AstraZeneca is a science-led, patient-focused global pharmaceutical business committed to excellence in the research, development, and commercialization of prescription medicines that aim to transform the lives of patients with improved outcomes and a better quality of life.
We're transforming the future of healthcare by unlocking the power of what science can do (for people, society, and the planet). In support of this, we are growing our Operations and Technology Solutions team, a key part of our global Talent & Development function which sits within Human Resources. Talent & Development is a fast-paced, creative, and purposeful environment where innovative thinking is encouraged. Our role is to develop every employee, manager, and leader, while also looking after the learning technology and the talent agenda for the company.
This is an exciting time to join T&D. We've been on a transformational journey building a culture of lifelong learning, growing our capabilities, developing our talent, and designing an integrated learning technologies infrastructure. Now we are looking to consolidate our new ways of working, delivering value for the business by having the right talent available at the right time and helping to unlock the potential in everyone every day.
To help us to do this, T&D is now hiring for a Technology Architect - Skills to join our Operations & Technology Solutions team. Reporting to the Enterprise Learning Technology Solutions Lead, this role is responsible for partnering with the HROS team, Global Talent team, content administrators from the business, and end-users to develop, implement and manage a comprehensive skills taxonomy framework for development that aligns with our organization's strategic goals and objectives. The role is responsible for researching and incorporating industry best practices and innovation into our information infrastructure and developing a learning skills taxonomy POC with our existing strategic vendor partners to test how to maintain taxonomies, metadata models, and classification schemas across our development content. The role will involve creating a structured and organized system to classify, organize, and map skills across various learning domains.

Accountabilities:

System Taxonomy Development - Partnering with global IT to design, develop, and maintain a robust and adaptable skills taxonomy framework for learning and development that encompasses a wide range of skills relevant to our organization. Collaborate with stakeholders from various departments to gather insights and ensure taxonomy is comprehensive, scalable, and adaptable to evolving needs.
Skills Gap Analysis - Utilize the Degreed LxP + platform to assess and evaluate the areas of skill development and skill progression across the organization. Analyze data and metrics related to skill proficiency, utilization, and
development, and provide insights to stakeholders. Develop and implement strategies to enhance skill development, including recommending relevant training programs, courses or certificates. Analyze data and provide actional recommendations to address gaps through targeted training and upskilling strategies.
Skill Mapping and Profiling - Establish a process for mapping skills to learning & development solutions, proficiencies, and career paths. Create a structured mapping of skills within the taxonomy, establishing relationships and hierarchies between different skills, proficiency levels, and associated learning resources. Ensure the taxonomy is user-friendly and facilities easy navigation and searchability.
Change Management and Implementation - Lead the implementation of the skills taxonomy framework for the learning technology ecosystem across the organization. Develop change management strategies, engage stakeholders, and provide training and guidance to smooth the adoption and integration of skills taxonomy into existing development processes.
Collaboration and Stakeholder Management - Foster effective cross-functional collaboration with HR, L&D, Talent, and other relevant teams. Communicate the benefits, purpose, and value of the skills taxonomy framework to stakeholders at all levels, promoting awareness and understanding. Monitor the effectiveness of skill development initiatives and provide recommendations for improvements. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure the accurate and consistent capture of skills data within the Degreed platform. Act as a consultant, providing guidance and insights on best practices related to skills taxonomy.
Content Integration - Work closely with the business on learning content development to integrate the skills taxonomy into our global learning management and content management platforms. Ensure the taxonomy is effectively leveraged to tag, organize, and categorize learning resources for seamless discovery and personalization.
Continuous Improvement - Regularly review and refine the skills taxonomy framework based on evolving business needs, usage data, industry trends, and feedback from stakeholders. Stay up to date with industry standards and best practices related to skills taxonomy and incorporate relevant advancements into the framework.
Data Analytics and Insights - Leverage data analytics tools and techniques to derive meaningful insights from the skills taxonomy usage data. Collaborate with data scientists to identify patterns, trends, and areas for improvement in learning experiences and skill development initiatives.

Mandatory Skills

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in instructional design, computer science, information science, or a related field.
• Proven experience as a Learning Systems Architect or similar role specifically focused on skills taxonomy design and implementation
• Minimum 5-7 years of prior work experience in a similar organization or as a key customer of learning solutions in a multi-national organization
• In-depth knowledge of learning theories, instructional design principles, and integrated learning ecosystems (LMS, LXP, LCMS) and other related technologies
• Strong understanding of skills frameworks, taxonomies, and their application in the learning and development field
• Proficiency in data analysis and visualization tools
• Excellent analytical skills with the ability to interpret and leverage data to drive decision-making
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams.

Desirable skills

• Strong understanding and experience working with the Degreed platform or similar skills assessment and development tools
• Familiarity with HR systems (Workday) and processes

AstraZeneca embraces diversity and equality of opportunity. We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse team representing all backgrounds, with as wide a range of perspectives as possible, and harnessing industry-leading skills. We believe that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be. We welcome and consider applications to join our team from all qualified candidates, regardless of their characteristics. We comply with all applicable laws and regulations on non-discrimination in employment (and recruitment), as well as work authorization and employment eligibility verification requirements.