Head of RII or Oncology Programming

Position Summary

The Head of RII (Respiratory, Immunology & Inflammation) or Oncology Programming is the senior programming leader for the Research Unit, accountable for how clinical data are transformed into high- quality, regulatory-ready evidence across the portfolio. This role owns data execution for the Research Unit, setting expectations for scientific rigor, delivery excellence, and technology-enabled ways of working in alignment with the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) organization.

As a core member of the Clinical Programming & Business Excellence Leadership Team, you will partner closely with Research Unit leaders and senior stakeholders across Clinical Development, Statistics, Regulatory, Safety, and Development Operations. You will shape how programming enables confident decisions, accelerates submissions, and delivers medicines and vaccines for patients.

This role offers a rare opportunity to lead at significant scale and complexity within a major Research Unit, combining strategic influence, hands- on leadership, and visible impact on pipeline success.

• Serve as a core member of the Clinical Programming & Business Excellence Leadership Team, contributing to the overall programming strategy, operating model, and capability agenda while representing the needs and priorities of the Research Unit and CMO.
• Lead, inspire, and develop a high-performing global programming organization with strong leadership capability, credibility, and influence across a complex matrix environment.
• Own delivery excellence for clinical data and submission outputs across the Research Unit portfolio, ensuring work is executed with the highest standards of quality, compliance, and timeliness.
• Design and evolve agile organizational and resourcing models that respond to shifting portfolio demands, integrating internal talent, external partners, and new capabilities to maximize impact within the Research Unit.
• Act as the senior programming partner to Research Unit stakeholders, shaping strategy and execution across Clinical Development, Statistics, Regulatory, Safety, Development Operations, and other key functions.
• Champion innovation in clinical programming within the Research Unit, advancing industry-leading approaches such as Generative AI, metadata-driven automation, and modern data standards to accelerate delivery and improve decision quality.
• Provide leadership and accountability for governance, quality, and compliance across Research Unit programming activities, spanning research, development, and submission, while proactively managing risk and safeguarding data integrity.
• Develop and elevate programming talent from technical experts into strategic leaders of delivery and execution, creating meaningful career pathways and a culture of accountability, empowerment, and continuous learning.
• Act as a visible thought leader for clinical programming within the Research Unit, representing the function externally as appropriate and bringing forward ideas, insights, and partnerships that strengthen execution and capability.

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in a quantitative or scientific discipline (e.g., Mathematics, Statistics, Computer Science, Data Science, Engineering, or related field).
• Extensive experience in Clinical Programming, Biostatistics, or a closely related quantitative function within pharmaceutical R&D, with a strong understanding of the end-to-end clinical trial and submission lifecycle.
• Experience supporting assets within Respiratory, Immunology & Inflammation (RII) or Oncology therapeutic areas, with familiarity in the specific scientific, regulatory, and operational considerations of these portfolios.
• Demonstrated success as a senior leader in a global, matrixed environment, with a proven track record of building, leading, and developing high-performing teams at scale.
• Deep understanding of clinical data standards, regulatory requirements, and submission expectations, with the ability to ensure high-quality, compliant delivery across complex portfolios.
• Proven ability to operate as a strategic partner to senior stakeholders, influencing decisions and aligning execution…