This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Senior Director, R&D PMO & Innovation Excellence based in United States.
This is a strategic leadership opportunity to shape how complex R&D, product development, transformation, and integration initiatives move from strategy to measurable business outcomes.
You will lead enterprise portfolio governance, integrated planning, resource allocation, and program execution across a broad and highly cross-functional environment.
The role combines disciplined PMO leadership with needs-driven innovation, helping teams prioritize investments and accelerate value delivery.
You will partner closely with senior executives and leaders across R&D, Product, Commercial, Operations, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Quality, Regulatory, Finance, IT, and other functions.
As a senior change leader, you will establish scalable processes, decision frameworks, reporting mechanisms, and innovation practices that improve organizational effectiveness.
You will also build and develop a high-performing PMO and innovation excellence team through coaching, reusable tools, communities of practice, and continuous improvement.
This role is ideal for an accomplished portfolio and innovation leader who can bring clarity to complexity, align diverse stakeholders, and turn strategic priorities into disciplined execution.
Accountabilities:
- Lead and continuously evolve the enterprise R&D PMO operating model, establishing effective portfolio governance, decision rights, reporting cadences, escalation mechanisms, standard work, and program management practices.
- Build and maintain a comprehensive view of the strategic portfolio, including initiative ownership, milestones, dependencies, risks, capacity requirements, investments, expected outcomes, and value realization.
- Partner with executive and cross-functional leadership to translate business strategy into an executable portfolio and facilitate prioritization, stage-gate, investment, continuation, acceleration, and risk-management decisions.
- Embed repeatable needs-driven innovation practices across R&D and product development, including customer observation, problem definition, need screening, concept development, prototyping, evidence planning, and implementation readiness.
- Provide executive oversight for complex, high-risk, and cross-enterprise programs, aligning diverse functions around shared objectives, timelines, resources, and measurable outcomes.
- Strengthen portfolio decision-making through integrated planning, capacity and resource management, risk assessment, business-case analysis, executive reporting, and benefits realization.
- Build a high-performing PMO and innovation excellence organization through talent development, coaching, performance management, communities of practice, playbooks, reusable tools, and continuous learning.
- Establish mechanisms for measuring portfolio performance and organizational effectiveness, using insights to improve delivery, resource productivity, innovation outcomes, and long-term business value.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in engineering, science, business, operations, or a related discipline; an advanced degree such as an MBA, master's, or doctorate is preferred.
- Typically 15+ years of progressive leadership experience in portfolio management, program management, product development, innovation, operations, transformation, or related fields, including at least 7 years leading complex cross-functional programs and/or PMO organizations.
- Demonstrated success building, transforming, or leading an enterprise or business-unit PMO and improving portfolio decisions, delivery performance, resource utilization, and benefits realization.
- Deep practical experience with needs-driven innovation methods, including observation, need finding, need screening, concept development, prototyping, and implementation planning; formal Biodesign training is a plus.
- Strong knowledge of portfolio management, stage-gate governance, integrated planning, capacity and resource management, risk management, business-case development, and executive-level reporting.
- PMP, PgMP, PfMP, Lean, Six Sigma, Agile, or comparable professional certifications are preferred.
- Experience working in regulated product environments and guiding products, diagnostics, instruments, consumables, software or digital solutions, services, or integrated platforms through development and commercialization.
- Industry experience in food safety, animal safety, life sciences, diagnostics, medical technology, laboratory workflows, industrial biotechnology, or related sectors is advantageous.
- Strong executive presence, strategic thinking, communication, stakeholder management, and influencing skills, with the ability to create alignment across diverse functions and organizational levels.
- Demonstrated ability to bring structure to ambiguity, manage competing priorities, make data-informed decisions, and translate strategy into practical execution.
Benefits
- Strategic leadership opportunity with significant influence over enterprise innovation, portfolio management, and program execution.
- Opportunity to shape high-impact initiatives supporting customer value, sustainable growth, operational readiness, quality, and long-term business performance.
- Collaboration with senior executives and global cross-functional teams within a complex, purpose-driven, regulated environment.
- Opportunity to build lasting organizational capabilities through PMO disciplines, innovation methodologies, and leadership development.
- Standard benefits package, with benefits and eligibility determined according to the position and applicable company programs.
- Remote work environment.
How Jobgether works:
We use an AI-powered matching process to ensure your application is reviewed quickly, objectively, and fairly against the role's core requirements. Our system identifies the top-fitting candidates, and this shortlist is then shared directly with the hiring company. The final decision and next steps (interviews, assessments) are managed by their internal team.
We appreciate your interest and wish you the best!
Data Privacy Notice: By submitting your application, you acknowledge that Jobgether will process your personal data to evaluate your candidacy and share relevant information with the hiring employer. This processing is based on legitimate interest and pre-contractual measures under applicable data protection laws (including GDPR). You may exercise your rights (access, rectification, erasure, objection) at any time.
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