Strategy & Operations Lead

Roche • Boston, MA

4d • $152,000 - $282,200

About The Position

A healthier future. It’s what drives us to innovate. To continuously advance science and ensure everyone has access to the healthcare they need today and for generations to come. Creating a world where we all have more time with the people we love. That’s what makes us Roche. This role is based in Business Strategy & Operations (BSO) which serves as the strategic backbone and operational enabler for Product Development Data Sciences (PDD). The function ensures organizational excellence through robust quality frameworks, optimized resourcing, and aligned strategic execution. BSO brings together cross-functional capabilities across quality and compliance, workforce planning, and strategic operations to empower leaders and teams to deliver with focus, transparency, and accountability. By connecting enterprise priorities with operational realities, BSO drives consistency, clarity, and coordinated progress across PDD and the broader development organization. The Opportunity: The Strategy & Operations (Ops) Lead within Business Strategy & Operations (BSO) plays a central role in enabling strategic alignment, operating rhythm, and execution excellence across Roche’s PDD portfolio. Reporting directly to the BSO Head, this position translates enterprise-level strategies (such as 3D and in silico) into actionable initiatives and orchestrates strategic execution across functions. The Strategy & Ops Lead acts as a strategic integrator, comfortable with leading dynamic and ambiguous tasks through cross-functional governance and planning processes, and ensures alignment across the PDD Leadership Team. This role also drives coordination of Quant Team and leadership meetings, enabling clear priorities, accountability, and delivery across the portfolio. You lead and develop the Strategy & Ops team, driving consistency, coaching the team towards executive-level decision-making and influential communications You act as a key senior leader and thought partner in the organization, responsible for developing strategic planning, portfolio governance, and prioritization processes, ensuring consistency and connectivity across the BSO team and sub-functions while aligning with enterprise direction You work closely with the BSO leadership team, and cross-functional business partners to lead initiatives related to quality / compliance, resource planning, and board of director priorities You translate high-level strategies, in close partnership with the head of BSO and head of PDD into actionable roadmaps, driving team planning, execution / tracking of cross-functional initiatives, and delivery of priority deliverables with a strong sense of accountability You act as a connector across the PDD organization to proactively identify gaps that influence our strategic plan and operating model by enabling shared ownership of enterprise priorities in complex and ambiguous environments

Requirements

• You hold an advanced degree (e.g., MBA, MSc, PharmD) in life sciences, business administration, data sciences, or a related field
• You bring 12+ years of experience in pharmaceutical, diagnostics, or data sciences organizations, including roles in business operations, strategic planning, or portfolio management
• You have 3+ years of experience in people leadership and cross-functional team management, with a proven ability to drive strategic execution through influence and orchestration
• You have demonstrated success in driving complex initiatives and aligning stakeholders in large matrixed organizations
• You bring deep experience with strategy execution, leadership operations, and roadmap delivery in R&D or data/analytics environments
• You possess strong communication, synthesis, and presentation skills across both technical and non-technical audiences
• You have the capacity for independent thinking and the ability to make decisions based upon sound principles
• You exhibit excellent strategic agility including problem-solving and critical thinking skills, and agility that extends beyond your technical domain
• You demonstrate respect for cultural differences when interacting with colleagues in the global workplace
• You have excellent verbal and written communication skills, specifically in the areas of presentation and writing, with the ability to explain complex technical concepts in clear, simple language

Nice To Haves

• Prior experience as a Chief of Staff or Strategic Operations Lead in a data or R&D setting
• Familiarity with Roche’s organizational structure, governance processes, and ways of working
• Experience in managing leadership operating models, initiative planning, and strategic measurement frameworks (e.g., OKRs)
• Understanding of digital health, in silico strategies, and advanced analytics portfolios in a regulated environment
• Knowledge of agile delivery principles and cross-functional execution frameworks

Responsibilities

• You lead and develop the Strategy & Ops team, driving consistency, coaching the team towards executive-level decision-making and influential communications
• You act as a key senior leader and thought partner in the organization, responsible for developing strategic planning, portfolio governance, and prioritization processes, ensuring consistency and connectivity across the BSO team and sub-functions while aligning with enterprise direction
• You work closely with the BSO leadership team, and cross-functional business partners to lead initiatives related to quality / compliance, resource planning, and board of director priorities
• You translate high-level strategies, in close partnership with the head of BSO and head of PDD into actionable roadmaps, driving team planning, execution / tracking of cross-functional initiatives, and delivery of priority deliverables with a strong sense of accountability
• You act as a connector across the PDD organization to proactively identify gaps that influence our strategic plan and operating model by enabling shared ownership of enterprise priorities in complex and ambiguous environments
• You develop and manage PDD LT and organization-wide meetings, shaping agendas and driving priority topics by connecting insights across PDD and stakeholder needs for awareness, discussion, or decision-making
• You serve as a key change agent to help lead our organization through strategic shifts in our operating environment, responsible for internal communications across initiatives, crafting clear narratives and materials for senior and executive stakeholders
• You foster a purpose-driven culture that emphasizes strategic clarity, operational excellence, and measurable impact through accountability, urgency, collaboration, and continuous improvement
• You design and manage leadership meeting structures (e.g., Quant Team, sub-functional LT meetings), including content creation, facilitation, and follow-through

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees