Senior Director, Portfolio and Operations R&D CC and AI COE

Why Patients Need You

Technology impacts everything we do. Pfizer’s digital and ‘data first’ strategy focuses on implementing impactful and innovative technology solutions across all functions from research to manufacturing. Whether you are digitizing drug discovery and development, identifying solutions, or making our work easier and faster, you will be making a difference to countless lives.
 

What You Will Achieve

The Senior Director, Portfolio and Operations is a strategic leadership role within Pfizer Digital, responsible for driving portfolio governance, operational excellence, and business operations across the organization.

This position ensures alignment of portfolio initiatives with enterprise priorities, optimizes resource utilization, and enables transparent decision-making. The role also oversees continuous improvement and communications for the R&D Creation Center and AI Center of Excellence, leads Digital-wide Operations Planning, and manages support for the Digital Capital Budget.

Reporting to the VP, Strategic Initiatives and Delivery, the Senior Director leads the Portfolio and Operations team of colleagues and provides horizontal leadership across all lines of business.
 

The responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
 

Portfolio Governance & Strategy

Provide strategic oversight of portfolio governance and prioritization to ensure initiatives align with enterprise objectives and deliver maximum value.
 

Operational Excellence

Drive operational planning and continuous improvement to streamline processes, enhance efficiency, and support organizational goals.
 

Financial Management

Oversee financial stewardship for portfolio and operations, including capital budget management, forecasting, and performance reporting.
 

Communications & Stakeholder Engagement

Lead transparent communication strategies and facilitate leadership engagement to ensure alignment and informed decision-making across the organization.
 

Leadership & Collaboration

Offer cross-functional leadership, fostering collaboration and capability development to enable successful portfolio delivery and operational execution. Lead team of portfolio managers and change management colleagues.
 

Team Culture

Cultivate an inclusive, high-performance team culture that promotes innovation, accountability, and engagement across all levels of the organization.
 

How You Will Achieve It
 

Portfolio Strategy & Governance

• Lead portfolio management team and oversee portfolio prioritization and governance processes, ensuring alignment with enterprise objectives and compliance with governance standards.
• Partner with category leadership and decision-analysis teams to evaluate portfolio performance, risks, and opportunities, enabling data-driven investment decisions.
• Implement processes for portfolio resource management, including dynamic funding and scenario planning to maximize value within budget constraints.
   

Operational Leadership

• Lead annual and operational planning cycles, integrating portfolio priorities with business objectives.
• Establish and monitor KPIs and milestones to track progress across programs and ensure timely delivery.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to optimize workflows, reduce costs, and enhance operational efficiency.
   

Financial Management

• Integrate portfolio management with finance capital and operating budget processes for the portfolio, including forecasting, variance analysis, and reporting.
• In partnership with Finance Director, proactively identify financial risks and opportunities, providing recommendations to senior leadership for strategic adjustments.
   

Stakeholder Engagement & Communication

• Serve as a chief of staff to VP, Strategic Initiatives and Delivery, facilitating town halls, leadership team meetings, and cross-functional communications.
• Develop and execute communication strategies to ensure transparency and alignment across internal and external stakeholders.
   

Risk Management & Compliance

• Conduct risk assessments for portfolio initiatives and develop mitigation strategies.
• Ensure adherence to regulatory and compliance standards across all operational processes.
   

Leadership & Collaboration

• Provide horizontal leadership across multiple business units, fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing.
• Mentor and develop team capabilities to support portfolio delivery and operational excellence
• Lead team of portfolio managers and change management colleagues.
   

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