Executive Director, Chief of Staff

Job Description

The Executive Director, Chief of Staff is a senior strategic partner to the Senior Vice President (SVP) of Translational Medicine, Discovery Oncology & Biomarkers. This role drives strategy execution, operational excellence, and cross-functional alignment across Translational Medicine (TMed), Discovery Oncology, and Biomarkers. The Chief of Staff acts with a high degree of autonomy on behalf of the SVP, ensuring clear priorities, effective governance, and delivery against organizational goals.
 

Key Responsibilities:
 

Strategic Leadership & Advisory

• Serve as strategic advisor and thought partner to the SVP; provide evidence-based recommendations, risk/benefit analysis, and input on key decisions.

• Function as a cross-enterprise integrator, aligning senior stakeholders across DPTM, GPAM, GCD, and other partners to deliver on portfolio and organizational objectives.

• Identify, prioritize, and mobilize cross-functional initiatives that improve quality, speed, simplicity, and cost.

Strategy Execution, Planning & Governance

• Track and drive delivery of goals and priorities for TMed, Discovery Oncology, and Biomarkers; ensure visibility to progress, risks, and mitigations.

• Lead annual and mid-year planning processes, including goal-setting, scorecard contributions, and program reviews.

• Design and run effective leadership governance (LT meetings, staff meetings, town halls), including agenda setting, pre-read preparation, decision tracking, and follow-up.

• Ensure timely, clear communication of strategies, priorities, and decisions across the organizations.

Operational Excellence & Business Performance

• Lead the operational excellence and optimization agenda for the departments, simplifying processes and removing barriers to execution.

• Develop, maintain, and interpret business analytics, dashboards, and KPIs to inform decision-making and measure performance.

• Partner with Finance and HR on headcount planning, budgeting, and productivity/financial efficiency initiatives.

• Oversee Business Continuity planning and related risk mitigation activities.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Network Leadership

• Strengthen and manage collaborations with DPTM, GPAM, GCD, and other internal stakeholders to ensure coordinated planning and execution.

• Partner with Chiefs of Staff and operations leaders across the network to share best practices and align on enterprise ways of working.

• Own and optimize collaboration tools and team sites (content, structure, governance) for TMed, Discovery Oncology, and Biomarkers.

People, Culture & Capability

• Promote a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performing culture aligned with company values.

• Oversee training curricula and act as triage point for new policies and procedures, ensuring appropriate adoption and compliance.

• Encourage knowledge sharing, continuous improvement, and innovation across sites and functions.

Education & Experience (Minimum)

• Bachelor’s degree and ≥15 years of relevant experience, or

• Master’s degree and ≥13 years of relevant experience, or

• Ph.D. or doctorate and ≥11 years of relevant experience

Required Experience and Skills:

• Proven ability to influence and collaborate effectively with senior leaders and cross-functional teams in a complex, matrixed environment.

• Strong judgment and decision-making skills; able to operate autonomously in ambiguous and rapidly changing contexts.

• Demonstrated experience leading strategic initiatives, operational excellence efforts, and/or cost and productivity programs.

• Exceptional organizational and project management skills; able to manage multiple priorities and drive to closure.

• Outstanding verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to synthesize complex information into clear messages and recommendations.

• Demonstrated change leadership and ability to build buy-in for new ways of working.

• Experience working effectively across geographies and cultures; comfortable leading through influence rather than direct authority.

• High degree of initiative, ownership, and sense of urgency; acts with courage and candor.

Preferred Experience and Skills:

• Background in program or project management.

• Experience in multiple industry settings (e.g., large pharma, small pharma,