Strategy, Ops & Excellence Lead - Statistical Sciences

About the role

This role is an important member of the SSEG (Statistical Sciences & Evidence Generation) leadership team, responsible for ensuring the organization is best positioned to deliver on its strategic priorities and remains future-ready. Reporting directly to the VP, Head of SSEG, this position optimizes internal operations and communications, creates measurement and reporting systems, maintains forums for effective decision-making, and leads coordination and execution of strategic initiatives for continuous improvement.

The role drives operational excellence through process improvement, strategic planning, resource optimization, establishment of supportive systems, and strategic communications. It requires leading through influence, navigating a broad, cross-functional, and matrixed environment, and managing multiple simultaneous priorities.

Responsibilities

• Develop a roadmap for the evolution of SSEG functions to ensure future-readiness, including identifying key capabilities and tools and partnering with stakeholders for execution.
• Evaluate vendor platforms and solutions against key capabilities and financial targets.
• Develop a department scorecard and identify appropriate KPIs to measure organizational impact and progress along the roadmap.
• Ensure efficient utilization of resources across teams, maintaining a broad view of the vendor landscape and fit-for-purpose solutions. Manage adaptations and optimizations in the internal-external resource ratio to drive sustainable impact while maintaining SSEG ownership of critical skills.
• Work with LT, finance, and procurement to support the deployment of the SSEG vendor strategy for effectiveness.
• Lead the annual planning cycle, including AOP planning, and work closely with Finance and matrix partners to plan and achieve budget goals.
• Drive specific strategic projects on an ad-hoc basis, owning dashboards, timelines, and project management.
• Serve as a trusted strategic partner to the Head of SSEG, proactively highlighting business-critical risks and opportunities, and overseeing organizational, financial, and operational activities.
• Oversee and manage the flow of information and key decisions within SSEG and across functions.
• Responsible for strategic meeting management and communications, including creating presentations and memos for enterprise leaders.
• Manage 1-2 direct reports (FTEs and vendor).

Requirements

• BS/BA required; MS/MBA/PhD preferred.
• Minimum 7 years of senior leadership and project management experience.
• Leadership experience in a data analytics organization is a plus.
• Excellent written and oral storytelling and communication skills, particularly in distilling complex topics into executive-level strategic communications.
• Data- and metrics-driven with strong data analysis and budget management acumen.
• Ability to lead and influence in a matrix environment and cultivate strong internal/external networks.
• Strong analytical, strategic thinking, and problem-solving skills.
• Current knowledge of AI tools to drive efficiency.
• Good knowledge of analytics technologies (e.g., Power BI, SAS, R, Shiny).
• Good knowledge of clinical trial data and processes.
• Ability to work independently and in a team-oriented, collaborative environment.
• Strong leadership and influence skills to advance departmental goals across multiple levels of the business.
• Ability to establish effective business relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Experience defining, documenting, and developing business processes in a pharmaceutical or similarly regulated environment.
• PMP/Scrum Master or Six Sigma certification is a plus.

Pay

The base compensation range for this role is $200,000 - $275,000. Base salary offered is determined through an analytical approach utilizing factors including, but not limited to, relevant skills and experience, job location, and internal equity.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance.
• Fitness and wellness programs, including a fitness reimbursement.
• Short- and long-term disability insurance.
• A minimum of 15 days of paid vacation and an additional end-of-year shutdown (December 26–31).
• Up to 12 company-paid holidays plus 3 paid days off for personal significance.
• 80 hours of sick time per calendar year.
• Paid maternity and parental leave.
• 401(k) program participation with company-matched contributions.
• Employee stock purchase plan.
• Tuition reimbursement of up to $10,000 per calendar year.
• Employee Resource Groups participation.