Director Operational Strategy – Spectrum Therapeutics (US/EU)
Location: US or EU
About the Role
The Director of Operational Strategy provides leadership, oversight, and strategic direction for the Operational Strategy function, ensuring the development of high-quality, competitive, and executable operational strategies that support the acquisition of new clinical trial business. Leading a team of Operational Strategy Managers, the Director is responsible for establishing standards, methodologies, and best practices that drive consistency, quality, and operational excellence across all proposal activities. The Director provides leadership for the Spectrum Therapeutics portfolio, overseeing operational strategy development across a broad range of non-oncology indications, including CNS, metabolic, respiratory, rare disease, and other specialty therapeutic areas.
Working closely with functional leadership across the organization, the Director serves as a strategic advisor throughout the proposal lifecycle. The role provides oversight and guidance on study execution strategies, proposal positioning, budget assumptions, risk mitigation plans, and bid defense preparation while ensuring alignment between sponsor requirements, organizational capabilities, and business objectives. Leveraging broad therapeutic and operational expertise, the Director supports the development of differentiated strategies across diverse study designs, patient populations, and clinical development programs. Although primarily focused on leadership and governance, the Director may provide direct strategic support on highly complex, high-value, or business critical opportunities as needed.
Responsibilities
1. Team Leadership & Talent Development
- Lead, mentor, and develop the Operational Strategy team, fostering a culture of strategic thinking, collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.
- Provide coaching and guidance on proposal strategy development, operational planning, sponsor engagement, and bid defense preparation.
2. Enterprise-Level Strategy Leadership
- Review and prioritize incoming proposal opportunities by assessing strategic alignment, historical delivery experience, right-to-win, operational complexity, scope, timelines, and resource requirements, ensuring appropriate Operational Strategy assignment and support of business objectives.
- Provide strategic oversight of operational approaches, study execution plans, and proposal recommendations across the opportunity portfolio.
3. Portfolio-Level Risk & Financial Oversight
- Provide oversight of operational, recruitment, timeline, and execution risks across proposal activities.
- Review significant budget assumptions, resource models, country strategies, and operational recommendations for strategic alignment and feasibility.
4. Process Governance & Quality Assurance
- Establish and maintain operational strategy standards, methodologies, templates, and best practices.
- Ensure consistency, quality, and accuracy across operational strategy deliverables, proposal content, and bid defense materials.
5. Systems, Tools & Strategic Enablement
- Champion the adoption and effective use of operational, feasibility, benchmarking, and market intelligence tools.
Ensure teams leverage available data and technology platforms to support evidence-based strategic decision-making.
6. Cross-Functional & Executive Collaboration
- Partner with functional and executive leadership to align proposal strategies and business objectives.
- Facilitate resolution of complex cross-functional issues impacting proposal development, study execution planning, or customer commitments.
Experience and Qualifications
Required
- 10+ years of experience in clinical research operations, feasibility, operational strategy, proposal development, or related functions.
- Demonstrated success leading managers, building teams, and driving departmental performance.
- Experience establishing strategic direction, workforce plans, operating models, and capability-development initiatives.
- Proven ability to influence senior leadership and lead cross-functional organizational initiatives.
- Bachelor's degree in Life Sciences, Clinical Research, Healthcare Administration, Business, or related field.
- Experience in clinical research operations, operational strategy, feasibility, proposal development, or related functions within a CRO, sponsor, or healthcare environment.
- Demonstrated experience supporting clinical trial proposals, operational strategy development, feasibility, or study planning activities across a broad range of non-oncology therapeutic areas, including CNS, metabolic, respiratory, rare disease, and related indications.
- Demonstrated people leadership experience, including coaching, performance management, and team development.
- Strong understanding of clinical trial operations, feasibility assessments, proposal strategy, study startup considerations, and study delivery models.
- Demonstrated ability to review, challenge, and guide complex operational strategies and business recommendations.
- Strong executive communication, presentation, stakeholder management, and influencing skills.
- Experience working collaboratively across global, matrixed organizations.
Preferred
- Experience supporting global clinical trial proposals and business development activities.
- Experience participating in sponsor presentations and bid defense meetings.
- Experience leading departmental process improvement or capability-building initiatives.
- Exposure to commercial strategy, pricing, financial modeling, or portfolio planning.
- Experience managing geographically distributed teams.
Salary Band – Director Operational Strategy – Spectrum Therapeutics (US/EU): $180K to $210K USD – Salary offered will be based on candidate’s experience level.
Find out more about working at Novotech at: www.novotech-cro.com/careers
Novotech is proud to offer a great workplace. We are committed to being an employer of choice for gender equality and providing an inclusive work environment where everyone is treated fairly and with respect.
Our team members are passionate about what we do, but we understand work is only of the things that is important to them. We support our team members with flexible working options, paid parental leave for both parents, flexible leave entitlements, wellness programs and ongoing development programs.
We are looking for people who are passionate about working clinical research and biotech, including people who identify as LGBTIQ+, have a disability or have caring responsibilities.
We are a Circle Back Initiative Employer and commit to respond to every application. We look forward to contacting you regarding your application.
About UsNovotech is a global full-service clinical Contract Research Organization (CRO).
At Novotech, ambition meets opportunity. As a globally recognized leader in clinical research and scientific advisory services, we are proud to combine our position at the forefront of the industry with an award-winning workplace culture that values ambition, innovation, and growth. Named Employer of Choice, Great Place to Work and Employer of Choice for Gender Equality (EOCGE), we are committed to fostering an environment that reflects the life-changing work we do.
Since 1997, we have expanded our global footprint, now with 30+ offices across Asia-Pacific, the United States, and Europe. This growing network unites professionals from diverse backgrounds and disciplines to advance therapies that improve patient outcomes worldwide.
At Novotech, our employees are at the heart of our success. By offering trust, flexibility, and autonomy through programs like NovoLife, our flexible benefits framework, we empower team members to create an effective work-life balance that delivers professional satisfaction and maximum results for clients.
With access to mentorship opportunities, professional development programs, and a dynamic community, Novotech offers a platform for driven individuals to achieve personal growth while shaping the future of healthcare. Join us to be a part of a team that values your contributions and supports your ambition to make a global impact.
At Novotech we have advanced therapeutic and regulatory expertise, the ability to execute across markets and a client-centric service model, so that our clients get a trusted, long-term partner and an accelerated path to bring their life-changing advances to market. This gives our employees the opportunity to develop their careers by joining a diverse and supportive global organization with a collaborative culture, whilst working with clients on the cutting-edge of life sciences.
At Novotech you will work alongside empowered teams with a shared commitment to success.
- Strategic vs transactional mindset.
- Ability to gain insights and make proactive decisions quickly.
- Culture that fosters partnership and collaboration, where every voice is heard and valued.
- Ongoing support from senior stakeholders and leadership team.
Novotech San Francisco, California, USA Office
San Francisco, United States
Similar Jobs
What you need to know about the San Francisco Tech Scene
Key Facts About San Francisco Tech
- Number of Tech Workers: 365,500; 13.9% of overall workforce (2024 CompTIA survey)
- Major Tech Employers: Google, Apple, Salesforce, Meta
- Key Industries: Artificial intelligence, cloud computing, fintech, consumer technology, software
- Funding Landscape: $50.5 billion in venture capital funding in 2024 (Pitchbook)
- Notable Investors: Sequoia Capital, Andreessen Horowitz, Bessemer Venture Partners, Greylock Partners, Khosla Ventures, Kleiner Perkins
- Research Centers and Universities: Stanford University; University of California, Berkeley; University of San Francisco; Santa Clara University; Ames Research Center; Center for AI Safety; California Institute for Regenerative Medicine
