Global HR Business Partner, Pharmaceutical Technology & Development

Introduction to role:

Are you ready to set the people strategy that powers world-class pharmaceutical development and gets life-changing medicines to patients faster? As Global HR Business Partner for Pharmaceutical Technology & Development (PT&D), you will be the catalyst that turns bold science and operational excellence into a high-performance, inclusive culture—building capability today and shaping the workforce we need for tomorrow.

In this senior, enterprise-facing role, you will work directly with PT&D executives and cross-functional leaders to architect and deliver HR strategies that scale. You will leverage data-driven insights, modern HR practices, and close partnership with specialist HR teams to lead targeted interventions that enhance organizational effectiveness, strengthen leadership, and accelerate delivery across PT&D and Global Operations. Can you translate ambition into measurable outcomes and bring clarity to complex people challenges?

Accountabilities:

• People Strategy Ownership: Define, align, and evolve the HR and people strategy for PT&D—covering workforce planning, recruitment, succession, talent management, development, and engagement—ensuring coherence with enterprise-wide people plans to build future-ready capability and retention.
• Strategic HR Partnership: Partner with HR centers of expertise to design and deliver tailored HR solutions to agreed scopes, timelines, and budgets, with clear metrics that demonstrate value and impact for PT&D programs and projects.
• Targeted Interventions Across PT&D and Global Operations: Collaborate with Global HR Business Partners and senior business leaders to craft and implement targeted HR interventions aligned to the overall people strategy, driving performance, culture, and engagement across the end-to-end value chain.
• Executive Coaching and Advisory: Provide coaching and guidance to PT&D executive leaders, elevating people management practices and shaping the people aspects of innovative ideas and priorities to unlock innovation readiness and business outcomes.
• Manager Capability Building and Risk Management: Coach, support, mentor, and challenge people managers to apply HR policies effectively; provide expert advice on complex HR issues to minimize risk and financial exposure, serving as a trusted advisor on employee relations and ensuring compliance with global employment laws and company policies.
• HR Governance and Change Leadership: Ensure HR solutions align with AstraZeneca’s global HR frameworks, applying policies, tools, and techniques in organizational efficiency, change management, employee engagement, workforce transitions, and performance management to deliver smooth transformations and sustained engagement.
• Own the creation and alignment of HR and people strategies for PT&D, encompassing workforce planning, recruitment, succession planning talent management, employee development, and employee engagement. Ensure alignment with SET area and enterprise HR and people plans.
• Partner with HR centers of expertise to drive the delivery of tailored HR solutions to defined scopes, timeframes, budgets, and measurable benefits within assigned business units or projects.
• Collaborate with Global HR Business Partners and senior business leaders to craft and implement targeted HR interventions across the PT&D and Global Operations aligned with overall people strategy.
• Provide coaching and guidance to executive leaders in PT&D, establishing strong partnerships that enhance people management practices and elevate overall business performance. Collaborate to define and develop the people aspects of innovative ideas and business priorities.
• Coach, support, mentor, and challenge people managers in applying HR policies and practices; provide advice and guidance on complex HR issues to minimize risk and financial exposure. Serve as a trusted advisor on complex employee relations issues, guaranteeing adherence with global employment laws and company policies.
• Ensure HR solutions align with global AstraZeneca HR frameworks, applying policies, tools, and techniques in areas such as organizational efficiency, change management, employee engagement, workforce transitions, and performance management.

Essential Skills/Experience:

• Bachelor’s Degree
• Significant HR experience (10 years +) within a large, sophisticated, and matrixed/global organization – preferably as a Global HR Business Partner, or in another HR client-facing role. 
• Digitally-savvy, with evidence of driving innovative solutions and a continuous improvement approach to HR implementation. Comfort with AI, technology and fully understanding of the role it plays in driving efficiency across the business   
• Demonstrable track record of leading the development and execution of HR and people strategies with measurable results. 
• Solid experience as a trusted advisor and coach to business leaders. 
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to influence, challenge, and negotiate at senior levels in an international environment. 
• Demonstrated use of HR analytics and organizational data to inform decision-making, develop interventions, and evaluate impact. 
• Deep understanding of employment law, policy, and risk management. 
• Ability to travel up to meet with Leadership Teams and employees where they are located. 

Desirable Skills/Experience 

• Master’s Degree in Human Resources Management, Organizational Development, Business Administration, or a related field
• Direct experience in the life sciences, pharmaceuticals, or biopharma industries.
• Ability to work effectively on global teams or assignments spanning multiple countries/regions.

The annual base pay (or hourly rate of compensation) for this position ranges from $172,000.00 - $258,000.00 Our positions offer eligibility for various incentives—an opportunity to receive short-term incentive bonuses, equity-based awards for salaried roles and commissions for sales roles. Benefits offered include qualified retirement programs, paid time off (i.e., vacation, holiday, and leaves), as well as health, dental, and vision coverage in accordance with the terms of the applicable plans.

Why AstraZeneca:

Join a high-performing global team where HR sits side-by-side with scientists, engineers, and operations leaders to unlock the power of what science can do for patients. We bring unexpected teams into the same room, use cutting-edge technology and data to inform decisions, and move at pace with care—valuing kindness alongside ambition. Your impact will be visible, your ideas will be heard, and your successes will be celebrated through a culture of recognition and meaningful rewards, reflecting our deep appreciation for long-term commitment and the difference you make.

In Pharmaceutical Technology & Development (PT&D), we work with our portfolio of development projects to turn synthetic molecules into medicines.  We design the commercial products and develop the associated manufacturing processes for the active pharmaceutical ingredient, the drug product (oral, parenteral or inhaled), analytical methods, packaging, and where necessary, the device before transferring these to our manufacturing sites.  We continue to provide technical support to these products throughout their commercial lifecycle.  We are also accountable for patient supply across our company’s portfolio of clinical studies on both synthetic and biological molecules.  

The patient centric, innovative and sustainable design of our new molecules, medicines, devices and packaging is down to the amazing work of the people in the PT&D organization. It is accelerating the delivery of our pipeline of medicines and driving AstraZeneca’s competitive advantage.  

If you’re ready to shape the people strategy that accelerates medicines to patients and build a legacy of measurable impact, send your resume today and help us create what’s next!

Date Posted

Closing Date

Our mission is to build an inclusive environment where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and employees. In furtherance of that mission, we welcome and consider applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of their protected characteristics. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please complete the corresponding section in the application form.