Senior Director TA Portfolio Delivery Lead

CSL

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

Based on the assigned Therapeutic Area (TA), this global leadership role is responsible for the strategic and operational oversight of R&D Program Management, Development Planning, Project Management, and Therapeutic Area Portfolio & Operations. The role oversees functional project management across the respective therapeutic area, including development and regulatory programs, New Product Development, and Life Cycle Management. Acting as a strategic partner to Therapeutic Area and R&D leadership, this individual drives effective portfolio planning, enables agile project delivery, and ensures alignment across cross-functional teams and geographies. As a key member of the Portfolio & Operations Excellence (POE) Leadership Team, the role proactively identifies and removes barriers to execution, addresses organizational and operational challenges, and drives accountability to ensure successful delivery of the R&D portfolio.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in a relevant scientific, business, or related discipline.
12+ years of progressive experience in project management, program management, and/or portfolio management within R&D, biotechnology, or the pharmaceutical industry.
Demonstrated experience leading complex, cross-functional R&D programs and global portfolios across multiple functions and geographies.
Proven success managing large-scale development programs, portfolio initiatives, and organizational priorities in a complex matrix environment.
Strong understanding of pharmaceutical and biotechnology R&D processes, including drug development, clinical development, regulatory affairs, and Life Cycle Management.
Expertise in strategic and operational planning, portfolio management, risk assessment, resource planning, and project execution.
Experience with project and portfolio management methodologies, tools, and systems such as Microsoft Project, Planview, Smartsheet, or Jira.
Exceptional communication, influencing, change leadership, and executive reporting capabilities, including translating complex data and insights into actionable recommendations for senior leadership.
Ability to influence senior leaders, navigate organizational complexity, resolve issues, and drive decisions and initiatives through successful completion.
Ability to lead, coach, and develop project management professionals while building high-performing global teams.
Strong strategic thinking, business acumen, and operational judgment, with the ability to balance long-term portfolio priorities and immediate execution needs.
Ability to operate at both strategic and tactical levels and provide hands-on leadership when needed to ensure successful program delivery.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree (Master's, MBA, or equivalent).

Responsibilities

Provide strategic and operational leadership to a global team of development and regulatory project managers responsible for complex R&D programs across the therapeutic area portfolio, including New Product Development and Life Cycle Management.
Establish strategic approaches to accelerate development planning and delivery while balancing innovation, quality, timelines, cost, and resource requirements.
Identify opportunities to accelerate projects, assess risks, and develop pragmatic, flexible solutions that enable effective decision-making and execution.
Contribute to organizational strategy as a member of the POE Leadership Team and foster a culture of connectivity, delivery, empowerment, and transformation.
Identify organizational bottlenecks, structural challenges, and delivery risks, and drive issues through to resolution.
Direct, coach, and guide Development Project Management staff in applying robust and pragmatic project management practices, standards, and methodologies.
Build project management capabilities and promote best practices, including scenario planning, optionality analysis, risk management, and integrated project planning.
Drive consistent project management behaviors and continuous improvement, facilitate after-action reviews, and incorporate lessons learned into future programs.
Provide hands-on project management support and coaching when needed to address critical milestones, resolve challenges, and help teams achieve objectives.
Lead cross-R&D and broader CSL initiatives that support portfolio priorities and improve on-time and on-budget program delivery.
Lead Therapeutic Area Portfolio & Operations, providing strategic and operational support to TA Co-Leads and the Therapeutic Area Leadership Team (TALT).
Oversee initiatives and projects to operate the therapeutic area effectively and efficiently in alignment with the Portfolio, Development & Commercial (PD&C) Framework and TALT-established outcomes.
Facilitate collaboration between TALT and functional partners to support effective matrix interactions, alignment, and decision-making.
Develop and coordinate frameworks and processes for cross-functional TA strategies, ensuring product strategy plans align with wider TA priorities.
Coordinate TA strategic planning and ensure outcomes are integrated, documented, aligned across functions, and appropriately approved.
Support R&D and Commercial New Product Opportunity due diligence activities.
Partner with Portfolio Management to integrate TA portfolio information into portfolio plans, analyses, and investment management activities and support development of strategic priorities.
Lead strategic initiatives across the therapeutic area that span the broader PD&C framework.
Facilitate regular TA portfolio reviews, including reviews of timelines, costs, resources, portfolio performance, budgeting, clinical operations, and regulatory activities.
Coordinate internal and external communications, including key messages, briefing materials, and Q&A, on behalf of TALT and TA Co-Leads.
Partner with TA Co-Leads to guide Product Strategy Teams and relevant functional areas in developing long-term product forecasts reflecting TA needs and priorities.
Anticipate future portfolio needs and partner with teams to establish the plans, capabilities, and resources needed to achieve long-term objectives.
Drive integrated planning through PRISM/REDC processes, connecting cross-functional teams and ensuring information, insights, and preparation support strategic portfolio decisions.
Lead and develop a global project management organization with complex objectives, broad functional interfaces, and responsibilities across multiple geographies.
Establish strategic priorities, competency frameworks, and performance expectations to support organizational effectiveness, talent development, and professional growth.
Build a high-performing project management organization by developing capabilities, strengthening leadership, and promoting consistent execution standards.
Model and reinforce leadership behaviors and organizational culture that promote accountability, collaboration, empowerment, and continuous improvement.
Address complex organizational and performance challenges, lead difficult conversations, and drive constructive outcomes.
Maintain a strong understanding of cross-functional R&D and business operations to enable integrated planning, resource alignment, and informed strategic decisions.
Coach, mentor, and develop project management leaders and staff to build capabilities for an evolving global R&D portfolio.