Head of IT Strategy, Governance and Transformation

Today, Lonza is a global leader in life sciences operating across five continents. While we work in science, there’s no magic formula to how we do it. Our greatest scientific solution is talented people working together, devising ideas that help businesses to help people. In exchange, we let our people own their careers. Their ideas, big and small, genuinely improve the world. And that’s the kind of work we want to be part of.

We are seeking a Head of IT Strategy, Governance & Transformation to act as the CIO’s primary orchestrator for enterprise technology strategy, governance, and value realization across a global, highly regulated CDMO environment.

This role leads the Office of the CIO (OCIO) and brings together IT strategy execution, enterprise portfolio governance, operating model design, delivery assurance, IT quality & compliance, vendor management, and M&A IT integration. As a trusted partner to the CIO and senior leadership, you will ensure technology investments are strategically aligned, well governed, compliant, and delivering measurable business value.

Key Responsibilities

• IT Strategy & Governance (OCIO): Own and evolve the enterprise IT strategy, multi‑year roadmap, operating model, KPIs, and governance frameworks.
• Enterprise PMO (EPMO) Leadership: Lead the global IT Enterprise PMO as a center of excellence for delivery, portfolio governance, and benefits realization.
• Vendor & Third‑Party Management: Own the enterprise IT vendor and third‑party strategy across selection, contracting, performance, value realization, and risk management.
• IT Quality & Compliance (GxP / CSV / CSA): Embed quality, compliance, and data integrity principles across the IT delivery lifecycle.
• M&A IT Due Diligence & Integration: Lead IT workstreams across the full M&A lifecycle, including due diligence, Day‑1 readiness, integrations, carve‑outs, TSAs, and post‑close synergy realization.
• Transformation & Change Leadership: Drive enterprise IT transformation across operating model, processes, talent, and culture.

Required Experience & Qualifications

• 15+ years of experience in enterprise IT, with 10+ years in senior leadership roles covering IT strategy, governance, PMO, or transformation in complex, multi‑site environments.
• Demonstrated experience acting as a CIO “right hand,” leading strategy execution, portfolio governance, and executive communications.
• Proven success in building and scaling global PMO/EPMO and governance frameworks.
• Strong vendor management leadership experience with measurable value, cost, and risk outcomes.
• Hands‑on experience with GxP IT environments, including CSV/CSA governance and inspection support.
• M&A IT integration experience (due diligence, Day‑1, integration, carve‑outs, TSAs), ideally within life sciences or regulated industries.
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Information Systems, Computer Science, Engineering, or Business.
• Certifications such as PMP, ITIL, COBIT, or Prosci / OCM are an advantage.

The actual location of this job is in Basel, Switzerland. Relocation assistance is available for eligible candidates and their families, if needed. 

Every day, Lonza’s products and services have a positive impact on millions of people. For us, this is not only a great privilege, but also a great responsibility. How we achieve our business results is just as important as the achievements themselves. At Lonza, we respect and protect our people and our environment. Any success we achieve is no success at all if not achieved ethically.

People come to Lonza for the challenge and creativity of solving complex problems and developing new ideas in life sciences. In return, we offer the satisfaction that comes with improving lives all around the world — the satisfaction that comes with making a meaningful difference.

Lonza is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, status as a qualified individual with disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.