Director, Operational Excellence

Pfizer • New York City, NY

4h • Hybrid

About The Position

The Director, Operational Excellence is an operational leader focused on delivery excellence, process optimization, resource management, and stakeholder management. The role develops frameworks and effective ways of working to support the organization’s future, with ownership of organizational resource tracking, resource planning, hiring-process support, and staff augmentation vendor management. The goal is to ensure the organization has the right talent in the right roles at the right time, aligned with funds planning, and to build a culture of continuous improvement that advances team efficiency and financial effectiveness.

The Director leads priorities in service delivery and capability alignment, resource management, budget and financial management, vendor and technology management, communications, and training. In partnership with the Leadership Team and Finance, the role supports short- and long-term planning, forecasts resource demand, identifies capacity and capability gaps, and recommends an appropriate mix of full-time and augmented staff. The Director establishes organization-wide visibility into headcount, allocation, capacity, utilization, and costs, and supports hiring activities with Talent Acquisition and PX.

The role manages staff augmentation vendor processes, including selection, rate and contract negotiation, performance management, and spend oversight. It drives continuous improvement through standard ways of working, systems, processes, frameworks, communication, training, best practices, and governance. It also applies suitable AI tools and innovative ways of working to reduce administrative and redundant tasks across the Engineering & Technology organization.

The Director builds relationships with internal and external stakeholders and vendors, serves as strategic program/project manager for key organizational projects, and is accountable for assigned project budgets and related vendor management. The role supports oversight of the organizational budget, allocates team resources and funds efficiently, and coaches and mentors direct reports. National and international travel may be necessary. The work location assignment is hybrid.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree and 8 or more years of relevant work experience.
• Strong written and verbal communication, interpersonal, collaboration, and facilitation skills.
• Demonstrated analytical and critical-thinking skills and a strong background in process improvement.
• Practical experience with operations, process improvement, efficiency initiatives, and project management methodologies, with the ability to lead project teams.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and tasks while meeting aggressive deadlines.
• Ability to make independent decisions while working closely with cross-functional peers.
• Demonstrated ability to manage or lead complex projects, including resource and budget management for assigned projects.
• Permanent work authorization in the United States.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree in a related field.
• Pharmaceutical or healthcare industry experience.
• Practical experience with organizational setup processes, including creating job descriptions, managing hiring processes with human resources, and sourcing contracted resources.
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification and/or Lean Six Sigma Black Belt (LSSBB).
• Knowledge of or expertise in digital product development and/or Design Thinking.
• Experience driving change in a global, matrixed organization.
• Leadership experience demonstrating the ability to influence and collaborate with peers, develop and coach others, and oversee and guide colleagues’ work to achieve meaningful outcomes and business impact.

Responsibilities

• Lead priorities focused on service delivery and capability alignment, resource management, budget and financial management, vendor and technology management, communications, and training.
• Partner with the Leadership Team on short- and long-term planning aligned with organizational strategy, vision, operational plans, and goals.
• Establish and maintain organization-wide resource tracking and visibility into headcount, allocation, capacity, utilization, and costs for colleagues and contingent workers.
• Lead resource planning with the Leadership Team and Finance by forecasting demand, identifying capability and capacity gaps, and recommending the appropriate mix of full-time and augmented staff.
• Support hiring processes with Talent Acquisition and PX, including position requests and approvals, job description development, requisition tracking, interview coordination, and onboarding readiness.
• Manage staff augmentation vendor processes, including vendor selection, rate and contract negotiation, performance management, and spend oversight.
• Leverage new technologies and innovative approaches to address organizational and capability needs.
• Establish standard ways of working, systems, processes, and frameworks to drive continuous improvement and challenge existing practices.
• Work with cross-functional peers and team members on organizational process improvements while exercising independent decision-making.
• Promote continuous improvement through communication, training, best practices, and governance that supports accountability.
• Reduce administrative and redundant tasks across the Engineering & Technology organization using suitable AI tools and innovative ways of working.
• Build and grow relationships with internal and external stakeholders and vendors at every level.
• Serve as strategic program/project manager for key organizational projects, with accountability for assigned budgets and related vendor management.
• Support oversight processes for the organizational budget.
• Coach, mentor, and support the professional growth of direct reports.
• Ensure efficient allocation of resources and funds within the team.

Benefits

• 401(k) plan with Pfizer Matching Contributions and an additional Pfizer Retirement Savings Contribution.
• Paid vacation, holidays, and personal days.
• Paid caregiver/parental and medical leave.
• Medical, prescription drug, dental, and vision coverage.
• Eligible to participate in Pfizer’s Global Performance Plan, with a bonus target of 20% of base salary.
• Eligible to participate in a share-based long-term incentive program.
• Relocation assistance may be available based on business needs and/or eligibility.
• Comprehensive benefits and programs to support colleagues’ health and life needs.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director