Head of HR EUCAN

Head of HR EUCAN

Zug, Switzerland

Introduction to the role:

As the Head of HR for Europe and Canada, a fast-growing, multi–Therapy-Area pharmaceutical business of >$8bn and 8,000 employees and the 3rd largest branded medicines company, you will develop and drive a cross-functional HR strategy that supports our high-performing organisation in meeting its objectives.

You will play a pivotal role as a member of both the EUCAN Leadership Team, as well as the Global BBU HR Leadership Team. You will develop and implement a people and organisation strategy for the business that delivers the critical capabilities required for continued future success. You will establish and implement practices and initiatives that shape an inclusive culture, engage and inspire our employees, and support the delivery of our company strategy and vision. You will also maintain and develop our external employment brand, ensuring we remain attractive as a leading employer and implement initiatives that develop and accelerate our talent and succession pipeline.

You will coach and develop the EUCAN market and area HR Directors, and work across the HR community to ensure the effective delivery of Business Partnering, Reward, Talent Acquisition, Talent & Development, Employee Relations, and HR Services support. You will partner especially closely with the EUCAN HR OBU Lead, as well as the EUCAN & International HR RDU Lead.

Typical Accountabilities:

• Understand and support the business direction, shaping the role that HR plays within these objectives.

• Responsible for implementing the company strategy relating to HR throughout the assigned organisational area.

• Build the organization: develop organizational principles and design for future needs.

• Support the development and maintenance of a strategic workforce plan for the business area, together with recruitment demand plans, in parallel with any talent and succession planning activities.

• Lead activities required to attract, develop and retain key talent in the business, which may include creating and tracking succession and development plans for key roles.

• Lead change management: partner early with business leaders to anticipate potential changes and effectively lead change adoption processes.

• Ensure the reward strategy is applied effectively in own business area, including a robust link to performance management outcomes and benchmarking activities within budget constraints, and that the process itself is managed effectively.

• Be fluent in articulating the value of the entire compensation and benefits package; appropriately influencing managers to use reward mechanisms to enhance individual and collective performance; partner effectively with compensation and benefit specialists to develop and deliver solutions.

• Focus on People Development: coach leaders and teams for high performance and to develop their capability for the future.

• Ensure that policy and process activity is effectively delivered, providing advice and support to the business on complex employee relations issues at a senior level, and overseeing this activity at more junior levels. 

• Use technology and data: know and execute the HR processes, technologies and tools and use metrics to analyse people issues and trends.

• Develop and maintain a strong trusted advisor relationship with the business.

• Use information from a variety of sources to identify the emerging issues. Mobilise teams/projects to address key issues.

Essential requirements:

• Educated to degree standard; post-graduate qualification in HR or related field.

• Experience in delivering high quality HR advice in a professional, matrix organisational environment.

• Previous experience in a senior HR position, working with senior leadership teams and contributing to the overall business agenda.

• Proven record in business partnering to deliver organisational transformation, workforce planning, capability and talent development, culture change and performance management.

• Experience of employee relations management and compensation and benefits management.

• Excellent interpersonal skills, with high degree of integrity and trust, and an ability to influence and achieve results through others.

• Proven track record of leading and developing teams.

Desirable:

• Technical experience in one HR specialism, e.g. employee relations, recruitment, resourcing talent management and reward

• Membership of a professional HR body

• Breadth of HR experience e.g., regional / global responsibility

• Experience in the life sciences sector   

Role dimensions:

• People Management Responsibility (direct / indirect reports): 5 direct / 3 indirect

• Remit (how many countries the role operates in): 2 Areas + 6 Large Markets across Europe and Canada; approximately 35 countries

• Internal (to AZ or team): Business area executive team; Area/ Market HR Directors; HR COE colleagues (talent management, reward, performance management, recruitment, training and development and payroll service delivery); European Consultation Committee representatives

• External (to AZ): Third party providers

If you are interested in finding out more and exploring further please reach out to Global Talent Scout - Alexandra Toomey to have a confidential coversation.

Date Posted

03-Mar-2026

Closing Date

02-Mar-2026

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.