Executive Director, Operational Excellence

 Position Summary:

The Executive Director of Operational Excellence will plan and manage initiatives and activities designed to improve the operations for the Clinical Services organization.  This position will support identifying needs, planning strategic initiatives, performing tactical execution, and developing broad engagement and buy-in from departments heads / partners for improving the operational efficiency and effectiveness of the organization. This role will supervise others as applicable in the Operational team.

Essential functions of the job include but are not limited to:

• Support the vision of organizational and cultural commitment to continuous improvement in operational excellence across all activities
• Coordinate organizational priorities and cross-organizational association where common needs have been identified; manage upstream and downstream impacts and integrations
• Work with cross functional leaders to manage areas for operational improvement within Clinical Solutions
• Identify and execute strategies for on-going and sustained improvement in operational functions, including identification of tools, systems, staffing or other resources, procedures, and communication
• Support a center of process excellence across the organization to take ownership of change initiatives from evolution/efficiency identification through to project delivery via internal governance and controls
• Support and execute change management through creating a culture of discovery, exploration, and implementation - leading to high performing teams and continuous improvement
• Manage internal communication to effectively provide updates of progress, performance, key issues, and blockers that may impact business attainment or critical program and project completion
• Identify and support overcoming obstacles to adoption of new initiatives in operational excellence
• Monitor and control the changes that are made to improve processes to ensure long-term adoption
• Demonstrate effective listening and communicate skills that facilitate collaboration in generating insights and recommendations.

Qualifications:

Minimum Required:

• Bachelor's Degree in the Sciences

Other Required:

• Minimum of 20 years' experience in CRO/pharmaceutical/biotechnology drug development or other relevant experience as demonstrated competency in the key areas of the role
• 12 years as a functional manager
• Strong drug development experience with understanding of other functions relevant to the position.
• Experience building a strategic partnership
• Strong change management experience

Competencies:

• Exhibits high self-motivation and is able to work and plan independently as well as in a team environment
• Exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Highly organized with excellent presentation, oral and written communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal and client-facing skills and a proven ability to contribute to a team environment
• Proven ability to effectively influence, negotiate and manage conflict
• Strong sense of ownership and pride in quality of outputs
• Ability to multitask to tight timelines prioritizing workload and maintaining high quality standards.
• Flexible attitude with respect to work assignments, and new learning opportunities