Director, Operational Program Alignment

Director, Operational Program Alignment

The Director of Operational Program Alignment will coordinate all active projects across sites and manage the strategy for communication with stakeholders, acting as the first point of contact for specialist queries in both areas as it pertains to all activity within LabOps’ remit.  

This role leads the project delivery process for various large and numerous smaller LabOps projects across multiple sites and coordinates local team alignment. They provide functional leadership and strategic direction to support the delivery of programs and ensure that project teams adopt aligned standard practices and procedures. Focus areas include stakeholder management, risk management and delivery of business benefit. The Director acts as the liaison between LabOps and business stakeholders to ensure that business requirements are effectively translated into solutions and value creation is achieved. This position plays a highly visible, critical role in successfully delivering operational excellence within the lab environment, ultimately contributing to the development and delivery of innovative solutions to the labs.  You will be leading cross-functional, complex projects, often with high risk and uncertainty at multiple R&D COO sites, ensuring successful project delivery, aligning business objectives with a focus on driving service quality and customer satisfaction.   

Additionally, this position will be responsible for spearheading the communications strategy to engage end users and support cross-functional collaboration within the Site Operations and scientific teams. This role plays a crucial part in ensuring clear and effective communication within the laboratory setting, contributing to the overall success of the team and the organization. In both instances, close collaboration with the LabOps Directors of Analytics and Strategy, Scientific Operations and Lab Development & Planning as well as the larger Lab Operations team, R&D, and key stakeholders is essential to developing a strategic vision for program delivery. You will develop and build the function, act as an expert resource for LabOps teams at all sites within our remit and deliver effective internal communication campaigns for all LabOps-related initiatives. 

Typical Accountabiliies

Program Alignment

• Create the strategy to manage program initiatives which align LabOps goals, cross site collaborations and R&D priorities. 

• Lead Lab Operations-focused, complex projects working cross-functionally, establishing strong and aligned program baselines in collaboration with the business. 

• Provide program alignment support and technical leadership to high risk / high business impact projects across LabOps’ remit.  

• Lead projects from initiation to implementation within agreed constraints of time, budget, and schedule, to deliver effective solutions that meet approved science & business needs, and which ensure continued development of the program alignment capability.  

• Direct site Project Managers and other workers assigned to implement strategic projects, track program milestones, and manage aligned delegation of tasks. 

• Mentor and guide the team to ensure a high standard of quality, fostering knowledge sharing, mutual accountability and collaboration. 

• Collaborate closely with project sponsors, cross-functional teams, and designated project managers to formulate the scope, deliverables, necessary resources, work plan, budget, and timeline for new initiatives. 

• Assess, address, and mitigate program risks, and generate program reports for managers and stakeholders. 

• Uphold organizational standards of satisfaction, quality, and performance in alignment with on time completion of project deliverables. 

• Consider organizational change from project inception and collaborate closely with the design team to create aligned solutions across sites. 

• Collaborate with project leads to develop both waterfall and agile plans which allow for tracking & execution of complex deliverables, revising them as needed to meet changing requirements and ensure milestones are achieved. 

• Manage relationships with project leads and key business stakeholders to effectively capture business requirements. 

• Shape solutions and ensure that business requirements are effectively captured, have good knowledge of different supplier solutions that could support ongoing projects, and, as appropriate, resolve or escalate identified risks and issues.  

• Design and lead the execution of change management plans that maximise adoption of new capabilities and services while engaging lab employees, R&D leadership, and key internal stakeholders across sites. 

Communications & Engagement

• Design an effective & aligned Lab Operations communication strategy tailored to the local laboratory settings and program initiatives being delivered. 

• Function as an expert resource on internal communications for LabOps, R&D and SiteOps stakeholders at all levels; may also require representing LabOps externally. 

• Manage internal communications, including website, digital boards, email communications and other relevant channels. 

• Draft & publish content for company internal media channels and the company website, including lab operations program updates and other internal materials. 

• Closely partner with project teams, the Site Communications Director, the Site Operations team and 3rd party communications leads to ensure messaging is aligned, cohesive and consistent.  

• Establish and develop metrics and measures of success to ensure that the communication strategy is not only effective but also optimally tailored to effectively engage and resonate with the target audience at each site. 

• Coordinate and provide support for cross-site, R&D-targeted engagement projects, collaborating with site leads to ensure their successful completion, thereby facilitating effective collaboration, alignment and knowledge exchange across various teams within the organization. 

• Maintain existing R&D Engagement activities (Trivia, Team/Scientist spotlights, Poster Sessions, Lab Improvements, etc.) and adjust or tailor where needed as LabOps strategies evolve. 
  

Essential Requirements:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting/Finance, Business, or Healthcare-related major. 

• Project Management Certification and management consulting experience. 

• Experience in developing internal talent through actionable feedback and career development support. 

• 10+ years of experience in program/project management for large, complex projects. 

• Experience managing projects in a global organization. 

• Strong communication and relationship-building skills, with a demonstrated ability to collaborate and share knowledge between teams. 

• Ability to interpret unstructured information and create business requirements. 

• Experience leading diverse teams across multiple business areas. 

• Proven track record in delivering high-risk projects. 

• Excellent business engagement and acumen. 

Desired:

• Strong preference for previous Lab Operations experience 

• Pharmaceutical global organization experience, including development and application of policies, procedures, and guidelines 

• Master’s degree preferred 

• Lab planning experience preferred 

When we put unexpected teams in the same room, we unleash bold thinking with the power to inspire life-changing medicines. In-person working gives us the platform we need to connect, work at pace and challenge perceptions. That's why we work, on average, a minimum of three days per week from the office. But that doesn't mean we're not flexible. We balance the expectation of being in the office while respecting individual flexibility. Join us in our unique and ambitious world. 

Thrive in a place where the brightest minds seamlessly come together in our inclusive environment. Here all doors are open, and every voice is heard. From working side-by-side with academia to innovating with biotech, we are forever expanding our horizons. By sharing and increasing our knowledge we are empowered to be the best we can be and accelerate progress. 

Ready to make a difference? Apply now 

The annual base pay (or hourly rate of compensation) for this position ranges from 146,377.60 - 219,566.40 USD Annual.  Hourly and salaried non-exempt employees will also be paid overtime pay when working qualifying overtime hours. Base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. In addition, our positions offer a short-term incentive bonus opportunity; eligibility to participate in our equity-based long-term incentive program (salaried roles), to receive a retirement contribution (hourly roles), and commission payment eligibility (sales roles). Benefits offered included a qualified retirement program [401(k) plan]; paid vacation and holidays; paid leaves; and, health benefits including medical, prescription drug, dental, and vision coverage in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable plans. Additional details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment. If hired, employee will be in an “at-will position” and the Company reserves the right to modify base pay (as well as any other discretionary payment or compensation program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, Company or individual department/team performance, and market factors.

AstraZeneca embraces diversity and equality of opportunity. We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse team representing all backgrounds, with as wide a range of perspectives as possible, and harnessing industry-leading skills. We believe that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be. We welcome and consider applications to join our team from all qualified candidates, regardless of their characteristics. We comply with all applicable laws and regulations on non-discrimination in employment (and recruitment), as well as work authorization and employment eligibility verification requirements.