Senior Project Operations Lead — Hybrid Madrid, Ai

Roadmap; Madrid; Hybrid; EUR 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Job summary

Roche is seeking a Data Governance Strategy & Operations Lead to drive data initiatives across Pharma Technical Operations in Madrid. You will bridge digital strategy with operational execution, leading data products, AI/ML deployments, and change management to deliver measurable business value.

The role requires deep data literacy, Lean/Six Sigma and Agile design thinking, with a focus on governance, data integrity, and regulatory compliance across a global network. Hybrid work is offered.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in a relevant field.
• Minimum 6+ years leading digital, data, or operational transformations in complex environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead transformation initiatives across Pharma Technical Operations.
• Co-create data products and AI/ML deployment in manufacturing.
• Use diagnostics and metrics to drive value realization and business cases.
• Partner with Organizational Change Management to drive adoption.
• Ensure compliance with GxP, data integrity, and regulatory standards.
• Scale digital initiatives from pilot to enterprise-wide deployment.
• Build internal digital capabilities across sites.

Skills

Data strategy

Data governance

Stakeholder management

Organizational change

Lean/Six Sigma

Agile/SAFe

Change management

Matrix leadership

Education

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

Tools

WalkMe

Pendo

Job description

Data Governance Strategy & Operations Lead - PTO

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 **Data Governance Strategy & Operations Lead** (Data Program & Performance Excellence Lead), you will act as a high-impact internal consultant and delivery lead-bridging the gap between digital strategy, advanced analytics, and operational reality.

In this role, you will lead transformation initiatives across Pharma Technical Operations (PT). Using our structured Breakthrough Methodology (Preparation, Diagnose, Design, Implement, and Sustain), you will combine data engineering, 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 who challenges the status quo and delivers measurable business value.

**Your Main Responsibilities**

• End-to-End Program Leadership Support: Co-own the scoping, delivery, and value realization of high-impact digital initiatives, ensuring strategic alignment with executive stakeholders, site leaders, and enterprise roadmaps.
• Data Product Delivery: Co-lead the technical scoping and end-to-end deployment of data products, operational AI/ML models, and shop-floor 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 Organizational Change Management (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: Facilitate and strictly adhere all digital and data interventions to GxP, Data Integrity standards, and emerging global regulations (e.g., EU AI Act, Annex 11).
• Scale & Industrialization: Facilitate and help drive digital initiatives out of the "pilot phase" into fully scalable enterprise data products integrated across the global operational network.
• Local Support & Capability Building: Support site process owners and local teams in Agile, Lean, and Design Thinking to build repeatable, long-term internal digital capabilities.

**Who You Are**

You are an accomplished 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 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 and facilitate execution through cross-functional influence and matrixed leadership, rather than through direct-report management.

**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 of 6+ years of experience leading digital, data, or operational excellence transformations within complex, matrixed environments.Minimum of 3+ years of experience within pharmaceutical operations, biotechnology, healthcare IT, or highly regulated GxP process industries.
• Consulting Background: Strong consultancy track record, ideally with 5+ years of experience in top-tier firms ("MBB" or "Big 4").
• Technical & Digital Literacy: Solid grasp of enterprise data architecture, AI/ML operational applications, digital adoption platforms (e.g., WalkMe, Pendo), and shop-floor 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 & Matrix Leadership: Exceptional communication skills with a proven ability to challenge senior leadership, navigate cross-functional resistance, and translate complex technical concepts into clear business cases.
• Location : Madrid.

**What is Here for You**

• 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.

**Roche is an Equal Opportunity Employer.**