Job Description

Work Your Magic with us! Start your next chapter and join EMD Serono.

Ready to explore, break barriers, and discover more? We know you’ve got big plans – so do we! Our colleagues across the globe love innovating with science and technology to enrich people’s lives with our solutions in Healthcare, Life Science, and Electronics. Together, we dream big and are passionate about caring for our rich mix of people, customers, patients, and planet. That's why we are always looking for curious minds that see themselves imagining the unimaginable with us.

United As One for Patients, our purpose in Healthcare is to help create, improve and prolong lives. We develop medicines, intelligent devices and innovative technologies in therapeutic areas such as Oncology, Neurology and Fertility. Our teams work together across 6 continents with passion and relentless curiosity in order to help patients at every stage of life. Joining our Healthcare team is becoming part of a diverse, inclusive and flexible working culture, presenting great opportunities for personal development and career advancement across the globe.

This role does not offer sponsorship for work authorization. External applicants must be eligible to work in the US.

Your Role:

The Senior Director, Global Head of CMS Strategy, Quality & Operations is a strategic and operational partner to the Head of Clinical Measurement Sciences and the CMS Leadership Team. The role is accountable for advancing the integrated CMS strategy, strengthening quality and compliance, and enabling effective day-to-day operations across the global organization.

As a member of the CMS Leadership Team, you will connect strategic priorities across CMS functions, support clear and timely decision-making, and help translate the organization’s vision into consistent execution. You will lead a global team, represent CMS in cross-functional R&D forums, and help evolve an operating model that supports efficient, compliant, and high-quality delivery of R&D commitments.

This is a high-impact leadership opportunity for an experienced pharmaceutical R&D professional who combines scientific understanding, strategic judgment, operational discipline, and an inclusive leadership approach.

What you will do?

Lead CMS strategy, quality, and operations

• Lead, develop, and inspire a global team aligned with CMS strategy and a culture of collaboration, accountability, and high performance.
• Partner with the Head of CMS to shape and refine the CMS scientific and functional strategy.
• Establish and continuously improve quality and compliance practices, supporting regulatory adherence and operational effectiveness.
• Drive streamlined processes, effective workflows, and appropriate resource allocation across CMS in partnership with Human Resources, Finance, and functional leaders.
• Support budget planning, milestone oversight, prioritization, and operational reviews across relevant CMS activities.
• Coordinate and oversee CMS Asset Portfolio meetings, CMS Scientific Strategy initiatives, and the CMS PACT team community, as applicable.
• Provide oversight of CMS innovation activities and support related strategic initiatives.

Enable the CMS Leadership Team

• Serve as a strategic thought partner and day-to-day advisor to members of the CMS Leadership Team.
• Align leadership priorities, coordinate cross-functional activities, and promote effective stakeholder communication.
• Lead the preparation of strategic presentations, data analyses, and insights to support high-impact decisions.
• Help ensure that CMS priorities are translated into clear actions, milestones, and accountable ownership.

Contribute to the R&D enterprise

• Represent CMS in cross-R&D strategic forums and the Chiefs of Staff network.
• Serve on relevant enterprise councils, including the Development Excellence Council and the Operational Excellence Leadership Team, as assigned.
• Advance compliant, efficient, and harmonized development processes in collaboration with cross-functional partners.
• Work with Business Process Owners to maintain effective and efficient business processes for CMS.
• Promote quality improvement, knowledge sharing, and adoption of effective practices across the organization.

Strengthen culture and change leadership

• Champion a OneTeam mindset built on openness, transparency, collaboration, and alignment with strategic priorities.
• Lead change initiatives that strengthen engagement, organizational adaptability, and ways of working.
• Support impactful internal communications and engagement activities across CMS.
• Identify opportunities to simplify processes and improve the employee experience while maintaining appropriate controls.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree and at least 10 years of relevant professional experience, or master’s degree and at least 8 years of relevant professional experience.
• At least 8 years of direct experience in project management, portfolio management, operations, or a related discipline, including leadership responsibility.
• Extensive experience in pharmaceutical R&D, drug development, healthcare, or a closely related environment.
• Experience working in the global pharmaceutical industry and across international, cross-functional teams.
• Working knowledge of the drug development process and applicable development regulations.
• Demonstrated experience leading strategic initiatives, operational improvements, or organizational change.
• Strong written, verbal, listening, and presentation skills.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with senior stakeholders and influence without direct authority.
• Willingness and ability to travel domestically and internationally up to 20% of the time.

Preferred Qualifications:

• MBA or PhD in life sciences, business, or a related discipline.
• Professional project management certification, such as PMI or IPMA.
• Experience leading global teams in drug development or a related pharmaceutical R&D setting.
• Experience with portfolio governance, quality management, process harmonization, or operational excellence.
• Experience using project management, spreadsheet, database, and data-analysis tools.
• Understanding of finance and accounting principles in an industrial or pharmaceutical setting.
• Demonstrated empathy and a strong commitment to team culture, inclusion, and collaboration.

Pay Range for this position: $237,300- $355,900

The offer range represents the anticipated low and high end of the base pay compensation for this position. The actual compensation offered will be determined by factors such as location, level of experience, education, skills, and other job-related factors. Position may be eligible for sales or performance-based bonuses. Benefits offered by the Company include health insurance, paid time off (PTO), retirement contributions, and other prerequisites. For more information click here.

What we offer: We are curious minds that come from a broad range of backgrounds, perspectives, and life experiences. We believe that this variety drives excellence and innovation, strengthening our ability to lead in science and technology. We are committed to creating access and opportunities for all to develop and grow at your own pace. Join us in building a culture of inclusion and belonging that impacts millions and empowers everyone to work their magic and champion human progress!

Apply now and become a part of a team that is dedicated to Sparking Discovery and Elevating Humanity!