Associate Director, Information Architecture
Princeton, NJ - USA
Job Summary
We are seeking an experiencedAssociate Director Information Architectureto join our IT Data and AI Platform organization and shape the foundation upon which Otsukas Information Governance Program will be this pivotal role you will define the guidelines standards and reference architectures that govern how data is structured described and connected across the enterprisemaking information discoverable trusted and ready to fuel analytics AI and business decision-making.
This role is anchored by three strategic pillars: (1)establishing enterprise-wide information architecture standardsthat align data structures across domains with business processes; (2)enabling semantic understanding and findabilitythrough taxonomies ontologies knowledge graphs and AI context layers; and (3)partnering with data domain teams and stewardsto ensure the architecture is adopted evolves with the business and delivers measurable value.
At Otsuka we defy limitation so that others can too. We have an unwavering belief in doing transcending going above and beyondunder any circumstancesfor patients families providers and for each other. Its this deep-rooted dedication that drives us to uncover answers to complex underserved medical needs so that patients can push past the limitations of their disease and achieve more than they thought was possible each and every day.
We believe that the bigger the challenge the bigger the opportunity. We are doing everything in our power to live up to our mission of creating new products for better health worldwide in two important therapeutic categories: neuroscience and nephrology.
The Associate Director Information Architecture will be a key member of the Information Governance leadership team responsible for designing and evolving the information architecture that supports Otsukas data analytics and AI ambitions. The Associate Director will collaborate with Data Stewards Data Owners Data Product Owners Platform Owners and business stakeholders to translate business processes into well-structured semantically rich and interoperable data assets.
Core Responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:
- Define and maintain the enterprise information architecture strategy principles and reference models that guide how data is structured across data domains (R&D Clinical Commercial Compliance/Security Corporate).
- Establish enterprise standards for data modeling taxonomies ontologies controlled vocabularies and semantic layers.
- Ensure alignment with industry standards relevant to pharmaceutical and healthcare data includingCDISC(SDTM ADaM CDASH)HL7 / FHIROMOPIDMP and other applicable frameworks.
- Develop the roadmap for evolving Otsukas information architecture in support of AI GenAI and advanced analytics use cases.
- Partner with Data Stewards and Data Owners to define conceptual logical and physical data models across domains.
- Map data assets to business processes and business capabilities providing end-to-end visibility of data lifecycle from creation to consumption.
- Identify and drive resolution of structural gaps redundancies and inconsistencies across data domains.
- Collaborate with Solution Architects and Platform Leads to ensure that solution designs align with enterprise information architecture standards.
- Design and govern enterprise taxonomies and ontologies that enable consistent classification tagging and semantic interoperability of information assets.
- Lead the design and evolution of enterprise knowledge graphs to connect entities relationships and business context across data assets.
- Define the metadata framework required to support knowledge graph population curation and evolution.
- Partner with the Enterprise Data Catalogue Platform Owner to operationalize taxonomies ontologies and semantic assets in tools such asAtlanand integrate them across the data ecosystem.
- Define and evolve theAI Context Layerthe semantic layer that enables Large Language Models (LLMs) agents and RAG pipelines to reliably access interpret and reason over enterprise data.
- Establish standards for structured context prompt-grounding metadata and semantic annotations required by AI applications.
- Collaborate with the AI Platform Lead AI Engineers and Data Scientists to ensure that AI solutions are grounded in accurate well-described and governed data.
- Contribute to the responsible AI framework by ensuring explainability provenance and traceability of AI-consumed data assets.
- Partner with Data Stewards Data Owners and Data Product Owners to embed information architecture standards into their day-to-day practices.
- Develop training playbooks and reference implementations to accelerate adoption of information architecture standards across the enterprise.
- Coach and mentor the Information Architect(s) and provide technical guidance to domain-aligned modelers.
- Serve as a trusted advisor to business and IT stakeholders on all matters of information structure semantics and interoperability.
- Collaborate with the Data Quality & Metadata Lead to ensure that architectural standards are supported by quality controls and metadata practices.
- Partner with the Data and Analytics Service Delivery Leads to ensure solution delivery aligns with enterprise information architecture.
- Engage with Information Security Legal and Compliance to embed classification sensitivity and regulatory dimensions into the information architecture.
- Represent Information Architecture in enterprise architecture forums data governance councils and cross-functional working groups.
- Minimum of8 yearsof progressive experience in Information Architecture Data Architecture or Enterprise Data Modeling withat least 3 yearsin a senior/lead capacity.
- Demonstrated experience working in thepharmaceutical biotechnology or life sciencesindustry with deep knowledge of pharma data data flows and business processes across R&D Clinical Commercial and/or compliance/security domain.
- Hands-on expertise with pharmaceutical and healthcare data standards includingCDISC (SDTM ADaM CDASH)HL7 / FHIROMOPIDMP and other regulatory data standards.
- Deep expertise inconceptual logical and physical data modelingacross relational dimensional and graph paradigms.
- Strong experience in defining and governingtaxonomies ontologies controlled vocabularies and semantic layers(RDF OWL SKOS).
- Hands-on experience designing and operationalizingknowledge graphsand semantic technologies for enterprise use cases.
- Familiarity withAI Context Layers semantic layers for GenAI/LLM applications and grounding techniques for retrieval-augmented generation (RAG).
- Experience with enterprise data cataloging and metadata management platforms (e.g.Atlan Collibra Alation Informatica).
- Understanding of data governance operating models and the interplay between architecture stewardship and quality.
- Working knowledge of cloud data platforms (AWS Azure Snowflake) and their information architecture implications.
- Excellent communication and influencing skills with the ability to translate complex architectural concepts for technical and non-technical audiences.
- Experience leading cross-functional initiatives and managing stakeholder relationships at all organizational levels.
- Strong analytical conceptual and systematic problem-solving abilities.
- Customer-Focused: Anticipates user needs and delivers practical value-driven solutions.
- Accountable: Owns technical deliverables and outcomes.
- Innovative: Challenges the status quo and champions new ideas.
- Collaborative: Builds strong partnerships across disciplines and cultures.
- Ethical: Demonstrates integrity and aligns with Otsukas corporate values.
- Resilient: Adapts quickly to new challenges and shifting priorities.
- People Leadership: Ability to lead coach and mentor Information Architects and domain-aligned data modelers.
- Up to 10-15% travel is required based upon business needs.
- Bachelors degreein Information Science Computer Science Data Management Library Science or a related field ().
- Masters degreein Information Architecture Data Science Health Informatics or a related discipline (preferred).
- CDMP(Certified Data Management Professional) DAMA International
- TOGAF The Open Group Architecture Framework
- CBIP(Certified Business Intelligence Professional) TDWI
- Certifications in ontology engineering knowledge graphs or semantic web technologies
- Cloud data certifications (AWS Azure Snowflake)
- ITIL Foundation or comparable IT service management certification
This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of the work being performed by the people assigned to this position. It is not intended to include every job duty and responsibility specific to the position. Otsuka reserves the right to amend and change responsibilities to meet business and organizational needs as necessary.
Otsuka is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to their protected veteran or disabled status or any protected status.
The Associate Director Information Architecture is a senior technical leadership role responsible for defining and evolving the information architecture that underpins Otsukas data analytics and AI capabilities. The Associate Director will drive the design of the data structures semantic layers and knowledge assets required to make information trusted findable and AI-ready across the enterprise.
The work centers on three areas:
- establishing enterprise information architecture standards and reference models
- enabling semantic understanding through taxonomies ontologies and knowledge graphs
- defining the AI Context Layer that grounds AI and GenAI applications in accurate well-governed data
This role requires close collaboration with Data Stewards Data Owners Data Product Owners Platform Owners and the Information Architect(s) reporting to the Information Governance Lead as a core member of the Information Governance program.
Competencies
Accountability for Results - Stay focused on key strategic objectives be accountable for high standards of performance and take an active role in leading change.
Strategic Thinking & Problem Solving - Make decisions considering the long-term impact to customers patients employees and the business.
Patient & Customer Centricity - Maintain an ongoing focus on the needs of our customers and/or key stakeholders.
Impactful Communication -Communicate with logic clarity and respect. Influence at all levels to achieve the best results for Otsuka.
Respectful Collaboration - Seek and value others perspectives and strive for diverse partnerships to enhance work toward common goals.
Empowered Development - Play an active role in professional development as a business imperative.
Application Deadline: This will be posted for a minimum of 5 business days.
Company benefits: Comprehensive medical dental vision prescription drug coverage company provided basic life accidental death & dismemberment short-term and long-term disability insurance tuition reimbursement student loan assistance a generous 401(k) match flexible time off paid holidays and paid leave programs as well as other company provided benefits.
Come discover more about Otsuka and our benefit offerings; Our Talent Community: Stay connected with Otsuka by joining our Talent Community. Tell us about your interests and well notify you about future opportunities that align with your background. job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of the work being performed by the people assigned to this position. It is not intended to include every job duty and responsibility specific to the position. Otsuka reserves the right to amend and change responsibilities to meet business and organizational needs as necessary.
Otsuka is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will be given consideration for employment without regard to race color sex gender identity or gender expression sexual orientation age disability religion national origin veteran status marital status or any other legally protected characteristic.
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Required Experience:
Director