Principal Digital & Data Performance Excellence Lead

Roche; Madrid; Hybrid; EUR 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible hybrid working models

Continuous learning

Personal development

Job summary

Roche seeks a Principal Digital & Data Performance Excellence Lead to bridge digital strategy with operational execution, guiding high-value transformation programs across Pharma Technical Operations. You will drive data governance, AI/ML initiatives, and scalable digital products while ensuring regulatory compliance and measurable value.

You will act as an executive-level advisor, partnering with governance bodies, site leaders, and cross-functional teams to embed a culture of continuous

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field; Master’s preferred.
• 8+ years leading digital, data, or operational excellence transformations.
• 5+ years in pharmaceutical operations or highly regulated environments.
• Solid grasp of data architecture, AI/ML applications, and shopfloor automation.
• Experience blending Lean/Six Sigma with Agile, SAFe, Design Thinking, and OCM frameworks.
• Exceptional executive communication and cross-functional leadership.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end digital transformation programs with direct hands-on delivery.
• Lead data governance, AI/ML models, and shopfloor automation initiatives.
• Use diagnostics and metrics to justify value realization and ROI.
• Partner with Change Management teams to drive adoption and governance.
• Ensure compliance with GxP, Data Integrity, and applicable regulations.
• Scale pilots into industry-wide digital products across the network.
• Coach leaders in Agile, Lean, and Design Thinking to build internal capabilities.
• Systematize methodologies and digital blueprints across the global network.

Skills

Executive transformation leadership

Change management

Stakeholder influence

Agile, SAFe, Design Thinking

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, Life Sciences

Master’s degree or equivalent preferred

Tools

WalkMe

Pendo

Job description

At Roche you can show up as yourself, embraced for the unique qualities you bring. Our culture encourages personal expression, open dialogue, and genuine connections, where you are valued, accepted and respected for who you are, allowing you to thrive both personally and professionally. This is how we aim to prevent, stop and cure diseases and ensure everyone has access to healthcare today and for generations to come. Join Roche, where every voice matters.

The Position

At Roche, we are committed to delivering life-changing therapies to patients by scaling cutting-edge digital, data, and operational solutions across global operations. As a Principal Digital & Data Performance Excellence Lead, you will act as a hands‑on internal consultant and delivery lead—bridging the gap between digital strategy, advanced analytics, direct technical execution, and operational reality. You will join an elite, internal advisory and delivery team within PT Digital and Operational Excellence (PTE). Acting as an internal consultancy, you will serve as a high‑impact catalyst for digital evolution across Pharma Technical Operations (PT).

In this role, you will lead high‑stakes transformation initiatives across Pharma Technical Operations (PT). Using our structured Methodology (Preparation, Diagnose, Design, Implement, and Sustain), you will combine advanced analytics, Agentic AI‑driven process optimization, and behavioral change management to replace legacy operational models with scalable, tech‑enabled capabilities. You are an empathetic, outcome‑obsessed advisor and strong consultant who bridges strategy and direct hands‑on implementation, actively putting solutions into practice, challenging the status quo, and delivering measurable business value.

Core Responsibilities

• End‑to‑End Program Ownership: Design, build, and implement the scoping, delivery, and value realization of high‑impact digital initiatives, ensuring direct, hands‑on technical execution and strategic alignment with executive stakeholders, site leaders, and operations‑wide roadmaps
• Digital & Data Product Delivery: Lead the technical scoping and end‑to‑end deployment of e.g. complex data governance efforts, operational AI/ML models, AgenticAI initiative and shopfloor automation into daily manufacturing routines
• Value Realization & Diagnostics: Utilize hypothesis‑driven diagnostics and quantitative metrics (e.g., yield, cycle time, data integrity) to build compelling business cases and track real‑world value acceleration
• Behavioral Change & Adoption: Partner with OCM leads to design and scale behavioral‑based adoption strategies, translating user analytics and behavioral data into product design improvements. Partner with dedicated Principal OCM and Program Leads to ensure technical iterations align with user analytics and overarching governance roadmaps
• Quality & Regulatory Compliance: Ensure all digital and data interventions strictly adhere to GxP, Data Integrity standards, and emerging global regulations (e.g., EU AI Act, Annex 11)
• Scale & Industrialization: Drive digital initiatives out of "pilot phase" into fully scalable operations‑wide digital products integrated across the global operational network
• Agile Coaching & Capability Building: Coach site process owners and local teams in Agile, Lean, and Design Thinking to build repeatable, long‑term internal digital capabilities
• Knowledge Transfer & Continuous Improvement: Systematize methodologies, digital blueprints, and transformation models across the global network to drive consistent, scalable performance improvements

Who You Are

You are a hands‑on, executive‑level transformation leader who thrives at the intersection of complex digital and data technology, human behavior, and large‑scale operational environments. You combine deep technical literacy and direct implementation experience with strategic foresight, empathy, and a proven track record of driving change across matrixed organizations. Experience in Change Management and Stakeholder Coaching is as critical as your technical program management expertise. You possess the ability to drive high‑stakes execution through both direct technical involvement and cross‑functional influence and matrixed leadership.

Qualifications & Expertise

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, Life Sciences, or a related field (Master’s or equivalent preferred)
• Professional Experience: Minimum requirements include:
  • 8+ years of experience leading digital, data, or operational excellence transformations within complex, matrixed environments
  • 5+ years of experience within pharmaceutical operations, biotechnology, healthcare IT, or highly regulated GxP process industries
• Technical & Digital Literacy: Solid grasp of operations‑wide data architecture, AI/ML operational applications, digital adoption platforms (e.g., WalkMe, Pendo), and shopfloor automation
• Methodology Mastery: Proven expertise combining Lean/Six Sigma principles with Agile, SAFe, Design Thinking, and Organizational Change Management (e.g., Prosci) frameworks
• Stakeholder Influence: Exceptional executive communication skills, with a track record of challenging senior leadership, navigating cross‑functional resistance, and translating complex technical concepts into clear business cases

Value & ROI Accountability

Demonstrated capability in defining, modeling, and delivering concrete financial and operational value (e.g., EBITDA impact, yield increase, COGS reduction) via digital & data solutions.

Who We Are

At Roche, more than 100,000 people across 100 countries are pushing back the frontiers of healthcare. Working together, we’ve become one of the world’s leading research‑focused healthcare groups. Our success is built on innovation, curiosity, and diversity.

What We Offer

• Impact for Patients: Direct contribution to optimizing the global manufacturing and supply chain operations that bring life‑saving therapies to millions of patients
• High‑Visibility Scope: Broad strategic influence across the global Pharma Technical Operations network
• Growth & Culture: An empowering environment that values psychological safety, flexible hybrid working models, continuous learning, and personal development

Who we are

A healthier future drives us to innovate. Together, more than 100’000 employees across the globe are dedicated to advance science, ensuring everyone has access to healthcare today and for generations to come. Our efforts result in more than 26 million people treated with our medicines and over 30 billion tests conducted using our Diagnostics products. We empower each other to explore new possibilities, foster creativity, and keep our ambitions high, so we can deliver life‑changing healthcare solutions that make a global impact.

Let’s build a healthier future, together.

Roche is an Equal Opportunity Employer.