Senior Director, Head of R&D Resource Management (Hiring Immediately) (Palo Alto)

If you are a current Jazz employee please apply via the Internal Career site.

Jazz Pharmaceuticals is a global biopharma company whose purpose is to innovate to transform the lives of patients and their families. We are dedicated to developing life-changing medicines for people with serious diseases — often with limited or no therapeutic options. We have a diverse portfolio of marketed medicines, including leading therapies for sleep disorders and epilepsy, and a growing portfolio of cancer treatments. Our patient-focused and science-driven approach powers pioneering research and development advancements across our robust pipeline of innovative therapeutics in oncology and neuroscience. Jazz is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland with research and development laboratories, manufacturing facilities and employees in multiple countries committed to serving patients worldwide. Please visit for more information.

Brief Description

The Senior Director, Head of R&D Resource Management is a strategic leader accountable for defining, scaling, and institutionalizing the global R&D Resource Management vision, strategy, and operating model. This role bridges global Research & Development (R&D) functional lines, drug development project teams, corporate finance, and executive governance committees to ensure optimal allocation of resources and strategic alignment across the therapeutic portfolio.

The incumbent will serve as a transformative leader in leveraging cutting-edge analytics, enterprise algorithmic forecasting, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to transform resource demand forecasting into predictive, data-driven insights. By deploying modern methodologies, including advanced Planisware algorithm design and next-generation Named Allocation workforce planning tools, this leader will establish on-demand data trust, drive functional capacity utilization, and guide executive decision-making across all stages of pharmaceutical development.

Key & Essential Job Responsibilities

Strategic Resource Management & Operating Model Leadership

• Define & Execute Strategy: Formulate and lead the multi-year strategic vision, roadmap, and operating standards for Resource Management across Research, and Development functions.
• Integrated Working Model: Establish and maintain an integrated operational working model connecting Functional Line Management, Global Program Teams (GPTs), R&D Finance, and Governance Committees.
• Governance Alignment: Serve as the core authoritative voice for functional capacity, demand trade-offs, and resource bottleneck resolutions during quarterly portfolio reviews, Annual Operating Plans (AOP), and Long-Range Plans (LRP).

Advanced Analytics, AI & Algorithmic Forecasting

• AI & Predictive FTE Forecasting: Lead the strategic application of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning models to enhance Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) demand forecasting accuracy based on historical effort, trial complexities, and portfolio velocity.
• Planisware Algorithm Optimization: Oversee the architectural design, calibration, and optimization of Planisware algorithms and resource driver models to dynamically estimate workload based on clinical stage, drug modality, and operational complexity.
• Data Integrity & Functional Trust: Build absolute trust and confidence with functional heads through transparent baseline metrics, standardized benchmarking, automated validation checks, and on-demand data access.

Workforce Planning & Tool Deployment

• Named Allocation Leadership: Sponsor and roll out next-generation workforce management software, specifically leading the deployment of Named Allocation tools to transition the organization from generic FTE estimations to role- and individual-level workforce planning.
• Workload Balancing & Bottleneck Resolution: Manage a team that proactively analyzes resource supply versus demand across therapeutic areas to identify functional constraints, skills shortages, and burn-out risks, partnering with functions.

Portfolio Reporting & Analytics Leadership

• Enterprise Reporting Suite: Own the strategy, design, and delivery of all global R&D resource analytics, dynamic dashboards, executive scorecard metrics, and enterprise portfolio reporting.
• Scenario Planning & Options Analysis: Lead quantitative scenario modeling for portfolio prioritization, operational trade-off analyses, budget cuts, pipeline expansions, and business development integration.
• Actuals vs. Forecast Analysis: Establish robust processes for capturing timecard/effort actuals and analyzing variance against original forecasts to drive continuous model refinement.

Strategic Leadership & Cross-Functional Stakeholder Management

• Executive Influencing: Partner with and influence Functional Vice Presidents, Global Program Leaders, and Finance Directors to drive consensus on resource priorities and strategic resource investments.
• Team Leadership & Capability Building: Direct and mentor a team of Resource Management specialists and analytical experts, fostering a culture of innovation, continuous learning, customer focus, and operational excellence.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Domain & Technical Expertise

• Deep conceptual and operational understanding of drug discovery, preclinical, clinical trial execution, regulatory submission, and commercialization lifecycles.
• Mastery of Planisware enterprise portfolio management software, including algorithm customization, resource driver setup, workload curve modeling, and system integration.
• Demonstrated mastery of quantitative business analytics, data visualization platforms (e.g., PowerBI, Tableau), statistical analysis, and practical implementation of AI/ML predictive tools in resource planning.
• Hands-on leadership in implementing Named Allocation, capacity planning, and resource management modules within enterprise systems (e.g., Planisware, Anaplan, or Workday).

Strategic Leadership & Soft Skills

• Outstanding oral and written communication skills with a proven track record of synthesizing complex resource analytics into clear strategic options for senior executive audiences.
• Strong change management capabilities, capable of building trust, driving cross-functional process alignment, and transitioning organizational culture toward data-driven decision-making.
• Superior ability to navigate matrixed global organizations and build collaborative bridges between technical scientists, operational leads, financial controllers, and executive leaders.

Educational Requirements & Professional Experience

Education

• Required: Bachelor’s Degree in Life Sciences, Business Administration, Data Analytics, Operations Research, Engineering, or a related quantitative field.
• Preferred: Advanced Degree (Master’s, MBA, or Ph.D.) strongly preferred.

Experience

• Minimum of 12+ years of progressive leadership experience in pharmaceutical/biotechnology R&D, life sciences management consulting, or clinical operations management.
• Minimum of 6–8 years of dedicated, hands-on leadership in enterprise Resource Management, Portfolio Analytics, or Capacity Planning within a pharmaceutical or biopharmaceutical enterprise.
• Proven track record of architecting and deploying enterprise-wide resource management software (Planisware experience required).
• Demonstrated experience participating in and driving executive governance meetings, budget prioritization exercises, and multi-year corporate planning cycles.

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Jazz Pharmaceuticals is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any characteristic protected by law.

FOR US BASED CANDIDATES ONLY

Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is committed to fair and equitable compensation practices and we strive to provide employees with total compensation packages that are market competitive. For this role, the full and complete base pay range is: $228,000.00 - $342,000.00

Individual compensation paid within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, and other pertinent factors. The goal is to ensure fair and competitive compensation aligned with the candidate's expertise and contributions, within the established pay framework and our Total Compensation philosophy. Internal equity considerations will also influence individual base pay decisions. This range will be reviewed on a regular basis.

At Jazz, your base pay is only one part of your total compensation package. The successful candidate may also be eligible for a discretionary annual cash bonus or incentive compensation (depending on the role), in accordance with the terms of the Company's Global Cash Bonus Plan or Incentive Compensation Plan, as well as discretionary equity grants in accordance with Jazz's Long Term Equity Incentive Plan.

The successful candidate will also be eligible to participate in various benefits offerings, including, but not limited to, medical, dental and vision insurance, 401k retirement savings plan, and flexible paid vacation. For more information on our Benefits offerings please click here: <