Head of Portfolio and Performance Excellence

Position Purpose:

The Head of Portfolio & Business Excellence enables R&D to be a high performing cross functional future-oriented, drug development business unit through a highly connected and project-centric operating and governance model, strategic partnership network,  and metrics-driven performance management driving continuous improvement.

Reporting Relationships:  Reports into Head of R&D

Main Responsibilities and Accountabilities:

• Enables delivery of the portfolio of drug development projects, within a carefully stewarded oversight of the project operating and governance model and as a member of the R&D Leadership Team
• Ensures complex / strategic external capabilities are carefully sourced to the right partner(s), and supported to have the necessary system/data access, shared playbooks and joint culture needed to deliver seamlessly
• Ensures these vendors are held accountable for results, savings targets and performance improvements
• Reports on and analyze key business performance metrics across all of the above, and reinforce a performance culture via RDLT-endorsed cross functional performance improvement or change initiatives
• Enables RDLT to translate portfolio strategy into action with analysis on how time, people, partners, technologies and dollars are deployed in service of portfolio priorities, options to adjust the portfolio, informed choices about constraints, and to facilitate enterprise dialogues on the same
• Support the Portfolio Development and Commercialization effort across the enterprise through analytics and reporting of portfolio decisions and progress and scenario planning
• Support R&D governance activities, project management and the project operating model to ensure we embed a fully project-led operating model and optimal project progression through the pipeline
• Overseees and manages the research and development portfolio and project activities across CSL R&D
• Oversees and coordinates project (PRC) a nd portfolio (TPIB) governance committees
• Accountable for development and maintenance of R&D Governance structure(s) and R&D Decision-Making Framework, related processes, oversight and management of Governance materials and respective repositories
• Oversees and ensures our project management personnel, tools and capabilities are able to support our portfolio of programs and projects
• Oversees important continuous improvement aspects of R&D such as project excellence and after- action reviews (AARs)
• Oversee the office of the CMO to ensure we remain in compliance for important activities like clinical trial disclosure and our Bioethics Committee
• Oversee the operation of the Global Benefit-Risk Committee on behalf of the CMO
• Ensures the Head of R&D/ CMO and the RDLT is appropriately supported for R&D-wide and corporate matters, including assistance with internal and external communications, leadership team meetings, policy making and major deliverables required to effectively run the business
• Supports RDLT through other critical cross functional or transformational projects (such as business acquisitions) that may occur from time to time
• Ensures R&D functional business support for routine tasks is available (where pragmatic vs via an enterprise or functional support model)
• Ensure that the activities within this group enable the rest of R&D to perform at the highest level of productivity possible through business operations
• Manage our critical vendor relationships, ensuring good working relationships but also that vendors all have KPIs they are working to
• Maintain the ability to negotiate win-win contracts with critical vendors across R&D

Position Qualifications and Experience Requirements:

Education

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a scientific discipline required; PhD or MD in Life Sciences preferred.

Experience

• Minimum of 15 years’ experience in the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, or life sciences industry, with significant exposure to R&D.
• Proven experience in leading global teams and driving operational excellence within a complex, matrixed organization.
• Demonstrated ability to develop talent and achieve results through collaboration, leadership, and innovative problem-solving.
• Strong knowledge of R&D processes, portfolio management, governance, and operational best practices.
• Experience working across international geographies and partnering across functional disciplines.

Competencies

• Strategic thinking with a strong operational mindset
• Results-oriented with strong execution capabilities
• Collaborative leadership in a matrix environment