Director, Head Of R&D Project Management Office

About This Role

This role ensures that Biogen’s portfolio of investigational drugs advances per plan and in support of our strategy through leadership of the R&D Project Management Office (PMO). You will lead a team of professionals who partner closely with R&D Project Leads (RDPLs) to provide strategic project management expertise to cross-functional R&D Project Teams across all stages of drug development, from preclinical through marketed products. You will partner with the Program Leadership team to drive the R&D Project Leader process and ensure that scientific and clinical leadership of programs are set up for success. The Head of the PMO is also accountable for delivering project management support to high priority R&D initiatives, including strategic involvement in China/Japan and Gene Therapy efforts. Overall, you will shape the strategic direction of the PMO and drive continuous improvement to enhance the community of practice and the value provided to project teams. As a member of the R&D Strategic Planning & Operations leadership team, you will ensure the program team perspective is represented in R&D business operations and strategy discussions.

What You’ll Do

• Lead and manage a team of project management professionals, including both internal talent and an external vendor partner. Strengthen and grow internal capabilities, assess PMO effectiveness, and liaise with vendor. Ensure value delivery.
• Provide strategic direction for the PMO and determine the scope and breadth of projects to support and evolution over time to optimize value. Partner closely with stakeholders across R&D to understand their project management needs and identify opportunity areas for PMO impact.
• Day to day, determine appropriate service level for projects supported by the office and plan resources. Plan support scenarios to proactively support pipeline as it expands. Strategically, determine the optimal operating model for the PMO (e.g. mix of internal capability and external vendor provision).
• Partner with Program Leadership to drive the RDPL process and support the RDPL community. Ensure RDPLs are appropriately supported.
• Enhance Biogen’s internal project management capability, including management of internal resources and building systems & processes to ensure scalable, high quality project management. Partner closely with other project management centers of excellence within Biogen to share learnings and expertise.
• Support the transfer of investigational drug projects into and out of Biogen, inclusive of RDPL and PMO support for those efforts as well as other transition needs.

Who You Are

You have excellent written and verbal communication skills coupled with high level of organizational and planning skills. You demonstrated the ability to work independently and drive complex organizational processes as well as define & resolve complex problems. You can influence without formal authority and successfully navigate a matrix organization, including negotiating with senior leaders across the business.

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Required Skills

• Bachelor’s Degree required. Master’s in Business Administration or a Life Science discipline preferred. Project Management certification preferred but not required.
• 12+ years pharmaceutical or biotechnology, with understanding of drug development and broad awareness of industry dynamics
• Experience with enterprise project management solutions such as Planisware or MS Project desirable
• Strong experience with project management
• Experience in a client services organization

This role ensures that Biogen’s portfolio of investigational drugs advances per plan and in support of our strategy through leadership of the R&D Project Management Office (PMO).