Head of R&D Strategy and Operations

Haleon

13d

About The Position

We are seeking a Head of R&D Strategy and Operations to serve as a senior enterprise leader responsible for defining, prioritising, and orchestrating the global innovation agenda across brands, categories, regions, and capabilities within a Consumer Healthcare organisation. This role has end‑to‑end ownership of the global R&D Capabilities, ensuring R&D investments are rigorously prioritised, actively governed, and translated into sustainable growth and long‑term value creation. As a core member of the Global R&D Leadership Team, the role acts as a strategic partner to the Chief R&D Officer and works closely with senior leaders across categories and operating units to drive innovation speed, impact, and organisational effectiveness at scale. The Head of R&D Strategy and Operations integrates science, consumer insight, commercial strategy, data, and market analytics to operationalise enterprise innovation and R&D strategies and deliver superiority and sufficiency across sub‑categories, formats, benefits, channels, and price corridors versus competition.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business or Science required
10–15+ years of progressive leadership experience in leading R&D, strategy, operations, consulting, or general management
Proven track record of owning complex, enterprise‑scale capabilities and portfolios and translating strategy into execution
Experience operating at Executive Committee and Board interface
Enterprise‑level strategic judgement with strong execution bias
Deep understanding of innovation economics, trade‑offs, and capital allocation
Strong executive communication, influence, and storytelling skills
Ability to lead through complexity in a global, matrixed environment
Capability to leverage AI, data, and analytics to inform decisions and accelerate outcomes

Nice To Haves

MBA, PhD, or equivalent advanced degree preferred
Background in Consumer Health, Life Sciences, Pharmaceuticals, or other regulated industries preferred

Responsibilities

Operationalize global innovation and R&D strategy in partnership with senior R&D leadership, including functional strategies (e.g. Packaging, Advanced Research).
Translate enterprise growth priorities into clear strategic choices and operational action plans across categories, platforms, technologies, and time horizons.
Lead long‑range R&D planning, scenario development, and strategic investment framing.
Ensure alignment with consumer health purpose, regulatory standards, and value‑creation objectives.
Own the overall R&D pipeline and capabilities across all lifecycle stages and innovation tiers.
Identify gaps, risks, and opportunities and drive corrective actions.
Lead governance forums, including prioritisation, funding decisions, and resource allocation.
Balance near‑term delivery with long‑term innovation, platform building, and scientific advancement.
Hold leaders accountable for R&D outcomes, value delivery, and risk management.
Translate strategy into actionable roadmaps, milestones, KPIs, and success metrics.
Lead multi‑year R&D operationalisation initiatives, including operating model design and governance.
Drive speed‑to‑value, productivity, and cost efficiency through simplification, digital enablement (including AI), and strategic partnerships.
Ensure R&D outcomes are scalable, repeatable, and commercially impactful.
Serve as a trusted advisor to the Chief R&D Officer and help set the enterprise R&D agenda.
Partner closely with Quality, Supply Chain, Commercial, Regulatory, Strategy, Finance, Data & Analytics, Transformation, and HR leaders.
Lead preparation and presentation of R&D strategies for Executive Committee and Board‑level forums.
Represent perspectives in senior enterprise decision‑making.
Maintain an external lens on consumer health trends, science, technology, and best practices.
Support strategic partnerships and innovation ecosystems that strengthen pipeline quality and capability depth.