Principal Program Leader – Digital & Data

Roche Holding AG; Madrid; Hybrid; EUR 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible Arbeitsmodelle

Globale Einflussnahme

Weiterentwicklung & Lernen

Job summary

Roche Holding AG sucht eine Führungskraft auf Executive-Ebene zur Leitung transformativer Digital-/Datenprojekte in Pharma Technical Operations (PT). Aufbau und Skalierung globaler Data-Governance- und Digitalisierungsinitiativen mit Fokus auf QMS-Compliance und regulatorische Anforderungen.

Sie arbeiten eng mit Site-Leitungen, Bereichen wie Qualität, Entwicklung (CMC), Fertigung, Supply Chain und Regulierung zusammen und steuern Ressourcen, Budgets sowie ROI‑Nachweise.

Qualifications

• Universitätsabschluss in einem relevanten Fach.
• Zentrale Führungserfahrung in großen, matrixorganisierten Umgebungen.
• Nachweisliche Erfahrung in Digital-/Daten-Transformationen im Pharma-Umfeld.

Responsibilities

• Übernahme der End-to-End-Programmverantwortung und Leitung funktionsübergreifender Workstreams.
• Entwurf, Implementierung und Skalierung globaler PT‑Weiten Programme (Digital, Data Governance, Data Integrity, QMS).
• Beratung von Standortleitern, Funktionsdirektoren und Lenkungsausschüssen während Transformationsprozessen.
• Sicherstellung der Einhaltung interner und GMP/GxP-Standards; Governance etablieren und verbessern.

Skills

Leadership

Program management

Digital & Data

Change management

Stakeholder management

GxP compliance

Education

Master‑Abschluss in Business/Engineering/CS

Tools

SAFe

Job description

Bei Roche kannst du ganz du selbst sein und wirst für deine einzigartigen Qualitäten geschätzt. Unsere Kultur fördert persönlichen Ausdruck, offenen Dialog und echte Verbindungen. Hier wirst du für das, was du bist, wertgeschätzt, akzeptiert und respektiert. Dies schafft ein Umfeld, in dem du sowohl persönlich als auch beruflich wachsen kannst. Gemeinsam wollen wir Krankheiten vorbeugen, stoppen und heilen und sicherstellen, dass jeder Zugang zur Gesundheitsversorgung hat - heute und in Zukunft. Werde Teil von Roche, wo jede Stimme zählt.

Die Position

The Position

In Pharma Technical Operations (PT), we deliver life-saving medicines to patients worldwide. Beginning in 2026, PT’s leadership has committed to expanding our global digital impact and scale major Data & Digital programs across PT.

As a Principal Program Leader – PT Digital & Data, you will join an elite, internal advisory and delivery team within PT Digital and Operational Excellence (PTE). Acting as an internal program leader, you will serve as a high-impact catalyst for digital evolution across Pharma Technical Operations (PT).

In this role, your initial strategic focus will be spearheading and scaling a complex, global Data Governance operationalization initiative across global sites and functions - ensuring robust alignment with QMS, GxP, Data Integrity, and emerging regulatory frameworks (e.g., EU AI Act, GMP Chapter 4, Annex 11). As the governance framework reaches maturity and sustainment, you will strategically transition your program management scope to lead, advise, and scale other complex, high-priority data and digital transformation initiatives across the PTE portfolio.

Core Responsibilities

Transformational Delivery & Governance:

• End-to-End Program Ownership: Build, lead, and empower cross-functional workstreams (Process experts, Engineering, Data, AI, Migration, and Change Management) accountable for achieving key technical, operational, and business milestones.
• Design, create and scale Global PT wide programs: Lead the end-to-end advisory and deployment of e.g. Digital capability, Data Governance, Data Integrity, and QMS frameworks across PT manufacturing sites and functional areas, ensuring compliance, inspection readiness, and operational alignment.
• Executive & Site Leadership Guidance: Serve as a trusted advisor to site heads, functional directors, and steering committees as well their organizations - guiding them through complex change pathways, resource prioritization, and digital & data maturity roadmaps.
• Standards & Compliance: Establish robust program governance ensuring full alignment with internal and GMP/GxP standards.
• Stakeholder Alignment & Matrix Leadership: Partner closely with executive stakeholders across diverse domains - including PT site leaders, Quality, Development (CMC), manufacturing, supply chain, regulatory and supporting functions - to build confidence, manage competing priorities, and secure operations-wide alignment.
• Resource & Financial Stewardship: Manage the overall program budget (headcount, capital investment, operating costs), monitor program effectiveness (tracking promised ROI/business value vs. reality), and apply data-driven decision-making to optimize resource allocation.
• Drive adoption strategies: Drive AI-assisted tools, shopfloor automation, and operations-wide data models, helping teams transition from transactional execution to data-informed decision-making.

Organizational Change Management, Onboarding & Adoption:

• Ensure seamless integration of Organizational Change Management (OCM) and behavioral adoption strategies across all program streams, partnering with dedicated change leads to drive business process adoption.

Who You Are

You are an 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 hands-on technical execution with strategic foresight, empathy, and a proven track record of driving change across matrixed organizations. A balanced blend of direct, hands-on technical building alongside Change Management and Stakeholder Coaching is essential for success in this role.

Qualifications & Expertise:

• Education: University degree (Master's or equivalent) in Business Administration, Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, Life Sciences, or a related field.
• Professional Experience:
• Domain & Program Expertise:
  • 10+ years of senior leadership experience in program management, Digital, Data, or IT transformation within large-scale matrix organizations and multi-site global operational networks (e.g., 1,000+ end-users across multiple geographies).
  • 8+ years driving transformations within pharmaceutical operations, biotechnology, manufacturing, or healthcare technology.
  • Domain Leadership: Deep expertise in Digital, Data, GxP/GMP compliance, Data Integrity frameworks, and IT/OT data environments, with a proven track record of strategic advisory and guiding executive stakeholders through multi-site rollouts.
• Regulatory & Compliance:
  • Demonstrated mastery in shaping executive strategy and guiding organizational readiness within validated environments, navigating labor frameworks (Workers Councils) and digital governance (GDPR, EU AI Act) without compromising strict GxP quality standards.
• Organizational Change & Influence:
  • Lean/Agile mindset with exceptional stakeholder management, empathy, and executive influence across cross-functional teams.
  • Demonstrated experience applying behavioral science principles (e.g., behavioral economics, nudge theory, habit formation loops) in a professional or operational context.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Certifications: Certified in Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) or other large-scale Agile frameworks; formal certification in Organizational Change Management (e.g., Prosci, Kotter).
• Languages: Business-fluent English is required; German is an asset given frequent collaboration with major PT hubs (e.g., Kaiseraugst, Basel).

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.

PT Digital and Operational Excellence (PTE) drives the digital evolution of Pharma Technical Operations, empowering our global manufacturing and supply network with cutting-edge data, infrastructure, and operational tools.

What We Offer:

• Transformational Impact: Direct leadership of Roche's flagship AI infrastructure project, shaping the future of therapeutic development and operational excellence.
• High-Visibility Scope: Broad strategic influence across both PTE and global Technical Operations executive leadership.
• Growth & Empowerment: An empowering environment that values autonomous leadership, psychological safety, flexible hybrid working models, and continuous learning.

Wer wir sind

Eine gesündere Zukunft treibt uns zur Innovation an. Mehr als 100.000 Mitarbeiter weltweit arbeiten gemeinsam daran, wissenschaftliche Fortschritte zu erzielen und sicherzustellen, dass jeder Zugang zur Gesundheitsversorgung hat - heute und für zukünftige Generationen. Durch unser Engagement werden über 26 Millionen Menschen mit unseren Medikamenten behandelt und mehr als 30 Milliarden Tests mit unseren Diagnostik-Produkten durchgeführt. Wir ermutigen uns gegenseitig, neue Möglichkeiten zu erkunden, Kreativität zu fördern und hohe Ziele zu setzen, um lebensverändernde Gesundheitslösungen zu liefern.

Gemeinsam können wir eine gesündere Zukunft gestalten.

Roche ist ein Arbeitgeber, der die Chancengleichheit fördert.