Executive Director, Digital Transformation & Delivery Excellence

MSD • Rahway, NJ

15h • Hybrid

About The Position

The Executive Director, Digital Transformation & Delivery Excellence serves as the Chief Information & Digital Officer’s enterprise lead for translating digital strategy into disciplined, multi-divisional execution. The role connects strategic priorities, investment decisions, delivery governance, and value realization across the IT organization. Balancing enterprise governance with divisional execution, the Executive Director frames critical investment and architectural choices, leads CIDO-sponsored transformation initiatives, accelerates cross-divisional delivery and value realization, modernizes IT ways of working, scales next-generation capabilities, and advances workforce modernization.

The position advises the CIDO and IT leadership team on trade-offs, investment options, and return-on-investment projections; turns strategic intent into a multi-year transformation portfolio with measurable value milestones; and partners with Finance and executive sponsors to track outcomes. It supports executive engagement on transformation progress, value realization, technical debt, and strategic risks. The role also directs complex enterprise programs, resolves cross-divisional delivery barriers, and leads the transition toward agile, value-stream-aligned, AI-centric IT delivery models.

The Executive Director works with IT teams to define and roll out modern digital capabilities, including advanced data pipelines and practical agentic AI solutions, and monitors emerging technologies, competitive shifts, regulatory developments, and partnership models. In partnership with divisional IT leaders and HR, the role develops talent plans and workforce modernization programs, and leads the definition and optimization of IT processes and ownership structures, including processes such as SDLC and CI/CD.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, software engineering, information systems, business administration, or a related field.
• 15 or more years of progressive technology leadership, IT strategy, and large-scale enterprise transformation experience in a complex, matrixed global enterprise.
• Demonstrated success leading and delivering global-scale programs across independent business units and federated IT groups without direct hierarchical control.
• Verifiable experience in turnaround, recovery, or interim leadership roles rescuing distressed technical programs or organizational initiatives.
• Extensive experience advising C-suite executives, partnering with executive committees, and participating in board-level strategy and governance presentations.
• Foundational understanding of modern software architecture, public cloud environments (AWS, Azure, or GCP), API-first integration, DevSecOps pipelines, and legacy migration.
• Working familiarity with enterprise data governance frameworks, MLOps, and generative and agentic AI deployment patterns.
• Deep command of technology financial management, including business case development, TCO optimization, vendor negotiations, and capital and operating expenditure governance.
• Prior leadership experience in biopharmaceuticals, life sciences, healthcare, financial services, or another heavily regulated environment.
• Familiarity with the biopharmaceutical value chain, including Discovery/R&D, Clinical Development, Manufacturing & Supply, and Commercial/Medical Affairs.
• Proven ability to build, mentor, and lead high-performing teams of senior directors, technical leaders, and matrixed delivery pods.
• Skills listed include acquisitions and divestitures, AI implementation planning, biopharmaceuticals, business operations and transformation, business unit integration, change agility, CI/CD, C-level management, computer science, consultative approach, data governance, proposal development, DevSecOps, digital strategy, emotional intelligence, environmental scanning, executive presence, financial management, information systems, MLOps, management consulting, oncology drug development, and operating models.

Nice To Haves

• Master of Business Administration, Master of Science in Computer Science or Information Science, or equivalent advanced degree.
• Previous experience in top-tier management consulting, enterprise transformation advisory, or technology strategy firms.

Responsibilities

• Advise the CIDO and IT leadership team on strategic trade-offs, investment options, and ROI projections to shape the IT portfolio and roadmap.
• Translate strategic intent into an actionable, multi-year transformation portfolio with clear value milestones, tracking outcome delivery with Finance and executive sponsors.
• Facilitate the IT leadership team’s operating rhythm, cross-functional transparency, portfolio governance, and ongoing operating model optimization.
• Partner with the CIDO on executive updates about transformation progress, value realization metrics, technical debt posture, and strategic risks.
• Direct complex enterprise transformation initiatives that require sponsorship and focused delivery from the CIDO office.
• Act as the CIDO’s designated escalation authority to resolve cross-divisional friction, resource constraints, and integration roadblocks.
• Transform IT delivery organizations from federated, project-based paradigms to agile, value-stream-aligned, AI-centric models measured by operational speed, cyber resiliency, and business impact.
• Work with IT teams to define, roll out, and support adoption of modern digital capabilities, including advanced data pipelines and practical agentic AI solutions.
• Monitor emerging technologies, competitive shifts, regulatory developments, and strategic partnership models to identify enterprise transformation opportunities.
• Partner with divisional IT leaders and HR to develop and maintain an overall talent development plan and execute workforce modernization and reskilling programs.
• Lead the definition and optimization of IT processes and ownership structures to improve effectiveness and efficiency; partner with IT functions to reimagine processes such as SDLC and CI/CD.
• Build, mentor, and lead high-performing teams of senior directors, technical leaders, and matrixed delivery pods.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision healthcare benefits and other insurance benefits for employees and family.
• Retirement benefits, including 401(k).
• Paid holidays, vacation, and compassionate and sick days.
• Eligible for an annual bonus and long-term incentive, if applicable.

What This Job Offers

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