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Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # Director - IT Business Partner, Legal & Compliance - **Company:** AstraZeneca UK Limited - **Location:** Luton, UK - **Experience:** Expert - **Contract:** Permanent contract - **Skills:** Artificial Intelligence, Law Practice Management Software, Data Governance, Document Management Systems, Natural Language Processing, SAP (Applications), Value Engineering, Generative AI, Agentic-AI, Information Technology, Data Analytics, Servicenow - **Published:** October 22, 2026 - **Apply:** https://astrazeneca.eightfold.ai/careers/job/563877691734891?domain=astrazeneca.com ## About the Role * 15+ years of senior technology leadership in large, complex, global organisations. * Proven executive partnership with Legal, Compliance, Risk or other control / enabling functions, delivering AI- and analytics-enabled solutions. * Demonstrated success delivering large-scale AI and technology transformation in a regulated environment. * Proven record of applying an AI-first approach to genuinely transform a function, with innovative solutions that delivered measurable outcomes. * Recognised domain expertise in legal technology and the ability to influence Legal and Compliance leaders through that credibility. * Experience with legal and compliance technology such as GRC, e-discovery, contract lifecycle and matter management platforms, alongside enterprise platforms such as ServiceNow, SAP and automation tools. * Experience owning significant investment portfolios, benefit cases and transformation roadmaps in a matrixed environment. * Experience transitioning technology teams to product-centric operating models and reshaping talent profiles and capabilities at scale. * Track record of demonstrating and communicating technology value to business executives, with outcome and benefits evidence. * Deep experience managing strategic vendors, outsourced service partners and consulting firms. * Track record of motivational, achievement-oriented leadership of cross-functional teams. Capabilities & Expertise * Deep legal tech knowledge: contract lifecycle management, e-discovery, matter and spend management, GRC, regulatory intelligence, legal research and knowledge tools, and the fast-moving AI-native vendor landscape. * Strong understanding of legal operations and compliance processes, including contracting, litigation and investigations support, e-discovery, policy and ethics management, risk and controls, and regulatory change. * Strong grasp of AI, generative and agentic AI, automation, natural language processing and advanced analytics as applied to legal and compliance work. * Deep knowledge of data governance, privacy, security, legal privilege and regulatory requirements, and of emerging AI regulation. * Ability to build technology strategy in alignment with business strategy. Leadership Profile * Executive presence with the ability to influence, challenge and align senior stakeholders, including the General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer organisations. * AI-first mindset with strong innovative thinking; inspires others to reimagine how legal and compliance work is done. * Influences through domain expertise and credibility, complementing the legal and compliance professionals they partner with. * Strategic, commercial and outcome-driven mindset; strategic and analytical thinker with sound judgement on risk. * Comfortable operating in ambiguity and leading complex, global, multicultural change. * Proven people leader able to build and inspire diverse, high-performing teams. * Recognised business and technology thought leader who attracts, grows and retains thought leaders and strategic thinkers. Education & Preferred Assets * Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Business Administration, Law or a related field (Master's or MBA preferred). * Prior technology leadership for Legal, Compliance or other regulated control functions in a large organisation. * Evidence of external engagement in digital transformation, legal tech or compliance forums, or AI communities. ## Description Executive Partnership & Influence * Serve as the primary technology and transformation partner to the General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer and their leadership teams. * Act as a credible thought partner at executive level, shaping priorities and influencing investment decisions. * Translate complex legal, regulatory and risk challenges into clear, outcome-driven technology strategies and multi-year roadmaps. AI-First Transformation & Innovation * Champion an AI-first mindset across Legal and Compliance and IT: default to AI-enabled and agentic approaches when redesigning work, and challenge teams to reimagine processes rather than digitise existing ones. * Bring innovative, original thinking to how the function operates from AI-assisted lawyering and autonomous compliance monitoring to intelligent self-service for the business and turn ideas into pilots, products and scaled capabilities. * Use domain expertise to influence and inspire Legal and Compliance leaders, earning credibility by speaking their language, understanding professional, ethical and regulatory constraints, and showing what is practically possible. * Track the legal tech and AI market, including start-ups, incumbents and emerging regulation, and translate it into differentiated advantage for AstraZeneca. AI & Technology Transformation at Scale * Lead enterprise-grade AI and digital initiatives across Legal and Compliance from experimentation to sustained value, driving the shift from proof of concept to proof of value with measurable outcomes. * Identify and scale high-impact AI, agentic automation and analytics use cases; for example contract analysis and generation, legal research, matter and spend intelligence, regulatory change monitoring, continuous controls monitoring and investigations support. * Redesign legal and compliance processes around AI-enabled ways of working, so that expert time moves from administration to judgement, advice and insight. Legal Tech & Platform Strategy * Set the strategy and evolution path for the Legal and Compliance technology estate including GRC, e-discovery, contract lifecycle, matter and document management, policy, ethics and case management platforms; balancing innovation with simplification and value for money. * Apply deep legal tech knowledge including AI-native contract, research, e-discovery and GRC solutions, and the build-versus-buy and partner landscape to make sound, differentiated platform and vendor decisions. * Scout, pilot and scale next-generation capabilities, ensuring they integrate with enterprise platforms and are fit for regulated, privileged and highly confidential use. * Ensure a connected, data-driven view of risk, compliance and legal activity across the enterprise. Responsible AI, Data Governance, Security & Regulatory Compliance * Ensure responsible, ethical and compliant use of AI, with clear guardrails, human oversight and auditability appropriate to legal privilege, confidentiality and regulatory expectations. * Own the integrity, privacy and security of legal and compliance data, including data residency, retention, legal hold and cross-border requirements. * Partner with Legal and Compliance as both customer and advisor on emerging AI and technology regulation, helping to shape AstraZeneca's own governance model. * Maintain audit-ready, validated and well-governed systems and controls. Reshaping Legal & Compliance IT Talent & Product-Centric Operating Model * Reshape the Legal & Compliance IT workforce into a high-calibre, high-performing team: driven, strategic thinkers and recognised thought leaders who challenge the status quo and set the standard for business-embedded technology leadership. * Lead the move from project and run-based delivery to a product-centric operating model, with persistent, empowered product teams aligned to value streams (e.g. legal operations, e-discovery and investigations, contracts, governance risk and compliance, ethics and assurance) and accountable for outcomes, adoption and continuous improvement. * Define the skills, personas and career paths the future team needs - product ownership, AI and agent engineering, data and analytics, platform architecture, value management & partner orchestration and closing gaps through targeted hiring, reskilling and succession planning. * Set a high-performance culture: clear outcome ownership, fast learning cycles, curiosity about emerging technology, and visible external presence through forums, communities and peer networks. * Orchestrate the in-house team and strategic partners as one integrated product organisation, with the in-house core focused on strategy, architecture, product leadership and value, and partners on scaled delivery and run. Demonstrating IT Value in Partnership with Legal & Compliance * Co-own with Legal and Compliance leadership a clear, shared view of how IT value is unlocked - linking every investment and product to outcomes such as risk reduction, cost avoidance, cycle-time reduction, reduced external legal spend, productivity and better decisions. * Establish transparent value measurement: baselines, outcome KPIs and benefits tracking agreed with the business and Finance, reported regularly and independently of delivery milestones. * Showcase value to leadership and the wider enterprise through regular demonstrations, data-led storytelling and case studies that make the impact of AI and technology tangible and credible. * Hold joint accountability with the business for adoption, change and benefits realisation; retiring low-value spend and reinvesting in what demonstrably works. Investment, Portfolio & Value Management * Own and govern the Legal & Compliance technology investment portfolio, ensuring delivery of value, alignment to strategic objectives and optimal use of resources. * Build investment-grade business cases with clear outcomes and mobilise high-value investments. * Manage delivery through outcome-based metrics, tracking benefits realisation and adoption - not just milestones. Leadership & Ecosystem Management * Lead and develop a high-performing, business-embedded product-centric team, role-modelling the standard of leadership expected of the future EUIT. * Manage strategic partnerships with vendors, outsourcing and managed-service providers, legal technology specialists and system integrators, holding them accountable for outcomes, quality and innovation. * Champion change management and digital upskilling within Legal, Compliance and IT to maximise adoption and impact. * Cultivate a culture of innovation, operational excellence and continuous learning, bringing external market insight into the organisation., * Shape how AI and technology transform legal and compliance in a global science-led company. * Apply your legal tech expertise and AI-first thinking to truly transform a function, not just support it. * Direct exposure to senior executive leadership and strategic decision-making. * Build a team of high-calibre technology talent and define the future of Legal & Compliance technology as part of a transforming, product-centric, AI-enabled EUIT. * Be the face of how technology value is delivered and proven in partnership with Legal and Compliance.