Senior Director – Head of R&D Governance and Portfolio Management

Jazz Pharmaceuticals

. Architect, lead, and optimize R&D governance committees spanning Early Discovery/Research through Late-Stage Development and Registration .

Posted 10/28/2026full-timeRemote • United States, United Kingdom, IrelandSenior💰 $228,000 - $342,000 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates extensive experience in R&D governance within the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry, with a strong focus on program and portfolio management. Capable of synthesizing complex scientific and regulatory data to drive strategic decision-making and enhance governance processes.

Highest-signal resume keywords

R&D GovernancePortfolio ManagementProgram ManagementEnterprise Project & Portfolio Management SystemsGlobal Drug Development Knowledge

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

R&D Strategy OperationsDecision-Making Committee CreationRisk-Adjusted Valuation FrameworksData AnalysisGovernance Performance Measurement

Soft Skills

Exceptional Communication SkillsAttention to DetailInfluencing Senior LeadersMeeting ControlConsensus Building

Tools & Technologies

PlaniswareOnePagerPower BI

Industry Keywords

Pharmaceutical IndustryBiotechnology IndustryClinical PhasesGlobal Health Authority InteractionsPost-Marketing Commitments

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Architect, lead, and optimize R&D governance committees spanning Early Discovery/Research through Late-Stage Development and Registration
Oversee scheduling cadences, topic intake, curated agendas, pre-read distribution, minutes publication, and action-item tracking
Establish and enforce decision-rights frameworks, committee charters, and quorum standards
Manage rapid offline endorsement processes for urgent or straightforward milestone decisions
Prepare materials for Science Committees, Quarterly Portfolio Review meetings, and other R&D leadership forums
Lead integrated annual and in-year R&D portfolio prioritization with Corporate Strategy and Finance
Link study-level FTE/capacity and financial allocations to prioritized portfolio milestones
Drive annual pipeline corporate goal-setting and monitor quarterly progress against milestone commitments
Synthesize portfolio-level risks and orchestrate proactive mitigation discussions
Partner with committee chairs and executive attendees to maintain meeting focus and secure strategic decisions
Coach Global Project Teams and development leads before governance appearances
Review presentations to identify narrative gaps, clarify decision asks, and ensure executive-ready pre-reads
Maintain the enterprise source of truth for governance decisions, rationales, and contingency triggers
Design governance tools, audit operational models and templates, and provide training on governance best practices
Benchmark stage-gate progression and approval timelines against industry metrics
Design and publish dashboards measuring governance performance and action-item completion

Requirements

What you’ll need

Extensive pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry experience, with experience dedicated to R&D governance, program management, portfolio management, or R&D strategy operations
Thorough, end-to-end knowledge of global drug discovery, preclinical development, clinical phases (Phase 1–3), global health authority interactions (IND, CTA, NDA, BLA), and post-marketing commitments
Demonstrated success creating, chartering, and running senior-level R&D decision-making committees in mid-to-large biopharmaceutical organizations
Proven track record of influencing senior Vice Presidents and C-suite leaders, maintaining meeting control, and driving consensus without formal operational authority
Ability to digest complex scientific, clinical, regulatory, and commercial data to identify analytical gaps and enhance presentation decks
Hands-on familiarity with Enterprise Project & Portfolio Management systems (e.g., Planisware, OnePager, Power BI) and risk-adjusted valuation frameworks
Exceptional written and oral communication skills, with meticulous attention to detail in documentation, minutes, and decision tracking
Bachelor’s degree in Life Sciences, Engineering, Business, or related field required
Advanced degree (PhD, PharmD, MS, or MBA) strongly preferred

Benefits

Comp & perks

Discretionary annual cash bonus or incentive compensation
Discretionary equity grants
Medical insurance
Dental insurance
Vision insurance
401k retirement savings plan
Flexible paid vacation