Strategy, Operations & Communications Lead

About This Role 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. The role will shape and lead complex workstreams that require business judgment, cross-functional influence, portfolio awareness and disciplined execution across Safety, Pharmacovigilance, Regulatory Operations, Quality, Compliance, Analytics, and Authoring. This individual will operate as a business strategy lead who frames issues, synthesizes data and stakeholder input, develops recommendations, drives alignment enabling senior leadership decision-making and organizational clarity. 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. You understand that this role requires more than coordination; it requires strategic thinking, ownership, follow-through, and the ability to connect work across functions so SPARQ can deliver against its highest priorities. Required Skills Bachelor’s degree required ; advanced degree such as MBA, MS, PharmD, PhD, or relevant graduate degree preferred 8&#43; 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 <