Strategy, Operations & Communications Lead
About The Position
The SPARQ Strategy, Operations & Communications Lead is a senior individual contributor role focused on R&D business strategy, operating model effectiveness, portfolio and resource alignment, and executive-level communications for a global technical, medical, and scientific organization. Reporting to the SVP, Head of SPARQ, this role will serve as a strategic thought partner to the SPARQ Leadership Team, translating enterprise and functional priorities into actionable plans, decision forums, metrics, and delivery roadmaps. The role will shape and lead complex workstreams that require business judgment, cross-functional influence, portfolio awareness and disciplined execution across Safety, Pharmacovigilance, Regulatory Operations, Quality, Compliance, Analytics, and Authoring. This individual will operate as a business strategy lead who frames issues, synthesizes data and stakeholder input, develops recommendations, drives alignment enabling senior leadership decision-making and organizational clarity.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree such as MBA, MS, PharmD, PhD, or relevant graduate degree preferred
- 8+ years of relevant experience in biopharma, R&D, business strategy, business operations, portfolio/resource planning, program management, management consulting, or related functions
- Demonstrated experience supporting or advising senior functional leaders, including the ability to frame business issues, synthesize complex information, and develop recommendations
- Proven ability to lead complex, cross-functional initiatives with senior leader visibility and measurable business impact
- Strong understanding of R&D operating models, drug development, safety, regulatory, quality, pharmacovigilance, or related technical functions preferred
- Experience with business planning, resource prioritization, budget/resource trade-off discussions, portfolio alignment, governance, or functional performance management
- Strong strategic thinking, analytical problem-solving, judgment, and ability to translate ambiguity into practical plans and decision-ready options
- Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, including experience creating executive-ready presentations, briefing materials, business reviews, and leadership communications
- Ability to influence without authority, build trusted relationships quickly, and operate effectively across a global, highly matrixed organization
Nice To Haves
- Prior experience in R&D business strategy, functional strategy, management consulting, transformation, chief-of-staff/business operations, portfolio strategy, or strategic program leadership
- Experience working directly with VP/SVP-level leaders and leadership teams on strategic planning, operating rhythms, priority reviews, resource discussions, and organizational effectiveness
- Financial acumen and comfort partnering with Finance or Business Operations on budget, resource, scenario planning, or business case discussions
- Change management, process improvement, Lean/Six Sigma, Agile/Scrum, or transformation experience
- Experience designing and facilitating senior leadership forums, offsites, workshops, town halls, or governance meetings where the output is alignment, decisions, and action
Responsibilities
- Serve as a strategic thought partner to the Head of SPARQ and SPARQ Leadership Team, helping frame priority business questions, identify risks and trade-offs, and drive alignment on decisions and next steps
- Translate strategic priorities into clear operating plans with defined scope, ownership, timelines, success measures, governance forums, and executive-level progress reporting
- Lead high-impact cross-functional initiatives that advance SPARQ and Development priorities, including business process improvement, operating model optimization, knowledge management, and functional capability-building efforts
- Partner with Finance, Business Operations, Portfolio, HR, Communications, and functional leaders to support planning, priority setting, resource discussions, and trade-off recommendations
- Develop analyses, briefing materials, business reviews, leadership narratives, and recommendations that synthesize complex information for senior leader decision-making
- Design and facilitate SPARQ leadership forums, business reviews, priority reviews, town halls, offsites, and other operating mechanisms to ensure discussions are decision-oriented and outcomes are tracked
- Track initiative progress, interdependencies, metrics, risks, and issue escalation across multiple workstreams, ensuring commitments are visible and follow-through is disciplined
- Create communications that support organizational alignment, employee engagement, and visibility into SPARQ priorities, progress, and business impact across a global team
Benefits
- Medical, Dental, Vision, & Life insurances
- Fitness & Wellness programs including a fitness reimbursement
- Short- and Long-Term Disability insurance
- A minimum of 15 days of paid vacation and an additional end-of-year shutdown time off (Dec 26-Dec 31)
- Up to 12 company paid holidays + 3 paid days off for Personal Significance
- 80 hours of sick time per calendar year
- Paid Maternity and Parental Leave benefit
- 401(k) program participation with company matched contributions
- Employee stock purchase plan
- Tuition reimbursement of up to $10,000 per calendar year
- Employee Resource Groups participation
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Manager
