Director, Data Strategy & Data Products

Novartis; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

Scorpion Therapeutics is seeking a senior leader to guide data strategy, governance, and product development in support of cutting-edge biotech programs.

You will partner with scientific, technology, and operations teams to design scalable data platforms, enforce governance practices, and deliver data products that accelerate discovery and decision-making.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in data strategy, governance, or analytics leadership.
• Proven success leading large cross-functional data initiatives.
• Ability to influence senior stakeholders and translate problems into plans.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategy, design, and execution of enterprise data initiatives focused on foundational data solutions, data governance, data quality, data management, and data product development.
• Partner with senior scientific, technology, and operational stakeholders to identify critical data needs and translate them into data strategies, roadmaps, and delivery priorities.
• Define and scale data products enabling reliable, reusable, well-governed access to priority scientific data assets.
• Establish and strengthen data governance frameworks (ownership, stewardship, metadata standards, quality expectations, access principles, and lifecycle management).
• Drive alignment across scientific and technical teams for strategic relevance, operational sustainability, and measurable business impact.
• Provide thought leadership on data strategy, data architecture principles, data operating models, and enterprise data management.
• Lead cross-functional scientific data programs from concept through adoption, including change management.
• Improve data usability, interoperability, quality, and consistency across processes, platforms, and analytics workflows.
• Build and mentor teams/communities of practice for data strategy, governance, and data-enabled transformation.
• Ensure delivery aligns with applicable quality, ethics, privacy, information security, and data governance requirements.

Skills

Data strategy

Data governance

Stakeholder management

Leadership

Data architecture

Data quality

Change leadership

Mentoring teams

Cross-functional collaboration

Analytics leadership

Education

Advanced degree

Job description

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead strategy, design, and execution of enterprise data initiatives focused on foundational data solutions, data governance, data quality, data management, and data product development.
• Partner with senior scientific, technology, and operational stakeholders to identify critical data needs and translate them into data strategies, roadmaps, and delivery priorities.
• Define and scale data products enabling reliable, reusable, well-governed access to priority scientific data assets.
• Establish and strengthen data governance frameworks (ownership, stewardship, metadata standards, quality expectations, access principles, and lifecycle management).
• Drive alignment across scientific and technical teams for strategic relevance, operational sustainability, and measurable business impact.
• Provide thought leadership on data strategy, data architecture principles, data operating models, and enterprise data management.
• Lead cross-functional scientific data programs from concept through adoption, including change management.
• Improve data usability, interoperability, quality, and consistency across processes, platforms, and analytics workflows.
• Build and mentor teams/communities of practice for data strategy, governance, and data-enabled transformation.
• Ensure delivery aligns with applicable quality, ethics, privacy, information security, and data governance requirements.

Essential Requirements:

• Advanced degree in Data Science, Computer Science, Information Management, Life Sciences, or related.
• 10+ years in data strategy/management/governance/architecture/product/analytics leadership.
• Proven success leading large-scale, cross-functional data initiatives.
• Strong foundation in governance and related capabilities (MDM, metadata, quality, lineage, stewardship, lifecycle).
• Experience creating data strategy, roadmaps, operating models, and governance practices.
• Ability to influence senior stakeholders and translate complex problems into decisions and plans.
• Strong communication, collaboration, and change leadership across business/technology/science/operations.
• Experience leading, mentoring, and developing teams focused on data management/governance/analytics/data products.

Desirable Requirements:

• Experience in pharmaceutical/biotech/healthcare/life sciences or other regulated industries.
• Experience developing/scaling data products, enterprise data platforms, or governance capabilities for analytics, automation, or AI-enabled use cases.