Head of Commercial Operations & Strategic Initiatives, Rare Disease

Ipsen•Cambridge, MA

13d•$217,500 - $300,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Head of Commercial Operations & Strategic Initiatives is a member of the Rare Disease Business Unit (RDBU) Leadership Team and serves as the strategic and operational deputy to the SVP, U.S. Rare Disease. The role translates franchise strategy into an integrated operating plan, establishes management systems to deliver business objectives, and leads the RDBU portfolio of enterprise priorities and transformation initiatives. This leader owns RDBU governance, strategic and business planning, performance management, commercial operations, organizational effectiveness, and cross-functional execution. Working across Sales, TLLs, Marketing, Market Access, Medical, Finance, Business Operations & Strategy (BOS), and other enterprise partners, the role identifies trade-offs, escalates risks, enables timely executive decisions, and holds initiative owners accountable for delivery. The role leads a team and influences senior and key stakeholders across the organization to advance near- and long-term portfolio performance.

Requirements

At least 12 years of related experience with a Bachelor's degree, or 8 years with a Master's degree, or equivalent experience.
Demonstrated success serving as a senior advisor to business-unit or enterprise leadership and leading through influence across complex matrixed organizations.
Proven accountability for integrated business planning, governance, performance management, and execution of enterprise-level strategic priorities.
Experience building and leading high-performing teams, including direct people-management responsibility and leadership of cross-functional teams.
Ability to synthesize complex market, customer, financial, and operational information into clear executive recommendations and decisions.
Experience leading organizational transformation, operating-model change, or capability-building initiatives with measurable business impact.
Strong commercial and financial acumen, including resource prioritization, investment evaluation, KPI development, and performance management.
Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence others.
Ability to work within an environment of strict compliance with appropriate regulatory guidelines when designing and executing tactics, programs, and tools to achieve business objectives.
Passion for patients and deep commitment to supporting high-performing teams with integrity and in compliance with policies and regulations.
Ability to work in a hybrid model, including in-office work multiple times per week at the Cambridge, Massachusetts headquarters.
Willingness and ability to travel domestically; international travel may be required.
BA/BS degree required.

Nice To Haves

MBA strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Serve as strategic advisor and Chief of Staff to the SVP, shaping the RDBU agenda, framing critical business decisions, anticipating enterprise risks and opportunities, and driving Leadership Team effectiveness and accountability.
Design and lead the RDBU governance and management operating system, including Leadership Team forums, operating reviews, executive and board communications, decision processes, and accountability mechanisms.
Partner with the RDBU Leadership Team to define objectives, shape the culture, and drive alignment with cross-functional teams.
Own the integrated RDBU planning process, aligning strategic, brand, operational, workforce, and financial plans; identifying interdependencies and trade-offs; and ensuring resources are directed to the highest-value priorities.
Serve as the RDBU champion and expert for key account management, including building operating mechanisms and organizational capabilities that accelerate adoption of RDBU products in priority health systems.
Identify organizational capabilities and operating-model enhancements that accelerate portfolio growth and long-term success.
Build, lead, and develop a high-performing Commercial Operations and Strategic Initiatives team of 2–3 people, establishing clear accountabilities, strengthening capabilities, and creating succession and development plans.
Drive strategic and operational excellence by identifying, exploring, and implementing innovative commercial capabilities.
Oversee performance monitoring, recognition programs, and continuous improvement efforts.
Own the RDBU performance-management framework in partnership with BOS, including KPIs, leading and lagging indicators, dashboards, business insights, and executive reporting to enable timely decisions and corrective action.
Provide strategic leadership and RDBU business ownership for sales operations capabilities, including targeting, segmentation, territory design, incentive effectiveness, CRM adoption, field-force analytics, and performance reporting, in partnership with BOS and field leadership.
Lead enterprise-wide launch readiness and commercialization planning for the RDBU, establishing governance, integrated workplans, decision milestones, risk mitigation, and executive-level progress reporting.
Set the operational excellence agenda for the RDBU, leading enterprise-wide process redesign, operating-model improvements, and capability investments that remove barriers, increase organizational agility, and improve business performance.
Translate market, customer, and performance insights into strategic recommendations that improve business outcomes.
Build and lead a Health System Account team responsible for RDBU priority account strategic planning and execution to enhance patient diagnosis and treatment pathways, referral and care coordination, and access to RDBU treatments.
Lead operating-model and capability transformation across the RDBU, identifying and implementing the organizational, process, technology, and insight capabilities required to support portfolio growth.
Build alignment among senior cross-functional leaders, resolve competing priorities, and create conditions for timely enterprise decisions and coordinated execution.