Executive Director, R&D Strategy & Operations

Scorpion Therapeutics; United States; On-site; USD 246,000 - 332,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Life insurance

Disability insurance

Retirement plan match

Paid time off

Job summary

Scorpion Therapeutics, based in San Diego, seeks an Executive Director, R&D Strategy & Operations to serve as the strategic partner and Chief of Staff to the EVP, Head of R&D and CMO. You will drive organizational effectiveness and operational excellence across the R&D organization.

The role requires 12+ years in biotech with 10+ years leading R&D strategy/operations, strong executive collaboration, and the ability to travel up to 20% with onsite presence in San Diego.

Qualifications

• 12+ years in biotechnology/pharmaceutical industry
• 10+ years progressive leadership in R&D strategy/operations/portfolio/organizational effectiveness or related roles
• End-to-end drug development lifecycle knowledge
• Experience building operating models for R&D leadership teams to increase effectiveness/collaboration
• Change leadership with strong communication, strategic thinking, influence, and discretion

Responsibilities

• Serve as trusted strategic advisor and Chief of Staff to senior R&D leadership
• Maintain visibility across R&D to identify opportunities, risks, and issues
• Synthesize priorities, risks, dependencies, resources, and key decision points
• Represent the Office of the EVP in cross-functional meetings and strategic initiatives
• Support Executive Team, Board, and strategic planning materials
• Support long-range R&D strategy and portfolio planning; monitor landscape
• Enable diligence for licensing/partnership/acquisition opportunities; support integration planning
• Improve organizational effectiveness and cross-functional collaboration
• Lead R&D Leadership Team operating model and governance framework; plan leadership meetings
• Develop executive dashboards and reporting
• Partner on budgeting/forecasting/resource planning; maintain enterprise view of R&D investments
• Coordinate executive communications; prepare presentations/messages for Board/Executive/Investor meetings
• Lead administrative operations for the Office of the EVP; support Executive Assistant

Skills

Executive leadership

Strategic thinking

Change leadership

Communication

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor’s degree in life sciences, business, healthcare, or related field

Advanced degree (PhD, MD, PharmD, MBA)

Job description

Position Summary:

The Executive Director, R&D Strategy & Operations serves as the strategic partner and Chief of Staff to the EVP, Head of R&D & Chief Medical Officer, driving organizational effectiveness, strategic alignment, and operational excellence across the R&D organization.

Responsibilities:

• Serve as trusted strategic advisor and Chief of Staff to the EVP, Head of R&D & CMO.
• Maintain visibility across R&D to identify opportunities, risks, and issues requiring executive attention.
• Synthesize priorities, risks, dependencies, resources, and key decision points.
• Represent the Office of the EVP in cross-functional meetings and strategic initiatives.
• Support Executive Team, Board, and strategic planning materials.
• Support long-range R&D strategy and portfolio planning; monitor scientific/clinical/competitive/business landscape.
• Enable diligence for licensing/partnership/acquisition opportunities; support integration planning for acquired/partnered assets.
• Improve organizational effectiveness and cross-functional collaboration; facilitate resolution of complex issues; support organizational design/change.
• Lead R&D Leadership Team operating model and governance framework; plan leadership meetings, portfolio reviews, off-sites, workshops.
• Develop executive dashboards and reporting.
• Partner on budgeting/forecasting/resource planning; maintain enterprise view of R&D investments; identify constraints/gaps; lead integrated resource allocation.
• Serve as liaison to Enterprise Effectiveness Committee; translate enterprise priorities into R&D action plans.
• Coordinate executive communications; develop presentations/messages; support Board/Executive/investor/scientific meeting preparation.
• Lead administrative operations for the Office of the EVP; support Executive Assistant; implement scalable administrative processes.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in life sciences, business, healthcare, or related field (equivalent education/experience may be considered).
• Advanced degree (PhD, MD, PharmD, MBA, or equivalent) strongly preferred.
• 12+ years in biotechnology/pharmaceutical industry required.
• 10+ years progressive leadership in R&D strategy/operations/portfolio/organizational effectiveness or related roles; significant executive partnership and leading complex R&D initiatives required.

Skills/Experience:

• End-to-end drug development lifecycle knowledge.
• Experience building operating model(s) for R&D leadership teams to increase effectiveness/collaboration.
• Change leadership; strong communication, strategic thinking, influence, and discretion.
• Ability to travel 20% domestically/internationally; role not expected to be 100% remote; essential function requires face-to-face/onsite presence in San Diego.

Benefits (explicitly stated):

• Premium health and well-being offerings; life insurance; disability; retirement plan match; generous paid time off.

Compensation (explicitly stated):

• Target base pay range: $246,000.00 - $332,000.00.