Associate Director/Director, Portfolio Strategy and Operations, Cardio Renal Metabolic Development Unit (80–100%)

Key responsibilities 

• Lead the operational management of the Development Unit Leadership Team, including agenda planning, meeting logistics, preparation guidance, minutes, decision documentation and follow-up. 

• Coordinate portfolio and strategy activities concerning pipeline progress, prioritization, early portfolio development, executive reporting, governance milestones and external stakeholder communications. 

• Provide portfolio analytics, milestone and tollgate reporting, portfolio risk assessments and executive insights to support Development Unit, Development Leadership Team and enterprise portfolio reviews 

• Partner with Global Program Heads, Global Program Teams and senior functional leaders across Development, Biomedical Research, Medical Affairs, Commercial, Communications and Investor Relations. 

• Drive portfolio resource planning activities and contribute to assessments of organizational capacity, capability needs and execution risks across the Development Unit Design, implement and continuously improve business processes that enable portfolio prioritization, resource allocation, portfolio risk management and consistent decision-making. 

• Identify and implement opportunities to leverage digital technologies, data analytics and AI-enabled ways of working to improve portfolio transparency, decision quality and organizational effectiveness 

• Provide guidance to Global Program Teams on project governance requirements, leadership-team expectations and preparation for portfolio decision forums. 

• Track Development Leadership Team and Development Unit Leadership Team objectives, decisions and commitments, proactively flagging risks, gaps, dependencies and overdue actions. 

• Provide strategic support to the Development Unit Head and Development Unit Leadership Team on high-priority portfolio, organizational and business matters 

• Foster Development Unit identity, collaboration and community across the research, development and commercialization continuum through town halls, newsletters and strategic engagement initiatives. 

• Exchange best practices, processes and standards with Operations teams across other Development Units

•  Mentor colleagues within the Development Unit Operations team, support organizational change and deputize for the Head of Portfolio Strategy and Operations when required. 

Essential requirements 

• Bachelor’s degree, professional bachelor’s degree or equivalent qualification in life sciences, business, strategy, project management or another relevant discipline. 

• Strong relationship-management and influencing and skills, with experience working effectively across global, matrixed and multidisciplinary teams. 

• Excellent analytical thinking and judgment, attention to detail / accuracy, and communication skills, with the ability to translate complex portfolio information into clear recommendations for senior leaders. 

• Takes ownership of challenges, identifies pragmatic solutions and drives actions to completion. Seeks continuous improvement in workflows and deliverables. 

• Strong ability to accurately synthesize complex portfolio information into clear executive communications and materials for senior leadership and Investor Relations 

• Experience in pharmaceutical or biotechnology development, portfolio strategy, program management, business operations or a closely related environment e.g. consulting. 

• Strong understanding of drug-development, program and portfolio governance, reporting, program decision-making and the cross-functional interfaces.

• Demonstrated experience managing senior leadership or executive governance forums, including agenda development, decision documentation, action tracking and stakeholder preparation. 

• Proven ability to design and improve portfolio-management, prioritization, resource-allocation and risk-management processes. 

• Excellent strategic thinking, analytical judgment and communication skills, with the ability to translate complex portfolio information into clear recommendations for senior leaders. 

• Fluency in English, with excellent written and verbal communication skills. 

Desirable requirements 

• Master’s degree, professional master’s degree, Master of Business Administration or an equivalent advanced qualification. 

• Experience managing senior leadership or executive governance forums, including agenda development, decision documentation, action tracking and stakeholder preparation.