Jobs · Information Technology · California

Director, San Diego Technology

Vertex Pharmaceuticals · San Diego, CA · 1 wk ago
HybridInformation Technology$198k–$297k/yrFull-time

General Summary

This role leads a team responsible for the architecture, delivery, security, support, and continuous evolution of enterprise laboratory technology platforms — including laboratory Operational Technology (OT) such as information/cyber security, sensors, and IoT-enabled lab environments — across San Diego. It is also the single accountable Research Site Partner for San Diego: the primary DTE relationship holder for the site's SVP and research leadership, and the front door through which site requirements are captured, shaped, and routed into the correct cross-functional platform backlog (Experiment Capture, Registration, LIMS, and peer DTE platforms in Research & Pre-Clinical, CMC/Manufacturing, and Supply Chain).

Key Duties And Responsibilities

  • Build and sustain strong, trust-based relationships with senior business, quality, and DTE leaders, acting as a strategic partner with sustained impact on enterprise laboratory goals.

  • Led, develop, and retain a highly effective Lab Engineering Support organization, leveraging internal resources and external partners through a managed service provider model.

  • Ensure stable, secure, and compliant laboratory technology operations across both IT and OT environments, aligned to cyber security, ITSM, ITIL, and DTE system lifecycle standards.

  • Serve as the primary point of accountability for laboratory technology partnering with DTE Compliance, Cyber Security, Internal Audit, and Quality Assurance.

  • Own and manage the site's operating budget, ensuring disciplined financial planning, forecasting, vendor management, and value realization across services and platforms.

  • Oversee a portfolio of programs, projects, platform releases, and enhancements delivered at the site, ensuring quality, timeliness, and alignment with business outcomes.

  • Lead technology-driven modernization of the laboratory environment — intelligent automation, agentic workflows, passive data capture, IoT-enabled instruments, and connected lab environments — translating innovation into pragmatic, compliant roadmaps.

  • Attract, develop, and retain top talent; carry full people-management accountability for assigned staff.

  • Serve as the single accountable owner for technology adoption, change, and the DTE relationship at San Diego — the primary partner to the site SVP and research leadership.

  • As the site's product owner: capture requirements and user stories directly from scientists and shape raw, ambiguous input into clear, prioritized demand.

  • Drive local adoption and change management for new platform capabilities; carry roadmap and delivery updates back to site scientists and leadership on a regular cadence.

  • Represent the site's voice in cross-site, cross-functional prioritization forums, ensuring the shared platform roadmap reflects the site's highest-value needs.

  • Maintain a transparent, current view of the site's demand status and backlog position that site stakeholders can see and understand.

Knowledge And Skills

  • Strong senior-level business engagement and stakeholder partnership capabilities.

  • Deep understanding of enterprise technology operations, cyber security, ITSM, and system lifecycle practices.

  • Proven people leadership experience building and sustaining high-performing teams.

  • Program, portfolio, demand, and financial management expertise.

  • Excellent analytical, problem-solving, communication, and executive-level presentation skills.

  • Ability to balance operational stability with innovation in regulated environments.

  • Comfort operating in a matrixed accountability model — shaping and routing demand where the build/architecture decision rests with a peer platform owner, not this role.

Education And Experience

  • 10+ years of relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

  • Demonstrated leadership managing enterprise-scale technology platforms and support organizations.

  • Proven experience operating within GxP- and SOX-regulated environments.

  • Experience leading complex programs, portfolios, and vendor ecosystems with financial accountability.

  • Experience operating as a product owner, business relationship manager, or similar demand-shaping role — translating ambiguous stakeholder input into structured, prioritized backlog items.

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