Chief of Staff, Research

About This Role: 

As the Chief of Staff for Research, you will play a pivotal role in supporting the Head of Research and driving strategic initiatives across the organization. You will be a key thought partner and advisor, providing insights and counsel on various strategic, organizational, and enterprise matters. You'll act as a proxy for the Head of Research in important forums and discussions, while also managing commitments and ensuring timely execution. This role is integral to synthesizing complex materials into clear insights that aid high-quality decision-making. You will collaborate closely with the Office of the CEO and senior leaders to plan leadership engagements and communications, ensuring seamless integration of Research priorities into enterprise initiatives. With a focus on fostering a collaborative culture, you will contribute to shaping Research priorities and driving alignment across functions.

What You’ll Do:

• Serve as a trusted advisor to the Head of Research, providing strategic insight and counsel.

• Act as a representative for the Head of Research in enterprise forums and leadership discussions.

• Support external engagements with academic institutions, biotechnology partners, and venture capital firms.

• Manage commitments made by the Head of Research, ensuring disciplined follow-through and execution.

• Synthesize complex inputs into executive-level briefings for high-quality decision-making.

• Collaborate with the Office of the CEO and senior leaders for optimal planning of engagements and communications.

• Contribute to strategic discussions within the Research Leadership Team, shaping Research priorities.

• Drive alignment across Research functions by clarifying priorities and ensuring consistent execution.

• Develop mechanisms to track progress on high priority Research initiatives.

• Foster a collaborative Research culture emphasizing transparency and accountability.

• Partner with senior leaders across functions to integrate Research priorities into enterprise initiatives.

• Support organizational planning and change leadership related to Research priorities.

• Lead scenario planning and analyses to anticipate risks and opportunities.

• Stay connected with leaders across Research to surface emerging issues or opportunities.

Who You Are: You are a strategic thinker with exceptional communication skills, ready to operate as a senior advisor in complex organizations. Your ability to navigate ambiguity with discretion and sound judgment sets you apart. You possess high emotional intelligence and a collaborative leadership style that influences without direct authority. Your experience in fast-paced, high-performance environments has equipped you with the ability to synthesize complex inputs into actionable insights.

Required Skills:

• Advanced degree in a relevant scientific discipline and/or MBA or equivalent degree

• 8+ years of relevant experience, ideally across biotech/pharma and/or top-tier consulting, with experience advising senior (EVP/C‑suite) leader.

• Demonstrated experience in biotechnology, pharmaceutical, venture capital, or management consulting environments.

• Proven ability to operate as a senior advisor in complex, matrixed organizations.

• Strong strategic thinking capability paired with execution discipline.

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including executive-level materials development.

• High emotional intelligence and sound judgment.

• Strong influencing skills and a collaborative leadership style.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in drug discovery and development environments.

• Background in scenario planning and forward-looking analyses.

• Ability to foster an inclusive and transparent organizational culture.

 

Job Level: Management

Additional Information

The base compensation range for this role is: $237,000.00-$326,000.00