Associate Director Strategic Planning and Operations

This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for an Associate Director Strategic Planning and Operations based in the United States.

This is a highly visible strategic operations leadership role supporting a global patient safety organization within a science-driven environment.
You’ll serve as a trusted thought partner to senior leadership, helping translate organizational priorities into clear plans, decisions, and measurable outcomes.
The role sits at the intersection of strategy, business operations, executive communication, planning, and organizational transformation.
You’ll lead a team of strategic planning and operations professionals while strengthening operating rhythms and accountability across the organization.
Success requires the ability to synthesize complex information, anticipate risks and opportunities, and influence senior stakeholders in a matrixed environment.
You’ll help shape annual and multi-year planning, resource allocation, business performance, leadership communications, and strategic initiatives.
This opportunity is ideal for an enterprise-minded leader who combines strong business judgment with executive presence, ownership, and a passion for turning strategy into disciplined execution.

Accountabilities:

• Serve as a strategic thought partner to the Vice President and Executive Leadership Team, helping define priorities, evaluate risks and opportunities, and translate strategy into actionable plans.
• Lead and develop Strategic Planning and Operations colleagues, ensuring consistent priorities, operating practices, and high-quality support across the organization.
• Own and continuously improve the organizational operating rhythm, including leadership meetings, business reviews, goal tracking, decision forums, and follow-up processes.
• Prepare senior leadership discussions by framing objectives, decisions, tradeoffs, risks, stakeholder considerations, and recommended actions.
• Develop executive-level narratives, presentations, talking points, communications, and decision materials that clearly convey priorities, progress, implications, and strategic choices.
• Drive accountability by establishing clear owners, milestones, dependencies, decisions, and escalation requirements across major priorities.
• Partner with functions such as R&D strategy and operations, Human Resources, Finance, and other business teams to ensure organizational priorities are aligned with broader enterprise objectives.
• Lead annual and multi-year strategic planning, financial planning, resource planning, and business operations processes.
• Design and implement strategic initiatives, process improvements, and operating model enhancements that strengthen organizational effectiveness.
• Support communication, employee engagement, and change management initiatives, including leadership messaging, organization-wide presentations, and business performance updates.
• Proactively identify interdependencies, execution risks, and opportunities, addressing issues before they affect strategic delivery.
• Undertake activities delegated by the Qualified Person for Pharmacovigilance (QPPV), as applicable, and support ongoing inspection readiness and pharmacovigilance system requirements.

Requirements

• Doctorate degree with at least 3 years of relevant experience; or Master’s degree with 5 years of relevant experience; or Bachelor’s degree with 7 years of relevant experience; or Associate’s degree with 12 years of relevant experience; or high school diploma/GED with 14 years of relevant experience.
• Advanced degree such as an MBA, PharmD, PhD, or Master’s degree is preferred.
• Demonstrated experience supporting senior executives or executive leadership teams in strategic planning, chief of staff, business operations, transformation, or a comparable function.
• Experience leading Strategic Planning and Operations professionals or similar teams.
• Strong business judgment and an enterprise mindset, with the ability to connect strategic priorities, risks, tradeoffs, and execution implications.
• Proven ability to synthesize complex information, develop a clear point of view, formulate recommendations, and drive implementation.
• Excellent executive communication skills, including experience developing presentations, narratives, talking points, and decision materials for senior audiences.
• Ability to operate proactively in ambiguous environments, anticipate leadership needs, and advance priorities with limited direction.
• Strong influencing and stakeholder management capabilities, particularly within complex, matrixed organizations.
• Demonstrated leadership, coaching, and talent development skills.
• Strong facilitation skills and the ability to structure leadership discussions that lead to decisions, accountability, and measurable progress.
• Experience translating organizational priorities into operating plans, business reviews, decision forums, and measurable outcomes.
• Experience with strategic planning, resource planning, budget management, business performance, or process improvement initiatives.
• Pharmaceutical or biotechnology experience is preferred, particularly within Patient Safety, Pharmacovigilance, R&D, Regulatory, Medical, or related functions.
• High level of ownership, initiative, accountability, discretion, professional maturity, and drive for results.
• Strong capabilities in strategic thinking, executive communication, influence and collaboration, decision quality, change leadership, and organizational execution.

Benefits

• Annual U.S. base salary range of $164,019.40–$221,908.60 USD .
• Comprehensive employee benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Retirement and savings plan with generous company contributions.
• Life and disability insurance.
• Flexible spending accounts.
• Eligibility for a discretionary annual bonus program.
• Stock-based long-term incentives.
• Competitive paid time-off programs.
• Flexible work models where applicable; this position is listed as remote within the United States .
• Opportunities for career development and professional growth.
• Support for employee well-being and work-life balance.
• Inclusive environment focused on collaboration, respect, scientific excellence, and meaningful impact.
• Reasonable accommodations available throughout the recruitment and employment process for qualified individuals with disabilities.
• Sponsorship may be available depending on circumstances and is not guaranteed.

How Jobgether works:

We use an AI-powered matching process to ensure your application is reviewed quickly, objectively, and fairly against the role's core requirements. Our system identifies the top-fitting candidates, and this shortlist is then shared directly with the hiring company. The final decision and next steps (interviews, assessments) are managed by their internal team.

We appreciate your interest and wish you the best!

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We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.