Director, Strategy & Transformation

Bristol Myers Squibb EU Policy; Leiden; On-site; EUR 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits

Growth opportunities

Job summary

Bristol Myers Squibb Leiden Cell Therapy Site seeks a Director, Strategy & Transformation to serve as a trusted advisor to the Site Head. You will shape strategic priorities, drive planning, and align initiatives across functions to enable sustainable growth and execution excellence.

This role leads transformation programs, translates global frameworks into site-level action, and builds leadership capabilities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• 10+ years of experience in pharmaceutical, biotechnology, life sciences, or related industry.
• 10+ years of experience in strategy, transformation, organizational change, operational excellence, project leadership, or related fields.
• Demonstrated success leading complex cross-functional initiatives and delivering measurable business impact.
• Experience working within highly regulated manufacturing environments is strongly preferred.
• Budget management and business planning experience.

Responsibilities

• Define strategic priorities with the Site Head and Leadership Team to shape the site's future.
• Lead site-wide transformation programs aligned with headcount, budget, and strategic commitments.
• Translate global and network transformation frameworks into practical site-level execution.
• Drive organizational effectiveness through changes to structures, processes, systems, and ways of working.
• Champion change management and leadership best practices across the site.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Transformation

Operational excellence

Cross-functional collaboration

Program management

Stakeholder management

Change management

Budget management

Regulatory context understanding

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

At Bristol Myers Squibb, our employees often ask, “Who are you working for?”—a question that fuels collaboration, accountability, and urgency in our work. Our purpose-driven culture inspires us to discover, develop, and deliver innovative medicines to prevail over serious diseases. We offer uniquely interesting and meaningful work, opportunities for growth, and a supportive environment that values inclusion, wellbeing, flexibility, and comprehensive benefits. This is work that transforms the lives of patients, and the careers of those who do it.

At Bristol Myers Squibb, we are united by a shared purpose: transforming patients' lives through science. As we continue to advance groundbreaking Cell Therapy therapies, we are seeking an exceptional strategic leader to join our Leiden Cell Therapy Site as Director, Strategy & Transformation.

This is one of the most influential leadership roles on site. As a trusted advisor to the Site Head and a key member of the Site Leadership Team, you will sit at the center of strategic decision-making, helping shape the future direction, competitiveness, and performance of the Leiden site. Acting as the site's Chief of Staff, you will bring together strategy, transformation, operational excellence, business performance, and organizational effectiveness to drive sustainable growth and execution excellence.

If you thrive at the intersection of strategy and execution, and are energized by leading transformation in a highly innovative manufacturing environment, this is an opportunity to make a lasting impact.

Why This Role Matters

The Leiden Cell Therapy Site plays a critical role within Bristol Myers Squibb's global manufacturing network.

As Director, Strategy & Transformation, you will help define the site's future while ensuring strategic priorities are translated into measurable business outcomes. You will partner with senior leaders locally and across the broader network to drive performance, accelerate transformation, strengthen organizational effectiveness, and build the capabilities required for long-term success.

Working closely with the CTDO Chief of Staff Office and peer sites across the network, you will act as a catalyst for alignment, execution, and continuous improvement.

What You’ll Own

Strategic Leadership

• Partner with the Site Head and Leadership Team to define strategic priorities and long-term aspirations.
• Drive strategic planning and scenario development to support critical business decisions.
• Translate strategy into actionable programs, initiatives, and measurable outcomes.
• Align the organization around clear business goals, priorities, and performance expectations.
• Foster a culture of accountability through insightful reporting, governance, and performance management.

Transformation & Organizational Effectiveness

• Lead site-wide business transformation programs aligned with headcount, budget, and strategic commitments.
• Translate global and network transformation frameworks into practical site-level execution.
• Drive organizational effectiveness through enhancements to structures, processes, systems, and ways of working.
• Champion change management and leadership best practices across the site.
• Support leaders in navigating complex organizational and business challenges.

Operational Excellence & Value Creation

• Lead initiatives that improve productivity, capacity, agility, and cost competitiveness.
• Establish structured processes for identifying, prioritizing, tracking, and realizing business value.
• Sponsor and govern continuous improvement initiatives across manufacturing and enabling functions.
• Build operational excellence capability and accountability throughout the organization.
• Ensure sustainable delivery of productivity and turnaround time commitments.

Business Performance & Governance

• Drive governance forums, leadership reviews, and cross-functional decision-making processes.
• Ensure performance is effectively monitored against strategic priorities and leadership commitments.
• Develop and leverage executive dashboards and business insights to support informed decision-making.
• Strengthen transparency and alignment across the site and with CTDO and PDS stakeholders.
• Act as a trusted advisor on operating models, business performance, and organizational effectiveness.

Risk, Continuity & Cross-Functional Leadership

• Lead Business Continuity Planning, Crisis Management, and Risk Assessment activities.
• Facilitate complex issue resolution and cross-functional decision-making.
• Build alignment among stakeholders with differing priorities.
• Foster collaboration across the broader BMS manufacturing and Cell Therapy network.

What Success Looks Like

• Shape the strategic direction of a critical Cell Therapy manufacturing site.
• Build alignment across the organization around a shared vision and clear priorities.
• Deliver transformational initiatives that strengthen business performance and organizational effectiveness.
• Drive meaningful productivity, efficiency, and competitiveness improvements.
• Establish governance and operating mechanisms that enable high-quality execution.
• Serve as a trusted strategic partner to the Site Head and Leadership Team.
• Position the Leiden site for long-term growth and success within the global BMS network.

We’re Looking For A Leader Who

• Thinks strategically while maintaining a relentless focus on execution.
• Can navigate complexity and ambiguity with confidence and clarity.
• Influences at all levels through credibility, trust, and collaboration.
• Builds high-performing teams and develops talent.
• Demonstrates exceptional leadership and stakeholder management skills.
• Has a proven track record of leading significant transformation and organizational change.
• Can challenge constructively, align stakeholders, and drive results.
• Combines strong business acumen with a passion for continuous improvement.
• Brings energy, resilience, and a strong sense of ownership.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• 10+ years of experience within the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, life sciences, or related industry.
• 10+ years of experience in strategy, transformation, organizational change, operational excellence, project leadership, or related fields.
• Demonstrated success leading complex cross-functional initiatives and delivering measurable business impact.
• Experience working within highly regulated manufacturing environments is strongly preferred.
• Strong understanding of performance management, continuous improvement, and organizational effectiveness principles.
• Budget management and business planning experience.
• Occasional travel may be required.

Why Bristol Myers Squibb?

At Bristol Myers Squibb, every role contributes to a greater purpose: helping patients prevail over serious diseases. This is a unique opportunity to join an innovative Cell Therapy organization and play a pivotal role in shaping the future of one of the company's most strategically important manufacturing sites. You will work alongside talented leaders, influence critical business decisions, lead meaningful transformation, and leave a lasting impact on both the organization and the patients we serve.

How We Work

Where you work matters – because collaboration, innovation and patient impact happen in many settings. Our roles are structured across four work models: site-essential, site-by-design, field-based and remote-by-design. The model assigned to this role is based on its core responsibilities. Learn more at https://careers.bms.com/ways-of-working.

Supporting People With Disabilities

BMS is dedicated to ensuring that people with disabilities can excel through a transparent recruitment process, reasonable workplace accommodations/adjustments and ongoing support in their roles. Applicants can request a reasonable workplace accommodation/adjustment prior to accepting a job offer. If you require reasonable accommodations/adjustments in completing this application, or in any part of the recruitment process, direct your inquiries to [e-mail]. Visit careers.bms.com/eeo-accessibility to access our complete Equal Employment Opportunity statement.

Candidate Rights

BMS will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records, pursuant to applicable laws in your area.

Data Protection

We will never request payments, financial information, or social security numbers during our application or recruitment process. Learn more about protecting yourself at https://careers.bms.com/fraud-protection. Any data processed in connection with role applications will be treated in accordance with applicable data privacy policies and regulations.

R1604577 : Director, Strategy & Transformation