Global Director, Data Architecture

Kyowa Kirin International; United Kingdom; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading pharmaceutical company is seeking a Global Director, Data Architecture to oversee strategic direction of data platforms and products. The ideal candidate should have strong expertise in Azure, a solid understanding of data management, and experience in enterprise architecture. This full-time role is hybrid in Marlow or Galashiels, UK, and includes occasional travel.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in designing and implementing enterprise data architectures.
• Strong expertise in Azure data platforms and standards.
• Fluent in spoken and written English; knowledge of Japanese is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Assess current ICT data strategy and conduct a maturity assessment.
• Define and communicate data architecture principles and guide solution design.
• Collaborate with technology stakeholders and business partners.

Skills

Azure data platforms

Data management

Agile methodologies

Business acumen

Education

Bachelor’s degree in computer science, engineering, or a related field

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

D365

SuccessFactors

Veeva

Salesforce

Job description

Global Director, Data Architecture

Kyowa Kirin International plc.
Hybrid in Marlow or Galashiels, UK.

Overview

Leaping Forward to Make People Smile.
At Kyowa Kirin International (KKI), our purpose is to make people smile. This means more than drug discovery and development; it is about embedding care into everything we do to make a difference every day for those that need it most. We are an inclusive pharmaceutical company that takes time to understand what really matters to our patients, their families, and their healthcare professionals, helping our people to take bold actions that deliver life‑changing solutions sooner. Our culture is rooted in our values: Teamwork, Commitment to Life, Innovation, and Integrity.

Job Purpose

To ensure the organisation’s ICT strategy is aligned with its business goals, you will be responsible for analysing business processes, defining the technology needs, and the external environment. You will oversee the strategic direction of our data platforms and products. This role requires a visionary leader with a deep understanding of platform technologies, strong leadership skills, and the ability to drive innovation and growth. Experience in modern cloud data technologies like Azure is a must and an applications landscape such as D365, SuccessFactors, Veeva, Salesforce, etc. is beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Assessment of our current ICT data strategy, data and technology landscape, conduct a maturity assessment and development of a target data platform and technology blueprint for the organisation.
• Develop and maintain business data & applications, integration, and technical architecture domains, ensuring alignment with enterprise‑wide roadmaps and standards.
• Define and communicate data architecture principles, standards, and patterns to guide solution design and development of data products across the organisation.
• Utilise business acumen and technical understanding to align the organisation’s people, processes and technology to enhance business performance.
• Collaborate with technology stakeholders, especially business partners to understand key business goals, processes, and capabilities.
• Develop detailed architecture roadmap, manage vendors/resources, and monitor progress to ensure that architecture strategies are effectively executed.
• Analyse and help identify technology gaps in existing business processes to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and improve service delivery.
• Work closely with various stakeholders, including suppliers, clients and internal teams, to understand their needs and ensure seamless integration of solutions and platforms.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, engineering, or a related field; Master’s degree preferred.
• Fluent in spoken and written English. Knowledge of spoken and written Japanese is an asset but not required.
• Proven experience in the designing and implementation of target enterprise data and information architectures for global organisations.
• Strong expertise in Azure data platforms and standards.
• Strong understanding of data platforms, including cloud computing, microservices, APIs, and data management.
• Experience with Agile methodologies and project management tools.
• Experience with market research methodologies and competitive analysis.
• Some experience working within the pharmaceutical industry.
• Occasional local and international travel with overnight stays.

Seniority Level

Director

Employment Type

Full‑time

Job Function

Engineering and Information Technology; Pharmaceutical Manufacturing

Kyowa Kirin International is an equal opportunities employer.