Associate Director, R&D Business Continuity & Crisis Management

Working with Us
Challenging. Meaningful. Life-changing. Those aren’t words that are usually associated with a job. But working at Bristol Myers Squibb is anything but usual. Here, uniquely interesting work happens every day, in every department. From optimizing a production line to the latest breakthroughs in cell therapy, this is work that transforms the lives of patients, and the careers of those who do it. You’ll get the chance to grow and thrive through opportunities uncommon in scale and scope, alongside high-achieving teams rich in diversity. Take your career farther than you thought possible.

Bristol Myers Squibb recognizes the importance of balance and flexibility in our work environment. We offer a wide variety of competitive benefits, services and programs that provide our employees with the resources to pursue their goals, both at work and in their personal lives. Read more: careers.bms.com/working-with-us.

Position Summary

BMS requires a resilient R&D operating model capable of withstanding a variety of threats and adverse conditions (e.g., cyber, natural, geo-political, social, third party) to ensure the timely delivery of medicines to patients and achieve our business goals.  The Associate Director, R&D Business Continuity & Crisis Management (BCCM) will support the implementation of strategic priorities and initiatives aimed at improving resiliency for global R&D sites, processes, and partners.

Key Responsibilities

Support of R&D’s BCCM Program Strategy

• Assist in developing and refining the R&D BCCM program strategy, ensuring alignment with enterprise-wide resiliency program/policies and industry best practices.

• Provide support during the annual strategy-setting and prioritization process, helping to align R&D leaders on key program objectives and initiatives.

• Assist with preparing materials for senior leadership updates, business case development, and cross-functional collaboration efforts.

• Support external scans to identify program enhancement opportunities and benchmark against best-in-class operational resilience capabilities.

Operational Execution

• Execute R&D BCCM program objectives, including development, implementation and continuous improvement of business impact assessments, business continuity plans, risk mitigation plans, and fit-for-purpose exercises.

• Develop and maintain site-specific crisis management plans for critical R&D sites.

• Manage and assign training to embed BCCM best practices and enhance organizational resilience culture.

• Conduct BCCM due diligence assessments on third parties, ensuring a resilient supply chain.

Crisis Management & Continuous Improvement

• Support crisis response efforts, including participating in the Enterprise Resiliency PMO and Crisis Event Response Team (CERT).

• Serve as a liaison between R&D and enterprise crisis response teams, facilitating information flow and ensuring timely decision-making.

• Drive continuous improvement via capturing lessons learned after actual events to refine crisis response plans and embed efficiency/productivity improvements.

Qualifications & Experience

• BS/BA Degree in Business, Information Technology, Life Sciences, or a related field required; advanced degree preferred.

• Associate Business Continuity Professional (ABCP) / Certified Business Continuity Professional (CBCP) / ISO 22301 or similar industry recognized certification preferred

• Experience in the following areas preferred:

  • Crisis management and response (Geo/Political, Pandemic, Natural Disaster, Cyber)

  • Business continuity/Risk Management

  • Converting complex challenges into clear plan of actions and/or driving large cross-functional enterprise initiatives to deliver intended business outcomes; problem solver and facilitator

  • Implementing BC frameworks/standards such as ISO 22301

• 5+ years of pharma R&D industry preferred

• Strong understanding of business continuity frameworks, risk management methodologies, and regulatory considerations in a R&D environment.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to translate complex challenges into clear, actionabl