Head of AI for IT
Added 10 Oct · still live
Likely
Sponsorship likelihood
This employer has issued visas recently
Not disclosed
Salary
Not disclosed by employer
£54,900
Going rate
Skilled Worker going rate
This role likely qualifies for a Skilled Worker visa
SOC 2133 (64% match) is an eligible occupation, with a going rate of £54,900, and AstraZeneca is a licensed sponsor. That is our reading of the rules. Whether they issue a Certificate of Sponsorship is still their call.
This could also be SOC 1137 (Information technology directors) or SOC 2132 (IT managers). We read the code off the advert, so it is our best guess, not the employer's.
Your salary route
New graduate or PhD holder? Pick one of the lower rates.
What each route needs for this job
| Occupation code | New entrant 70% of going rate | STEM PhD 80% of going rate | Relevant PhD 90% of going rate | Standard rate 100% of going rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
2133 IT business analysts, architects and systems designers Most likely code | £38,400 | £43,900 | £49,400 | £54,900 |
1137 Information technology directors Also possible | £60,200 | £68,800 | £77,400 | £86,000 |
2132 IT managers Also possible | £38,500 | £44,000 | £49,500 | £55,000 |
We use the lowest threshold across the plausible codes. Likelihood is Possible at most when the pay clears only a lower rate, or only under a less likely code. How the Home Office picks the code
About the role
UK, USA & Spain
About The Role
The Head of AI for IT leads the execution of AstraZeneca’s AI-for-IT strategy, developing, deploying and scaling AI across the IT function. The role embeds AI into core IT practices including the project lifecycle, IT operations, cloud migration, software development, quality, observability and service management. It builds and operates the foundational AI for IT platforms, and leverages enterprise platforms and standards for agent orchestration, knowledge systems and guardrails to deliver secure, reusable and scalable agentic AI. As AstraZeneca’s recognised internal expert for AI for IT, the role creates a global community that accelerates adoption, sharing and reuse while ensuring measurable value.
Key Responsibilities
The role is accountable for turning the AI-for-IT strategy into scaled, secure and measurable transformation across AstraZeneca IT globally
AI for IT Strategy and Development
Influences IT platforms/tooling while leveraging EAI's token management, AI gateway, MCP gateway and agentic orchestration standards.
Leverage agent orchestration standards, knowledge systems, guardrails and Model Context Protocol platforms for agentic AI.
Contributes to the enterprise agent catalogue, owned by EAI, keeps agents consistently registered and linked to governance, cyber, legal and privacy.
AI-Native IT Practices
About The Role
The Head of AI for IT leads the execution of AstraZeneca’s AI-for-IT strategy, developing, deploying and scaling AI across the IT function. The role embeds AI into core IT practices including the project lifecycle, IT operations, cloud migration, software development, quality, observability and service management. It builds and operates the foundational AI for IT platforms, and leverages enterprise platforms and standards for agent orchestration, knowledge systems and guardrails to deliver secure, reusable and scalable agentic AI. As AstraZeneca’s recognised internal expert for AI for IT, the role creates a global community that accelerates adoption, sharing and reuse while ensuring measurable value.
Key Responsibilities
The role is accountable for turning the AI-for-IT strategy into scaled, secure and measurable transformation across AstraZeneca IT globally
AI for IT Strategy and Development
- Develop and implement the AI-for-IT strategy to maximise speed and value across design, development, delivery, deployment, quality, compliance and operations.
- Use a value-stream approach to identify, prioritise and scale high-value use cases across IT.
- Define adoption roadmaps, investment priorities, operating measures and outcomes.
Influences IT platforms/tooling while leveraging EAI's token management, AI gateway, MCP gateway and agentic orchestration standards.
Leverage agent orchestration standards, knowledge systems, guardrails and Model Context Protocol platforms for agentic AI.
Contributes to the enterprise agent catalogue, owned by EAI, keeps agents consistently registered and linked to governance, cyber, legal and privacy.
AI-Native IT Practices
- Embed AI into the project lifecycle, software development lifecycle, testing, quality, compliance, cloud migration and operations.
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- Partner with EAI on token economics on shared EAI tooling and standards
- Continuously optimise AI for IT value versus costs by adapting LLM models, their usage, architecture and operation.
- Ensure agents are secure, observable, resilient, compliant and cost-effective.
- Define measurable controls for lifecycle management, performance, risk and value realisation.
- Act as a recognised internal expert for AI for IT.
- Create an IT community of practice that shares knowledge, assets, patterns and reusable agents.
- Influence leaders, product teams and practitioners to redesign work and adopt AI safely at scale.
- Collaborate with the Enterprise AI organisation to leverage existing AI platforms, standards, patterns and best practices.
- Encourage use of and contribute to enterprise standards for agentic AI development.
- Increased adoption and reuse of AI agents, platforms and shared patterns across IT.
- Faster delivery, higher engineering productivity and improved service performance.
- Measurable automation of IT workflows and reduction in manual effort.
- Improved reliability, observability, compliance and user experience.
- Transparent and optimised token consumption and AI operating cost.
- Recognised thought leadership in applied AI, agentic AI or AI-enabled IT transformation
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At AstraZeneca, we’re dedicated to being a Great Place to Work. Where you are empowered to push the boundaries of science and unleash your entrepreneurial spirit. There’s no better place to make a difference to medicine, patients, and society. An inclusive culture that champions diversity and collaboration, and always committed to lifelong learning, growth, and development. We’re on an exciting journey to pioneer the future of healthcare.
If you are ready to take on this exciting challenge and be part of a team dedicated to revolutionizing talent acquisition in the pharmaceutical industry, we want to hear from you! Join us at AstraZeneca and let's make a real difference in the lives of patients around the world.
Office Working Requirements
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.
Date Posted
09-Oct-2026
Closing Date
23-Oct-2026
Our mission is to build an inclusive and equitable environment. We want people to feel they belong at AstraZeneca and Alexion, starting with our recruitment process. We welcome and consider applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of characteristics. We offer reasonable adjustments/accommodations to help all candidates to perform at their best. If you have a need for any adjustments/accommodations, please complete the section in the application form.
Date Posted
09-Oct-2026
Closing Date
23-Oct-2026
Our mission is to build an inclusive and equitable environment. We want people to feel they belong at AstraZeneca and Alexion, starting with our recruitment process. We welcome and consider applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of characteristics. We offer reasonable adjustments/accommodations to help all candidates to perform at their best. If you have a need for any adjustments/accommodations, please complete the section in the application form.
This description is the source posting as it read when we added it. We are not affiliated with AstraZeneca, so check their own site for the current details.
Where this offer sits in the market
IT business analysts, architects and systems designers (SOC 2133) · UK · ONS ASHE 2025 · basic pay · ~187k in sampleSOC 2133
- Middle half £45,136–79,976
- Median £60,216
- Going rate £54,900
- Threshold £41,700
- New entrant £38,400–49,400
Similar sponsored roles
See all UK visa jobsNo close matches live right now.
Browse more sponsored jobs at AstraZenecaAbout sponsorship for this role
Does this job guarantee visa sponsorship?
Not necessarily. AstraZeneca holds a sponsor licence, but sponsorship for a specific hire is always the employer's decision. Be upfront in your application that you'll require it.
What salary is needed for this role to be eligible?
The offer must clear both the general threshold and the SOC 2133 going rate of £54,900. New-entrant and shortage discounts can lower it.