Executive Director, R&D Strategy & Operations

This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for an Executive Director, R&D Strategy & Operations based in the United States.

This highly visible executive role serves as a strategic partner and Chief of Staff to the Head of R&D and Chief Medical Officer.
You will help shape R&D strategy, strengthen organizational effectiveness, and translate priorities into coordinated execution across a broad biopharmaceutical organization.
The role provides enterprise-wide visibility into portfolio strategy, resources, investments, risks, and operational performance.
You will work across research, clinical development, clinical operations, regulatory, quality, pharmacovigilance, medical affairs, and technical operations.
This position is ideal for a strategic leader who excels at connecting complex information, facilitating executive decisions, and driving cross-functional alignment.
You will influence organizational design, governance, resource planning, change initiatives, and long-term portfolio priorities.
The role offers the opportunity to contribute directly to the development of innovative therapies for people living with rare diseases.

Accountabilities:

• Serve as a trusted strategic advisor and Chief of Staff to the Head of R&D and Chief Medical Officer, providing visibility into priorities, risks, dependencies, resources, and critical decisions.
• Represent the R&D leadership office in cross-functional meetings, enterprise initiatives, strategic planning activities, and executive forums.
• Support Executive Team, Board, investor, and scientific meeting preparation through high-quality analyses, presentations, briefings, and decision-support materials.
• Support long-range R&D strategy and portfolio planning by monitoring scientific, clinical, competitive, and business developments.
• Lead or support cross-functional diligence for licensing, partnerships, acquisitions, and integration of new assets.
• Develop executive analyses and recommendations addressing strategic trade-offs, portfolio sequencing, resource allocation, and risk/return considerations.
• Strengthen organizational effectiveness and collaboration across R&D functions by facilitating resolution of complex cross-functional issues and supporting organizational design and change initiatives.
• Establish and continuously improve the R&D Leadership Team operating model, governance framework, meeting cadence, strategic planning sessions, portfolio reviews, and leadership workshops.
• Develop executive dashboards and reporting mechanisms that improve visibility into R&D priorities, portfolio execution, risks, resources, and performance.
• Partner with Finance and R&D leaders on budgeting, forecasting, resource planning, investment visibility, and allocation discussions.
• Serve as a key liaison between R&D and enterprise-level strategic planning groups, translating broader priorities into coordinated R&D action plans.
• Coordinate executive communications with clarity, accuracy, discretion, and consistency with organizational values.
• Lead administrative operations supporting the R&D executive office and oversee the Executive Assistant supporting the R&D Leadership Team.
• Develop scalable administrative and operating processes that support organizational growth and sustained effectiveness.

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in life sciences, business, healthcare, or a related discipline; equivalent combinations of education and relevant experience may be considered.
• Advanced degree such as a PhD, MD, PharmD, MBA, or equivalent is strongly preferred.
• At least 12 years of experience within the biotechnology or pharmaceutical industry.
• At least 10 years of progressive leadership experience in R&D strategy, operations, portfolio strategy, organizational effectiveness, or related disciplines.
• Significant experience partnering with executive leadership and leading complex, cross-functional R&D initiatives.
• Strong understanding of the end-to-end pharmaceutical drug development lifecycle.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and improve operating models for R&D leadership organizations and enhance collaboration across functions.
• Proven ability to create visibility into strategic priorities, risks, resources, investments, and portfolio execution.
• Strong organizational change-management expertise, including stakeholder engagement, barrier identification, adoption planning, and implementation of new ways of working.
• Experience building collaborative relationships and designing scalable processes to support organizational growth.
• Exceptional strategic thinking, communication, executive presence, influence, discretion, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to operate effectively in complex, matrixed environments and influence stakeholders without direct authority.
• Strong alignment with a patient-focused, collaborative, courageous, and team-oriented working culture.
• Willingness and ability to travel approximately 20% domestically and internationally.
• Ability to participate in face-to-face work with colleagues and/or onsite activities in San Diego; the position is not intended to be 100% remote.

Benefits:

• Target base salary range of $246,000–$332,000 , with actual compensation determined by factors such as experience, education, skills, and location.
• Short-term incentive compensation and long-term incentive compensation through company equity.
• Premium health, financial, work-life, and well-being benefits for eligible employees and dependents.
• Wellness and employee support programs.
• Life insurance and disability coverage.
• Retirement plans with employer contributions/matching.
• Generous paid time off.
• Opportunity to work in a collaborative, diverse, fast-paced biopharmaceutical environment.
• Hybrid/remote flexibility for eligible U.S.-based employees, with expectations for in-person collaboration and onsite work when required.
• Approximately 20% domestic and international travel.
• Opportunity to contribute to the development and delivery of therapies intended to improve the lives of people living with rare diseases.

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.