and Agile methodologies. Bachelor’s degree in a technical field (e.g., Computer Science, Engineering). Strong communication and leadership skills with both technical and non-technical teams. Preferred Qualifications Master’s degree or MBA. Over 8 years of experience in digital and data transformation, including at least 5 years leading complex transformation programs. Prior experience in digital health initiatives or with global biopharma environments. Benefits High-level ownership of data strategy, architecture, and execution across functions like R&D, commercial, medical, and market access. Competitive salary, annual bonus, benefits package, and hybrid working options. Career growth opportunities in a company committed to digital transformation. Lead development of advanced data platforms and analytics ecosystems using modern tech stacks.