Job Description

The Strategy & Operations Associate Director is a strategic leadership role responsible for translating enterprise and disease area strategies into Cell & Genetic Therapy (CGT) Research-specific execution plans. This role facilitates leadership decision-making and serves as the bridge between Leiden Campus (LC) Research and critical cross-functional partnerships.

Bringing a strong combination of scientific and business acumen, the Associate Director advances multiple cross-functional strategic initiatives across Leiden Campus and Cell & Genetic Therapy (CGT) Research. Partnering closely with senior leaders within and outside LC Research, the role helps shape strategic direction, secure alignment, and drive execution against shared goals and priorities. Positioned at the intersection of strategy, operations, and communication, the incumbent supports goal setting, prioritization, resource allocation, and trade-off management across LC Research functions while providing strategic advisory support, leadership enablement, and clear communications to site and functional leadership.

The Strategy & Operations Associate Director applies strategic thinking, options analysis, and cross-functional collaboration to identify opportunities, frame complex decisions, and enable LC Research to execute with clarity, speed, and integration.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

Strategy Translation & Decision Support

• Translate enterprise and disease area strategies into LC Research-specific execution plans and implications, including capacity requirements, shared platform constraints, sequencing decisions, resource trade-offs, and key milestones.
• Frame strategic options and trade-offs for leadership decision-making, providing decision-ready analysis that accounts for execution risks, resource constraints, and cross-functional dependencies.
• Serve as a strategic thought partner to the Head of LC Research Strategy & Operations and LC Research Site Head, conducting scenario planning and options analysis to evaluate strategy and operations decisions and challenge assumptions.
• Drive LC Research goal setting, prioritization frameworks, and management of execution risks across research functions, while identifying opportunities to improve operating processes, coordination, and overall efficiency.
• Partner with Finance on OpEx planning, headcount management, and resource allocation to align investments with strategic priorities.

Leadership Enablement & Communications

• Develop clear, compelling executive communications, including presentations, briefing materials, and decision documents for diverse audiences: LC Research leadership, Disease Strategy Teams (DSTs), CSO organization, Executive Committee members, and external scientific collaborators.
• Synthesize complex scientific, operational, and strategic information into decision-ready insights tailored to audience needs.
• Lead development of narratives, reporting, and executive communications that frame LC Research priorities, progress, risks, milestones, and strategic choices for internal and external stakeholders.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner closely with Program Portfolio Management (PPM) to align LC priorities with capacity/demand insights and provide timeline and resource inputs.
• Collaborate with DSTs to understand approved disease strategies and translate them into LC execution implications.
• Lead interactions with Finance, HR, Operations, and other enabling functions to support integrated planning, decision-making, and advancement of functional priorities.
• Coordinate and lead cross-functional teams across LC Research functions to ensure alignment on shared priorities, constraints, interdependencies, decisions, and execution against agreed action plans.
• Support the Head of RS&O as the liaison between LC Research and Business Development/External Innovation (BD/EI), translating external opportunities into research implications and communicating research needs to inform external opportunity evaluation.

Knowledge and Skills:

• Strategic Thinking: Advanced ability to translate high-level strategy into actionable execution plans; frame complex problems; conduct options analysis and scenario planning.
• Analytical Rigor: Strong business case development, resource management, and prioritization frameworks; comfort with quantitative and qualitative analysis.
• Communication Excellence: Exceptional written and oral communication skills, including the ability to craft compelling narratives and presentations for scientific and non-scientific audiences at all levels.
• Leadership Influence: Proven ability to influence and align cross-functional teams without direct authority; experience advising senior leaders and shaping decision-making.
• Organizational Agility: Ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously in a dynamic research environment; strong project and process management skills.
• Collaboration: Demonstrated ability to build trust and effectively engage internal and external stakeholders across functions and levels.
• Business Acumen: Understanding of pharmaceutical research operations, resource dynamics, and how decisions impact scientific, financial, and corporate objectives.
• Independence and Judgment: Comfort challenging assumptions, reframing problems, and providing candid strategic counsel.

Education and Experience:

• PhD in biology or related discipline, and 8+ years of experience with strong preference for MBA/Consulting background.
• Demonstrated experience supporting or advising research leadership on strategic and operational topics.
• Experience in cross-functional execution including medium- to large-scale projects.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and projects at a given time, ensuring deadlines, budgets, and status updates.
• Developed communication skills and the ability to synthesize data and information into meaningful insights. Proven track record developing executive-level materials and communications for scientific and business audiences.
• Ability to effectively set agendas and facilitate team meetings to the desired outcome in a timely manner.
• Ability to effectively communicate progress, build consensus, and alignment.
• Strong interpersonal, collaboration, and demonstrated leadership skills. Ability to quickly establish credibility, rapport, and trust at all levels in order to influence across teams.

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Pay Range:

Disclosure Statement:

The range provided is based on what we believe is a reasonable estimate for the base salary pay range for this job at the time of posting. This role is eligible for an annual bonus and annual equity awards. Some roles may also be eligible for overtime pay, in accordance with federal and state requirements. Actual base salary pay will be based on a number of factors, including skills, competencies, experience, and other job-related factors permitted by law.

At Vertex, our Total Rewards offerings also include inclusive market-leading benefits to meet our employees wherever they are in their career, financial, family and wellbeing journey while providing flexibility and resources to support their growth and aspirations. From medical, dental and vision benefits to generous paid time off (including a week-long company shutdown in the Summer and the Winter), educational assistance programs including student loan repayment, a generous commuting subsidy, matching charitable donations, 401(k) and so much more.

Flex Designation:

Flex Eligibility Status:

In this Hybrid-Eligible role, you can choose to be designated as:
1. Hybrid: work remotely up to two days per week; or select
2. On-Site: work five days per week on-site with ad hoc flexibility.

Note: The Flex status for this position is subject to Vertex’s Policy on Flex @ Vertex Program and may be changed at any time.

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Company Information

Vertex is a global biotechnology company that invests in scientific innovation.

Vertex is committed to equal employment opportunity and non-discrimination for all employees and qualified applicants without regard to a person's race, color, sex, gender identity or expression, age, religion, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, marital status, or any characteristic protected under applicable law. Vertex is an E-Verify Employer in the United States. Vertex will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with known disabilities, in accordance with applicable law.

Any applicant requiring an accommodation in connection with the hiring process and/or to perform the essential functions of the position for which the applicant has applied should make a request to the recruiter or hiring manager, or contact Talent Acquisition at [email protected]