Director, R&D Operations, AI & Digital Enablement

Position Summary

The Director, R&D Operations, AI & Digital Enablement serves as the recognized R&D authority and internal thought leader for AI, digital enablement, and R&D operating effectiveness. As a strategic partner to the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and R&D Leadership Team, the role defines the AI and digital strategy for the global R&D organization, and shapes the standards, operating models, and capabilities required to deliver measurable scientific and business outcomes.

Principal Responsibilities

R&D Operations & Organizational Effectiveness

• Partner with the CTO and R&D Leadership Team to shape and execute R&D functional strategy, translating long-term priorities into operating plans, resource recommendations, standards, and measurable outcomes.
• Lead strategic and cross-functional initiatives sponsored by the CTO, developing and implementing new operating approaches that improve productivity, accelerate time-to-market, and enhance overall R&D effectiveness.
• Establish metrics, reporting, and executive dashboards that provide visibility into priorities, resources, risks, dependencies, and organizational performance.
• Solve unique and highly complex organizational, portfolio, and technology-enabled challenges by developing innovative analyses, recommendations, and decision frameworks that influence R&D direction and senior executive decisions.
• Continuously improve R&D processes and operating effectiveness.

Strategic Communications and Organizational Influence

• Advance strategic initiatives and organizational alignment on behalf of the Office of the CTO.
• Develop communication and engagement strategies that reinforce R&D priorities, business objectives, progress, and organizational change.
• Partner with the CTO and R&D Leadership Team on executive messaging, organizational narratives, and communication approaches that strengthen alignment, engagement, and adoption of strategic initiatives.
• Partner with Communications, Human Resources, and functional leaders to ensure messaging, change management, and stakeholder engagement strategies are aligned with R&D objectives.
• Support CTO interactions with Executive Leadership, Board presentations, strategic reviews, and enterprise initiatives.

AI & Digital Enablement

• Define, own, and execute the R&D AI and digital enablement strategy, multi-year roadmap, standards, and operating model for the global R&D organization, aligned with enterprise technology, data, security, and compliance requirements.
• Anticipate emerging AI, automation, analytics, and digital trends and determine how they should be applied across R&D to address unmet needs, enable new capabilities, and materially improve scientific, operational, and portfolio outcomes.
• Develop and govern a portfolio of AI and digital initiatives aligned with R&D strategy, making recommendations that influence investment priorities, capability standards, adoption measures, impact, and value realization across the function.
• Champion the development and scaling of new AI-enabled systems, concepts, technologies, and standards across R&D, partnering with enterprise technology, data, legal, privacy, security, quality, and business leaders to govern risk and drive sustainable value.
• Serve as R&D's leading internal expert and thought leader for AI and digital enablement, establishing functional practices, decision principles, and capability-building approaches that shape adoption and ways of working across the global R&D organization.

Leadership & Cross-Functional Partnership

• Serve as a trusted advisor to the CTO and R&D Leadership Team on R&D operating strategy, AI and digital trends, emerging risks, investment choices, and new approaches that may change functional direction.
• Build strong partnerships across R&D, Quality, Regulatory Affairs, Medical Affairs, Operations, Supply Chain, Commercial, Information Technology, Finance, Human Resources, Communications, Legal, Corporate Strategy, and Business Development.
• Facilitate alignment, decision-making, accountability, and execution across organizational boundaries.
• Partner with enterprise leaders to strengthen governance, compliance, evidence generation, innovation, operational readiness, and business continuity.
• Support strategic assessments, technology evaluations, external collaborations, innovation partnerships, and acquisition-related activities, as appropriate.
• Lead through expert influence in direct and matrixed relationships, communicating highly conceptual ideas and persuading senior leaders to adopt new or divergent approaches; drive and support organizational transformation and capability building.

Qualifications

• 12+ years' experience with Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Science, Technology, Business, or a related field required; advanced degree preferred.
• Significant experience in R&D strategy and operations, AI and/or digital transformation, organizational effectiveness, or related disciplines, with broad knowledge across scientific, technology, data, regulatory, quality, and business domains.
• Demonstrated success partnering with senior executives and translating strategic priorities into measurable outcomes.
• Proven ability to lead complex, cross-functional initiatives in a matrixed organization and influence across enterprise functions.
• Strong business acumen, analytical capability, executive presence, facilitation, and problem-solving skills.
• Exceptional written, verbal, presentation, and stakeholder-management skills.
• Demonstrated success defining functional AI or digital strategy and championing new systems, concepts, technologies, standards, or methodologies that produced broad and measurable organizational impact.
• Experience in medical devices, life sciences, healthcare, or another regulated industry preferred.