Associate Director, Launch Strategy & Operations

Job Description

Associate Director, Launch Strategy & Operations

US Human Health – US Pharma, Rare Disease Business Unit
Location: North Wales (Upper Gwynedd), PA | Hybrid (3 days on‑site)

About the Role

We are looking for a high‑potential launch leader to join our US Human Health Specialty Business Unit as an Associate Director, Launch Strategy & Operations. This role sits at the center of how we prepare, align, and execute product launches—working across marketing, access, sales, operations, medical, and enterprise partners to ensure our launches are thoughtful, connected, and built for long‑term success.

This is an ideal role for someone who enjoys both strategic thinking and hands‑on execution, and who is motivated by seeing the full picture of how launches come together across a complex organization. You’ll gain a front‑row seat to enterprise launch decision‑making, exposure to senior leaders, and experiences that can translate into future roles across marketing, access, sales leadership, operations, and beyond.

What You’ll Do

Lead Launch Strategy & Readiness

• Shape and drive integrated US launch plans across one or more US Pharma and Rare Disease assets, ensuring clarity, alignment, and readiness across functions

• Partner with launch teams to translate strategy into executable plans, milestones, and decision points

• Provide thought partnership and launch advisory support—helping teams anticipate risks, navigate tradeoffs, and stay focused on what matters most

Enable Cross‑Functional Alignment

• Serve as a connective tissue across marketing, access, sales, operations, medical, manufacturing, and enterprise partners

• Help establish clear launch governance, roles, and operating rhythms to support timely decisions and accountability

• Elevate issues, risks, and interdependencies early—offering structured options and recommendations

Drive Operational Excellence

• Oversee launch readiness activities, tracking progress against key milestones and highlighting areas needing attention

• Apply strong program management skills to keep complex efforts moving forward in a matrixed environment

• Support consistent use of launch tools, frameworks, and best practices while allowing flexibility where needed

Strengthen Launch Capabilities

• Capture learnings from launches and apply them to future efforts

• Contribute to the evolution of launch processes, playbooks, and ways of working across US Human Health

• Act as a trusted advisor to launch teams—balancing guidance with empowerment

Who You Are

You are curious, collaborative, and comfortable operating in ambiguity. You enjoy connecting dots across functions, asking good questions, and helping teams move from discussion to action. You bring enough launch or commercialization experience to add value quickly, and the learning mindset to grow into broader enterprise leadership.

Qualifications

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree (Business, Marketing, Life Sciences, or related field)

• ~5+ years of experience in the biopharmaceutical or life sciences industry

• Experience working in commercial, launch, or adjacent functions (e.g., marketing, market access, sales operations, commercial operations, strategy)

• Ability to on-site at the North Wales (Upper Gwynedd), Pennsylvania office at least 3 days per week

• Strong collaboration, communication, and stakeholder‑influencing skills

• Demonstrated ability to manage complex work across multiple teams and priorities

Preferred (not required):

• Prior experience supporting or leading product launches

• Experience in a Specialty or complex therapeutic area

• Background in launch planning, commercialization strategy, or cross‑functional program leadership

• Comfort using data and insights to inform decisions and recommendations

Why This Role

This role offers:

• Enterprise visibility into how launches are planned and governed

• Exposure to senior leaders and critical launch decisions

• A chance to build portable launch and leadership skills applicable across many future career paths

• Meaningful impact on how we bring important medicines to patients

Required Skills:

Accountability, Adaptability, Agile Project Manage