Principal Activation & Engagement Lead

F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG; South San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 153,000 - 284,000; Full time

Job summary

Genentech, a Roche subsidiary, seeks a seasoned leader to drive end-to-end change initiatives within PAA’s ACE team in South San Francisco. You will coach squads, build capabilities, and align commercial tactics with brand strategies in a hybrid, onsite role.

The position emphasizes collaboration across brand teams, commercial functions, operations, and L&SD, with a discretionary annual bonus and comprehensive benefits. Applicants should have 8+ years of relevant experience.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; MBA or related graduate degree is a plus.
• Minimum of 8 years total professional experience, including at least 6 years in sales, market access, or customer insights (pharma/biotech preferred).
• Proven ownership of commercial tactics, end-to-end strategy development, and content execution.
• Demonstrated change leadership and enterprise mindset in transformational environments.
• Strong interpersonal, coaching, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Proficient in project planning, budgeting, oversight, and vendor management.

Responsibilities

• Drive End-to-End Change Management: lead teams through current-to-future state transitions and adoption of new PAA strategies.
• Deliver Tailored Training & Capability Building: design and deliver PAA training programs with L&SD.
• Lead Champion Networks & Direct Coaching: onboard brands into PAA practices and provide direct coaching.
• Optimize Operational Workflows: revise and overhaul processes across PAA workstreams.
• Partner Across Functions: align with cross-functional partners to scale shared capabilities.
• Measure & Report Engagement Health: track adoption metrics and proactively address risks.
• Facilitate Special Projects & Workshops: lead high-impact initiatives and cross-brand alignment sessions.

Skills

Change leadership

Strategic ownership

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication

Project planning

Vendor management

Education

Bachelor’s degree

MBA or advanced degree

Job description

This role is an essential part of our Public Affairs & Access (PAA) organization, specifically within Channel & Contract Management - Activation & Capabilities Enablement (ACE). PAA is dedicated to delivering impact through a fully integrated public affairs function that leverages our capabilities and world-class brand to ensure eligible patients gain access to life‑saving medicines. As a member of this ACE team, you will have the opportunity to collaborate closely with key stakeholders across brand teams, commercial functions, operations, and Learning & Skill Development (L&SD). In this role, you will lead complex change initiatives, coach teams, and implement new capabilities to ensure seamless alignment across our commercial strategies.

Key responsibilities include:

• Drive End-to-End Change Management: Lead teams through current-to-future state transitions, ensuring seamless adoption of new PAA strategies, practices, and operational processes.
• Deliver Tailored Training & Capability Building: Partner with Learning & Skill Development (L&SD) to design and deliver comprehensive, bespoke PAA training programs addressing both foundational knowledge and advanced practices.
• Lead Champion Networks & Direct Coaching: Lead champion teams, actively onboard individual brands into PAA practices, and hold regular office hours to address knowledge gaps and provide direct support.
• Optimize Operational Workflows: Collaborate with Operations and the PAA Enablement & Process Lead to identify, revise, or overhaul inefficient processes and represent best practices across PAA workstreams.
• Partner Across Functions: Align with cross‑functional partners to co‑identify, build, and scale shared capabilities and platforms that can be leveraged across the PAA organization.
• Measure & Report Engagement Health: Document and report on the overall health of PAA engagement, track change adoption metrics, and proactively elevate challenges or risks.
• Facilitate Special Projects & Workshops: Lead and support high‑impact initiatives, including large‑group presentations, interactive workshops, and cross‑brand alignment sessions.

Who You Are

• Education: Bachelor’s degree required; an MBA or related graduate‑level degree is a plus.
• Commercial Experience: Minimum of 8 years total professional experience, including at least 6 years of commercial experience in sales, market access, or customer insights (preferably within the managed care, pharmaceutical, or biotech industries).
• Strategic Ownership & Execution: Proven experience with sole ownership of commercial tactics, including the ability to articulate business problems, craft end‑to‑end strategies, and own content development from strategy through execution.
• Change Leadership & Enterprise Mindset: Demonstrated ability to lead complex change management initiatives, flex and thrive in an ambiguous environment undergoing transformation, and think with an enterprise‑wide perspective.
• Cross‑Functional Collaboration & Coaching: Strong interpersonal, leadership, and communication skills with a proven track record of building partnerships, coaching teams, and elevating the capabilities of others.
• Business Acumen & Project Management: Highly proficient in project planning, budgeting, oversight, and vendor management, with strong critical thinking skills and the ability to drive high‑value business and customer outcomes.

The expected salary range for this position based on the primary location of California is $153,000 - $284,100. Actual pay will be determined based on experience, qualifications, geographic location, and other job‑related factors permitted by law. A discretionary annual bonus may be available based on individual and Company performance. This position also qualifies for the benefits detailed in this link.

This is an onsite role in South San Francisco with a hybrid schedule of 3 days per week in the office. Relocation benefits are not approved for this posting.

Genentech is an equal opportunity employer. It is our policy and practice to employ, promote, and otherwise treat any and all employees and applicants on the basis of merit, qualifications, and competence. The company's policy prohibits unlawful discrimination, including but not limited to, discrimination on the basis of Protected Veteran status, individuals with disabilities status, and consistent with all federal, state, or local laws. If you have a disability and need an accommodation in relation to the online application process, please contact us by completing this form Accommodations for Applicants.

Who We Are

Genentech, a member of the Roche group and founder of the biotechnology industry, is dedicated to pursuing groundbreaking science to discover and develop medicines for people with serious and life‑threatening diseases. To solve the world's most complex health challenges, we ask bigger questions that challenge our industry and the boundaries of science to transform society. Our transformational discoveries include the first targeted antibody for cancer and the first medicine for primary progressive multiple sclerosis. The next step is yours. Genentech is an equal opportunity employer. It is our policy and practice to employ, promote, and otherwise treat any and all employees and applicants on the basis of merit, qualifications, and competence. The company's policy prohibits unlawful discrimination, including but not limited to, discrimination on the basis of Protected Veteran status, individuals with disabilities status, and consistent with all federal, state, or local laws. If you have a disability and need an accommodation in relation to the online application process, please contact us by completing this form Accommodations for Applicants.