Strategy, Operations & Communications Lead
Biogen
Summary
The SPARQ Strategy, Operations & Communications Lead is a senior individual contributor role focused on R&D business strategy, operating model effectiveness, portfolio and resource alignment, and executive-level communications for a global technical, medical, and scientific organization. Reporting to the SVP, Head of SPARQ, this role will serve as a strategic thought partner to the SPARQ Leadership Team, translating enterprise and functional priorities into actionable plans, decision forums, metrics, and delivery roadmaps.
Job description
What You’ll Do
- Serve as a strategic thought partner to the Head of SPARQ and SPARQ Leadership Team, helping frame priority business questions, identify risks and trade-offs, and drive alignment on decisions and next steps
- Translate strategic priorities into clear operating plans with defined scope, ownership, timelines, success measures, governance forums, and executive-level progress reporting
- Lead high-impact cross-functional initiatives that advance SPARQ and Development priorities, including business process improvement, operating model optimization, knowledge management, and functional capability-building efforts
- Partner with Finance, Business Operations, Portfolio, HR, Communications, and functional leaders to support planning, priority setting, resource discussions, and trade-off recommendations
- Develop analyses, briefing materials, business reviews, leadership narratives, and recommendations that synthesize complex information for senior leader decision-making
- Design and facilitate SPARQ leadership forums, business reviews, priority reviews, town halls, offsites, and other operating mechanisms to ensure discussions are decision-oriented and outcomes are tracked
- Track initiative progress, interdependencies, metrics, risks, and issue escalation across multiple workstreams, ensuring commitments are visible and follow-through is disciplined
- Create communications that support organizational alignment, employee engagement, and visibility into SPARQ priorities, progress, and business impact across a global team
Who You Are
You are a strategic operator and business partner who can bring structure to ambiguity, distill complex inputs into practical recommendations, and move cross-functional teams from discussion to decision. You have strong business judgment, analytical capability, and the confidence to advise and influence senior leaders in a matrixed R&D environment. You are equally comfortable facilitating leadership alignment, building executive-ready materials, pressure-testing priorities and trade-offs, and driving disciplined execution across multiple initiatives.
Required Skills
- Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree such as MBA, MS, PharmD, PhD, or relevant graduate degree preferred
- 8+ years of relevant experience in biopharma, R&D, business strategy, business operations, portfolio/resource planning, program management, management consulting, or related functions
- Demonstrated experience supporting or advising senior functional leaders, including the ability to frame business issues, synthesize complex information, and develop recommendations
- Proven ability to lead complex, cross-functional initiatives with senior leader visibility and measurable business impact
- Strong understanding of R&D operating models, drug development, safety, regulatory, quality, pharmacovigilance, or related technical functions preferred
- Experience with business planning, resource prioritization, budget/resource trade-off discussions, portfolio alignment, governance, or functional performance management
- Strong strategic thinking, analytical problem-solving, judgment, and ability to translate ambiguity into practical plans and decision-ready options
- Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, including experience creating executive-ready presentations, briefing materials, business reviews, and leadership communications
- Ability to influence without authority, build trusted relationships quickly, and operate effectively across a global, highly matrixed organization
Preferred Skills
- Prior experience in R&D business strategy, functional strategy, management consulting, transformation, chief-of-staff/business operations, portfolio strategy, or strategic program leadership
- Experience working directly with VP/SVP-level leaders and leadership teams on strategic planning, operating rhythms, priority reviews, resource discussions, and organizational effectiveness
- Financial acumen and comfort partnering with Finance or Business Operations on budget, resource, scenario planning, or business case discussions
- Change management, process improvement, Lean/Six Sigma, Agile/Scrum, or transformation experience
- Experience designing and facilitating senior leadership forums, offsites, workshops, town halls, or governance meetings where the output is alignment, decisions, and action
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree required
- 8+ years of relevant experience in biopharma, R&D, business strategy, business operations, portfolio/resource planning, program management, management consulting, or related functions
- Demonstrated experience supporting or advising senior functional leaders
- Proven ability to lead complex, cross-functional initiatives with senior leader visibility and measurable business impact
- Experience with business planning, resource prioritization, budget/resource trade-off discussions, portfolio alignment, governance, or functional performance management
- Strong strategic thinking, analytical problem-solving, judgment, and ability to translate ambiguity into practical plans and decision-ready options
- Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills
- Ability to influence without authority, build trusted relationships quickly, and operate effectively across a global, highly matrixed organization
Benefits
- Medical, Dental & Vision
- Life Insurance
- Fitness & Wellness Programs
- Short- & Long-Term Disability
- Paid Vacation
- End-of-Year Shutdown
- Paid Holidays
- Sick Time
- Paid Maternity & Parental Leave
- 401(k) Matching
- Employee Stock Purchase Plan
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Employee Resource Groups
Company overview
Founded in 1978, Biogen is a leading global biotechnology company headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, specializing in the development and commercialization of innovative therapies for serious neurological and neurodegenerative diseases. As one of the oldest independent biotechnology companies in the United States, Biogen has established itself as a pioneer in neuroscience, focusing on difficult-to-treat conditions where few or no treatment options exist. The company's portfolio includes groundbreaking treatments for multiple sclerosis, spinal muscular atrophy, Alzheimer's disease, ALS, and Friedreich's ataxia. With approximately 7,000 employees worldwide, Biogen operates through a global network that includes research and development hubs in Cambridge, Research Triangle Park in North Carolina, and South San Francisco, along with world-class manufacturing facilities in the United States and Switzerland. The company's commitment to scientific innovation is demonstrated by its Nobel Prize-winning founders and its receipt of the U.S. National Medal of Technology and Innovation. Biogen's patient-centric approach drives its mission to deliver transformative medicines that improve lives while creating sustainable value for shareholders and communities.