Director, R&D DDSAI - Portfolio Strategy Lead - TD & PSTS
About The Position
Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine is seeking an exceptional Portfolio Strategy Lead to help shape the future of drug discovery by bringing together the Tech, Data, and AI portfolio across TD, PSTS, JJT, and DDSAI. This is a highly visible leadership role for a strategic operator and connector—someone who can unify complex programs, align investments to our highest priorities, and ensure the organization is executing against a bold vision. This role will provide Tech, Data, and AI portfolio oversight for our largest and most important transformation effort, AI-Native Drug Discovery, and all Tech, Data, and AI projects supporting either TD or PSTS. These programs/projects are central to how we accelerate scientific learning, build differentiated capabilities, and create lasting competitive advantage through Tech, Data, and AI. The successful candidate will bring clarity across a fast-moving and matrixed environment—connecting plans, surfacing synergies, guiding tradeoffs, and ensuring our resources stay focused on the initiatives that matter most. This leader will also play a critical role in translating portfolio progress, investment needs, and impact into clear narratives for senior leadership.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree or equivalent experience preferred in life sciences, data science, engineering, or a related field.
- Significant experience in portfolio leadership, program leadership, strategy, or transformation roles in pharmaceutical R&D, biotech, healthcare, or a similarly complex innovation environment.
- Proven ability to lead across a matrixed organization, influencing senior stakeholders without direct authority.
- Strong understanding of one or more of the following: drug discovery, translational science, digital transformation, AI/data platforms, R&D technology, portfolio governance, or strategic investment planning.
- Demonstrated strength in executive communication, including translating complexity into clear decisions, narratives, and action plans for leadership teams.
- Experience managing cross-functional roadmaps, interdependencies, resource tradeoffs, and governance processes across multiple initiatives.
- Outstanding collaboration, judgment, and organizational leadership skills, with the ability to balance ambition with focus.
Responsibilities
- Lead the integrated Tech, Data & AI portfolio supporting TD and PSTS, connecting work across scientific, digital, and platform teams to deliver against DPDS’ strategic priorities.
- Provide Tech, Data, & AI portfolio oversight for AI-Native Drug Discovery, ensuring plans, milestones, dependencies, and investments are aligned across TD, PSTS, JJT, and DDSAI
- Drive strategic alignment and prioritization across projects so resources remain focused on the most critical programs and are not diluted across lower-priority efforts. Connecting efforts to the Self Driving Labs initiative in TDS wherever possible and beneficial
- Identify and unlock synergies across initiatives, especially where shared platforms, data pipelines, compute, automation, external partnerships, and operating models can accelerate impact
- Partner closely with scientific, digital, and technology leaders to ensure project plans are integrated, realistic, and sequenced to support business and portfolio goals.
- Create transparency into portfolio investments and resource allocation, with clear reporting for senior leadership on where we are investing, what value is being unlocked, and where key risks or tradeoffs exist.
- Establish strong portfolio governance, including roadmap management, dependency tracking, prioritization forums, issue escalation, and executive-ready updates.
- Champion execution discipline and strategic storytelling, helping leaders communicate a compelling, consistent narrative around progress, investment needs, and long-term impact.
Benefits
- Consolidated retirement plan (pension)
- Savings plan (401(k))
- Long-term incentive program
- Vacation –120 hours per calendar year
- Sick time - 40 hours per calendar year (varies by state)
- Holiday pay, including Floating Holidays –13 days per calendar year
- Work, Personal and Family Time - up to 40 hours per calendar year
- Parental Leave – 480 hours within one year of the birth/adoption/foster care of a child
- Bereavement Leave – 240 hours for an immediate family member: 40 hours for an extended family member per calendar year
- Caregiver Leave – 80 hours in a 52-week rolling period
- Volunteer Leave – 32 hours per calendar year
- Military Spouse Time-Off – 80 hours per calendar year
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Director
