Director Operational Strategy- Spectrum Therapeutics-US/EU

Novotech Global•South San Francisco, CA

13h•$180,000 - $210,000•Remote

About The Position

The Director of Operational Strategy provides leadership, oversight, and strategic direction for the Operational Strategy function, ensuring the development of high-quality, competitive, and executable operational strategies that support the acquisition of new clinical trial business. Leading a team of Operational Strategy Managers, the Director is responsible for establishing standards, methodologies, and best practices that drive consistency, quality, and operational excellence across all proposal activities. The Director provides leadership for the Spectrum Therapeutics portfolio, overseeing operational strategy development across a broad range of non-oncology indications, including CNS, metabolic, respiratory, rare disease, and other specialty therapeutic areas. Working closely with functional leadership across the organization, the Director serves as a strategic advisor throughout the proposal lifecycle. The role provides oversight and guidance on study execution strategies, proposal positioning, budget assumptions, risk mitigation plans, and bid defense preparation while ensuring alignment between sponsor requirements, organizational capabilities, and business objectives. Leveraging broad therapeutic and operational expertise, the Director supports the development of differentiated strategies across diverse study designs, patient populations, and clinical development programs. Although primarily focused on leadership and governance, the Director may provide direct strategic support on highly complex, high-value, or business critical opportunities as needed.

Requirements

10+ years of experience in clinical research operations, feasibility, operational strategy, proposal development, or related functions.
Demonstrated success leading managers, building teams, and driving departmental performance.
Experience establishing strategic direction, workforce plans, operating models, and capability-development initiatives.
Proven ability to influence senior leadership and lead cross-functional organizational initiatives.
Bachelor's degree in Life Sciences, Clinical Research, Healthcare Administration, Business, or related field.
Experience in clinical research operations, operational strategy, feasibility, proposal development, or related functions within a CRO, sponsor, or healthcare environment.
Demonstrated experience supporting clinical trial proposals, operational strategy development, feasibility, or study planning activities across a broad range of non-oncology therapeutic areas, including CNS, metabolic, respiratory, rare disease, and related indications.
Demonstrated people leadership experience, including coaching, performance management, and team development.
Strong understanding of clinical trial operations, feasibility assessments, proposal strategy, study startup considerations, and study delivery models.
Demonstrated ability to review, challenge, and guide complex operational strategies and business recommendations.
Strong executive communication, presentation, stakeholder management, and influencing skills.
Experience working collaboratively across global, matrixed organizations.

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting global clinical trial proposals and business development activities.
Experience participating in sponsor presentations and bid defense meetings.
Experience leading departmental process improvement or capability-building initiatives.
Exposure to commercial strategy, pricing, financial modeling, or portfolio planning.
Experience managing geographically distributed teams.

Responsibilities

Lead, mentor, and develop the Operational Strategy team, fostering a culture of strategic thinking, collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.
Provide coaching and guidance on proposal strategy development, operational planning, sponsor engagement, and bid defense preparation.
Review and prioritize incoming proposal opportunities by assessing strategic alignment, historical delivery experience, right-to-win, operational complexity, scope, timelines, and resource requirements, ensuring appropriate Operational Strategy assignment and support of business objectives.
Provide strategic oversight of operational approaches, study execution plans, and proposal recommendations across the opportunity portfolio.
Provide oversight of operational, recruitment, timeline, and execution risks across proposal activities.
Review significant budget assumptions, resource models, country strategies, and operational recommendations for strategic alignment and feasibility.
Establish and maintain operational strategy standards, methodologies, templates, and best practices.
Ensure consistency, quality, and accuracy across operational strategy deliverables, proposal content, and bid defense materials.
Champion the adoption and effective use of operational, feasibility, benchmarking, and market intelligence tools.
Ensure teams leverage available data and technology platforms to support evidence-based strategic decision-making.
Partner with functional and executive leadership to align proposal strategies and business objectives.
Facilitate resolution of complex cross-functional issues impacting proposal development, study execution planning, or customer commitments.