Principal ADS Program Lead

Roche•Boston, MA

11d•$136,400 - $253,200•Onsite

About The Position

This role is in Analytical Data Science, a core function within Product Development Data Sciences (PDD) that provides strategic leadership and scientific rigor across Development at Roche. PDD Analytical Data Science teams are mobilized across the portfolio to generate data-driven insights, identify opportunities for scale, and implement impactful solutions. PDD Analytical Data Science is recognized as a leading hub for top industry talent, operating as an agile workforce to deliver regulatory commitments across the portfolio. We identify, influence, and adopt industry-leading digital and automation solutions, develop analytical approaches to support exploratory analyses, and align statistical programming practices across both early- and late-stage clinical development. The Analytical Data Science Program Lead serves as a senior leader within the Analytical Data Science function, responsible for guiding both the technical strategy and operational execution across multiple clinical programs or an entire therapeutic area. This role leads a team of highly skilled programmers and junior leaders, ensuring the delivery of high-quality, regulatory-compliant analytical outputs that support key development milestones and health authority submissions. In addition to overseeing day-to-day delivery, the Analytical Data Science Program Lead is accountable for a broad range of analytical outputs including but not limited to: exploratory analyses, application development and dynamic visualization to enable ongoing data review and scientific insights generation. The Analytical Data Science Program Lead also oversees deliverables originating from cross-functional partners, such as Data Management, ensuring seamless integration into the reporting pipeline. The Analytical Data Science Program Lead sets priorities, allocates resources, and ensures the scalability and sustainability of programming operations through standardization, automation, and innovation, while providing business context to guide decision-making with evolving portfolio needs. The Analytical Data Science Program Lead plays a pivotal role in cross-functional planning and governance, acting as a strategic partner to stakeholders across PDD. As a people leader, the Analytical Data Science Program Lead is accountable for building and developing talent, fostering a culture of technical excellence, and ensuring alignment with both functional and enterprise-wide data strategies.

Requirements

Advanced degree (Master’s or PhD) in Data Science, Statistics, Computer Science, Biomedical Informatics, or a related field.
Minimum of 6 years of experience in pharmaceutical R&D or a regulated environment, with significant exposure to clinical development.
Demonstrated leadership of molecule-level analytical strategy or delivery across multiple studies.
Strong technical expertise in statistical programming (e.g., R, SAS), QC practices, and regulatory data standards (e.g., CDISC, ADaM, SDTM).
Proven ability to manage complex timelines, collaborate across functions, and communicate analytical strategies effectively.
Experience in vendor oversight and working in matrixed, cross-functional global teams.
Capacity for independent thinking and ability to make decisions based upon sound principles.
Excellent strategic agility including problem-solving and critical thinking skills, and agility that extends beyond the technical domain.
Respect for cultural differences when interacting with colleagues in the global workplace.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, specifically in the areas of presentation and writing.

Nice To Haves

Experience leading submission activities or global programs.
Demonstrated influence in cross-functional or global team settings.
Deep knowledge of the drug development lifecycle and how analytics supports key milestones.

Responsibilities

Define and drive the programming and analytical strategy across one or more clinical studies, ensuring alignment with clinical and regulatory objectives, accountable to the TA lead.
Ensure compliance and inspection readiness by establishing robust quality review processes, maintaining thorough documentation, and proactively addressing potential risks to support internal audits and global health authority inspections.
Drive and uphold data and programming standards by championing the consistent application of standardized methodologies, tools, and code libraries to ensure efficiency, reproducibility, and alignment with enterprise-wide data strategy and regulatory expectations.
Lead cross-functional planning and execution of data and analytical deliverables, proactively anticipating risks and developing mitigation strategies to ensure quality, consistency, and timeliness.
Act as a subject matter expert and best practices resource within programming, contributing to the development and refinement of functional standards, tools, and processes.
Participate in global or complex initiatives, bringing analytical and programming expertise to solve problems spanning studies or functions.
Contribute to the implementation of innovative approaches, including automation or new delivery models, to enhance efficiency and scalability.
Collaborate with stakeholders across PDD, such as Biostatistics, Data Management, and Early Development Biometrics, to integrate analytical strategies into development plans and ensure alignment across the end-to-end drug development lifecycle.
Share knowledge and lessons learned across programs and therapeutic areas to promote continuous improvement, cross-team knowledge transfer, and enhance consistency in analytical approaches.
Serve as a mentor to less experienced colleagues, promoting best practices in software development, analytics tooling, and scientific collaboration.