R&D Transformation Program Lead – M&a and Footprint

R&D Transformation Program Lead – M&a and Footprint

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in life sciences, business administration, or a related field;
• 5+ years of experience in R&D operations, program/project management, M&A, or a related discipline within the pharmaceutical/biotech industry.
• Proven experience managing large-scale integrations and cross-functional projects.
• Strong understanding of the drug development lifecycle and R&D functions.
• Demonstrated expertise in process optimization, change management, and stakeholder engagement.
• Exceptional organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency in project management tools and portfolio tracking systems.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary project manager for high priority R&D integrations, driving through post-deal integration.
• Create detailed project plans, including timelines, deliverables, and resource allocation, to ensure seamless integration.
• Coordinate cross-functional collaboration across R&D, BD, integration teams, and other corporate functions (e.g., finance, legal, and commercial).
• Identify, mitigate, and escalate risks associated with integration projects, ensuring alignment with R&D priorities.
• Track and measure the progress and success of integration efforts, reporting to senior leadership on milestones and value realization.
• Responsible for the continuous upkeep and improvement of the M&A Playbook and lessons learned, templates, tools, and standardized workflows to support M&A governance and decision-making.
• Design and implement a robust governance framework for M&A activities within R&D to ensure alignment with corporate objectives and strategic priorities.
• Establish clear decision-making processes, accountability structures, and reporting mechanisms for integration projects.
• Act as a liaison between R&D and BD teams to ensure the early involvement of key stakeholders in pre-acquisition planning and due diligence activities.
• Develop and execute change management plans, ensuring that impacted teams are engaged, informed, and equipped for success.
• Support the alignment of the R&D footprint Strat Plan with the organization’s strategic plan to optimize resource allocation and operational efficiency.
• Collaborate with R&D leaders and strategy teams to evaluate and prioritize site and functional activities globally.
• Support the development and execution plans for site consolidations, expansions, or transitions in line with strategic priorities.
• Ensure footprint management supports key objectives, including innovation, collaboration, cost management, and talent retention.
• Monitor and report on the impact of footprint-related changes, ensuring alignment with broader organizational goals.
• Collaborate with R&D teams to design and implement improved systems for tracking projects and their status across the portfolio.
• Enhance visibility into project milestones, resource allocation, and value realization through centralized tools and dashboards.
• Ensure that portfolio tracking aligns with R&D’s strategic priorities and delivers actionable insights for decision-making.
• Develop metrics and KPIs to measure the impact of M&A activities and process improvements on organizational outcomes.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, ensuring alignment on integration goals and priorities.
• Act as the key point of contact for M&A governance and integration activities within R&D.
• Regularly communicate progress, challenges, and opportunities to senior leadership, providing strategic recommendations as needed.
• Champion cultural transformation by embedding change management practices and fostering an agile mindset.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree (e.g., MBA, PhD) preferred.