Vice President - R&D Strategic Operations and Program Management

Illumina•San Diego, CA

20h

About The Position

What if the work you did every day could impact the lives of people you know? Or all of humanity? At Illumina, we are expanding access to genomic technology to realize health equity for billions of people around the world. Our efforts enable life-changing discoveries that are transforming human health through the early detection and diagnosis of diseases and new treatment options for patients. Working at Illumina means being part of something bigger than yourself. Every person, in every role, has the opportunity to make a difference. Surrounded by extraordinary people, inspiring leaders, and world changing projects, you will do more and become more than you ever thought possible. The Vice President of R&D Strategic Operations and Program Management is responsible for partnering with the RDLT to shape and drive the enterprise-wide research and development strategy, ensuring alignment with corporate objectives, and delivering measurable business value. This role oversees portfolio governance, operational excellence, and strategic execution to accelerate innovation and maximize ROI. The leader will foster strong stakeholder partnerships, champion adaptive PMO foundations, and lead high-performing teams to deliver transformative outcomes in a dynamic business environment.

Requirements

Advanced degree in Life Sciences, Business, or related field; MBA or PhD preferred.
15+ years of experience in R&D strategy, portfolio management, and operations leadership.
Approximately 15+ years in an executive leadership role or equivalent experience.
Minimum 20 years of related experience.
Proven track record of delivering enterprise-level initiatives and driving measurable business outcomes.
Exceptional communication, negotiation, and influencing skills at the executive level.

Nice To Haves

Strategic Agility: Ability to pivot quickly in response to emerging trends and disruptions.
Innovation Leadership: Foster a culture of creativity and breakthrough thinking.
Data-Driven Decision Making: Leverage analytics and insights for portfolio optimization.
Change Management Expertise: Lead organizational transformation with minimal disruption.
Global Mindset: Navigate complex, multicultural environments effectively.

Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Vision Define and execute enterprise-level R&D strategy aligned with corporate goals.
Drive portfolio prioritization and resource allocation to optimize business impact.
Anticipate market and business shifts, adapting strategies to maintain competitive advantage.
Portfolio Management & Governance Oversee portfolio planning, investment decisions, and performance tracking.
Ensure initiatives deliver on time, within budget, and meet defined scope and quality standards.
Implement robust risk management practices to mitigate execution challenges.
Operational Excellence Establish best-in-class PMO frameworks to enable agility and scalability.
Drive continuous improvement in processes, tools, and methodologies.
Ensure compliance with regulatory and quality standards across all R&D operations.
Stakeholder Engagement & Influence Build trusted advisor relationships with senior executives and cross-functional leaders.
Foster collaboration across global teams to accelerate innovation and execution.
Champion transparency and accountability through effective reporting and insights.
Talent & Culture Leadership Attract, develop, and retain top-tier PMO and R&D talent.
Inspire a high-performance culture focused on innovation, adaptability, and measurable outcomes.
Promote diversity, equity, and inclusion across all teams and initiatives.