Associate Director, R&D Quality Transformation and Data Science

Description

The company is a research and development organization that builds medicines and products, and R&D Quality Assurance drives quality across discovery, development and the full product lifecycle.

Change in patient needs, stakeholder expectations, industry technology, regulation and business strategy is fast. Quality built into clinical trials, post-market vigilance and post-market studies protects patients, keeps data reliable, supports compliance and helps drug and device programs succeed.

This role supports transformation work across R&D Quality Assurance. It brings together digital tools, analytics including AI and ML, process improvement and operating practices so the organization can use data and new technology to improve quality work, build a stronger quality culture and keep improving.

The role suits an analytical, collaborative leader who wants to make R&D QA work better through data-based decisions, process redesign and change management. You will work with R&D QA leaders and cross-functional partners to turn feedback, diagnostic results and business needs into practical improvement projects. You report directly to the Sr. Director, R&D Quality Transformation & Data Science.

Responsibilities

• Help build and carry out a focused R&D QA transformation roadmap covering analytics, AI and ML, and operational excellence, tied to company-wide priorities, regulatory requirements and diagnostic findings.
• Review survey, diagnostic and performance data to find trends, opportunities and root causes, and help rank improvement actions for both quality culture and business operations.
• Lead or support cross-functional projects that improve quality operations, reporting, decisions and ways of working.
• Work with R&D QA, IT and R&D to put improvements in place and help teams adopt new tools, methods and operating models.
• Help apply advanced analytics, automation and AI/ML solutions to make work more efficient, consistent and insightful.
• Help develop and refine functional KPIs and executive dashboards.
• Support business cases with financial models, scenario analysis, quantitative benchmarking and clear statements of strategic and operational value.
• Turn quality and operational data into business value stories covering benefits, cost avoidance and operational impact of chosen initiatives.
• Track progress, risks, dependencies and outcomes for assigned initiatives, and give leaders and stakeholders short status updates and recommendations.
• Encourage collaboration, change management, continuous improvement and skill building in digital tools, analytics and process excellence across R&D QA.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Data Science, Statistics, Biostatistics, Applied Mathematics, Engineering, Life Sciences or a related field. An advanced degree is preferred.
• Preferred: a Life Sciences degree combined with an MBA or an MS in Analytics.
• 8+ years of steadily growing experience in data science, analytics, AI/ML, process improvement, transformation or operational excellence in life sciences or another regulated industry.
• Experience supporting or leading cross-functional work in pharmaceutical, medical device, combination product, research, development, clinical operations, manufacturing or quality settings.
• You have used data, analytics and structured problem-solving to support process improvement and business decisions.
• You understand quality systems, compliance expectations and transformation or change management in regulated environments.
• Strong communication, collaboration and stakeholder engagement skills.
• You can work in a matrixed organization and influence people without direct authority.
• You have proven experience designing and running KPI frameworks, balanced scorecards or enterprise performance management systems.
• Strong statistical skills, including regression, Statistical Process Control (SPC/SQC), multivariate analysis, predictive modeling and hypothesis testing.
• Proficiency in Python, R and/or SQL, plus experience with at least one BI or visualization platform such as Power BI, Tableau or an equivalent.

Conditions

Pay disclosure applies to roles in locations with pay transparency rules under state or local law. The posted base pay range is the company's good-faith estimate for this grade at posting time. Actual pay within the range depends on factors such as location, and pay may fall outside the range. The range may change.

Any bonus, commission, incentive, benefit or other compensation is at the company's sole discretion until paid, and may be changed in line with applicable law. Pay is not considered earned or determinable until it is paid.

US and Puerto Rico only.

Benefits

• Paid time off covering vacation, holidays and sick leave, plus medical, dental and vision insurance and a 401(k) for eligible employees.
• This role is eligible for long-term incentive programs.
• The company is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes veterans and people with disabilities.
• The company's therapeutic focus includes immunology, oncology and neuroscience, along with its Allergan Aesthetics portfolio.