Job Description
Job Title:  Director (m/f/d), R&D Business Systems & Ops Management
Job Requisition ID:  1986
Posting Start Date:  8/6/26

 

At Daiichi Sankyo, we are united by a single purpose, to improve lives around the world through innovative medicines. With a legacy of innovation since 1899, a presence in more than 30 countries, and more than 19,000 employees, we are advancing breakthrough therapies in oncology, cardiovascular disease, rare diseases, and immune disorders. Guided by our 2030 vision to "be an innovative global healthcare company contributing to the sustainable development of society", we are shaping a healthier, more hopeful future for patients, their families, and society.

Key Responsibilities

Systems Administration & Operational Support

  • Lead the day-to-day management of the administrative and operational support of assigned systems
  • Provides leadership and manages the operational area for the relevant system globally. Responsible for ensuring complete and accurate data ownership/maintenance through harmonization and application of consistent processes and disciplines.
  • Monitor, assess, and improve the administrative and operational support processes – including, but not limited, to user access, user experience, user adoption, procedural documents, user training, and issue resolution Identify, evaluate, govern, and prioritize proposed changes to assigned systems anchored to a roadmap, to address the evolving requirements of the user community and to support imperatives identified by Line Function leadership
  • Ensure data within assigned systems is maintained to the highest levels of quality and defined standards, and propose improvements to address gaps or sustainability concerns
  • Manage user access and monitor/manage ticket resolution/escalation
  • Perform periodic voice-of-customer exercises for assigned systems to identify any necessary maintenance, expansion, or user experience improvements
  • Define and monitor key metrics of risk and performance for assigned systems
  • In collaboration with IT partners, determine the necessary Business/IT resource, budget and Steering Committee required on future IT projects
  • Determine and track KPIs related to system utilization, stability, and data quality against defined targets for assigned systems
  • Initiate periodic critical reviews of the overall effectiveness of assigned system, which includes taking any necessary corrective or preventive action to ensure continued success
  • In collaboration with IT, maintain effective relationships with solution vendors to ensure R&D short and long-term objectives are met within each platform, with an eye towards continuous improvement

Project Execution

  • Lead all business-led project deliverables including – but, not limited to – process engineering or reengineering, user requirements definition, test scenario & test case development, user training, acceptance testing, and business support & administration
  • Ensure that all large and small projects have a formal problem/opportunity statement, business case, return on investment and project charter to clearly articulate the business challenge, benefits, and approach to affect positive information management change
  • Oversee the establishment and management of integrated project plans, timelines, resourcing requirements, and risk/issue management evaluations for all projects to ensure on-time, high-quality delivery
  • Ensure that the implementation or improvement of all GxP R&D Systems are properly documented to support business utilization and inspection readiness. Support system related inspections as required.
  • Identify, investigate, escalate (if necessary), and develop mitigation approaches to identified risks & issues, and/or to overcome any challenges to successful delivery
  • Manage and oversee the allocation, performance, and collaboration of internal & external project resources to ensure optimal delivery of R&D systems
  • Manage approved budget expenditures and funded resources to effectively deliver system needs on-time, to budget, and with high quality
  • Provide regular project status reports identifying progress, risks, mitigation strategies, and timelines for the benefit of stakeholders, leadership, and governance committees
  • Lead and/or contribute to working groups or teams formed to address areas of improvement within the R&D scope of operations
  • Ensure quality and oversight of delivery partners (DX,DSI IT etc) is in-line with expectations, with clear communication and escalation where needed
  • Lead or contribute to ad hoc projects or initiatives, as assigned

Business Analysis

  • Function as an experienced Business Systems Analyst within large projects or other appropriate situations, as assigned by the Global Business Systems Owner
  • Directly develop formal problem/opportunity statements, business cases, and project charters to clearly articulate the business challenge, benefits, and approach to affect positive information management change, as required
  • Provide business-focused project deliverables including – but, not limited to – process engineering or reengineering, user requirements definition, test scenario & test case development, user training, acceptance testing, and business support & administration

 

Relationships & Collaboration

  • Collaborate with other Global R&D IS team members to work in a harmonized fashion across areas of specialization to support project and R&D objectives
  • Build and maintain close relationships with subject matter experts, information technology colleagues, business leads, vendors and external resources in executing projects or other initiatives
  • Contribute to System Roadmaps across assigned systems including current and planned release schedules and strategic investment direction

 

People Management & Leadership

  • Lead a rapidly growing team of new employees across several roles to ensure quality and timely delivery
  • Support the development of the local R&D IS employees
  • Track and report the location’s performance across measures/KPIs. Proactively identify risks and issues and collaborate with global functional lead(s) to drive resolution
  • Development talent and support development and implementation of career ladders
  • Building out the local team further
  • Coordinating with R&D IS DSJ delivery center (once up and running in Phase 2/3) 

 

Essential Function

  • Accountable for the management, development, recruitment and training of employees within the departmental scope to meet current and future business needs. 
  • Provides leadership by attracting and retaining top talent, developing team members, and ensuring organizational effectiveness, transparency, and communication. 
  • Manages and provides guidance to team members, including organizing and prioritizing group tasks, performing training, and managing performance. 
  • Responsible to create an environment where employees feel engaged and empowered, to be successful in their responsibilities, and deliverables.

Education & Experience

  • Bachelor's Degree Computer Science, Life Science, Engineering, Business Administration or a related discipline or equivalent work experience required; Master's Degree Life Sciences or Information Systems preferred
  • Minimum of 10+ years of experience within life sciences supporting the delivery of GXP validated global business systems serving cross-functional stakeholders
  • Demonstrated experience within or supporting Research & Development processes, roles and system
  • Demonstrated experience serving as the liaison between Business & IT, translating business needs into technical solutions and technical considerations into business language
  • Demonstrated experience managing R&D systems either on the IT or Business side is required
  • Demonstrated experience involving data quality and/or data stewardship is preferred
  • Experience supporting an audit/inspection of an IT system preferred
  • 10+ years of experience for Line Management experience of Business System Analysts, Project Managers and Business Process Engineers to deliver IT Projects as well as line management experience of a relevant/comparable business operation
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills are required
  • Knowledge of key industry regulations relating to the compliance of IT Data and Systems is required
  • Proven ability to work in a global and highly matrixed environment is preferred
Why work with us?

Working at Daiichi Sankyo is more than just a job – it is your chance to make a difference and change patients’ lives for the better. We can only achieve this ambitious goal together. That is why we foster a culture of mutual respect and continuous learning, with a strong commitment to inclusion and diversity. Here, you will have the opportunity to grow, think boldly, and contribute your ideas. If you have a proactive mindset and passion for addressing the needs of patients, we eagerly await your application.
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