Head of RDT for Discovery

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About RDT

Roche Digital Technology (RDT) is where innovation meets purpose. As a global team at the heart of Roche, we are a community of business-minded technologists committed to help shape tomorrow's digital future of healthcare. Our mission is to power Roche through cutting-edge digital technologies, harnessing the potential of artificial intelligence, data, and scalable tech innovations. Driven by purpose and passion, we're building a future where digital is a core strength across all of Roche, enabling smarter ways of working, unlocking human potential, and driving breakthroughs that truly matter for millions of patients around the world. 

Role Summary:

As a Head of RDT for Discovery and Preclinical, you will be a visionary leader within the Roche Digital Technologies Pharma R&D organization, reporting to the Head of Roche Digital Technology Pharma R&D. You will partner on the strategy, development, and delivery of a digital product portfolio spanning Lab Operations, Research Lab Data Management, Pharma Technical Drug Substance (PTD) Research, and Pharma Technical Cell/Gene Therapy (PT CGT) Research, China Innovation Center of Roche (CICoR), and the Computational Sciences CoE (CS CoE). This global leader position is critical to enabling the digital transformation of our Discovery and Preclinical research, in close partnership with the head of the CS CoE (for gRED/pRED/CiCOR) and other pharma leaders (for PTD and PT CGT). Your mission is to empower our scientists by creating a seamless, data-driven environment that accelerates the discovery and preclinical development of life-changing medicines.

Key Accountabilities:

• Strategic Stakeholder Partnership: Act as the primary digital and technology partner to the head of CS CoE, PTD & PT CGT Research, Research lab operations & data management, translating their strategic needs into a prioritized, value-driven product roadmap.

• Holistic Product Portfolio Leadership: In partnership with the above-mentioned organizations, define and manage the end-to-end digital product strategy for a complex portfolio, ensuring compatibility with relevant enterprise standards and platforms.

• Lab Operations & Data Management: Lead the development and implementation of digital tools and platforms that optimize lab workflows, enhance data capture, and ensure data integrity from bench to analysis. This includes overseeing solutions such as Electronic Lab Notebooks (ELN), PTD & CGT Research applications.

• Computational & Translational Science: Enable and support the development of cutting-edge modeling, and simulation tools, building upon strategies defined by the relevant business units while ensuring built-for-purpose designs. Bridge the gap in processes and digital & data solutions between preclinical and early-to-late stage clinical development, ensuring GLP/GCP compliance, where relevant. 

• CICoR: Partner with the CS CoE and the China-based RDT team to foster Innovation at CICoR. This involves strategically balancing local requirements with potential global applications, and actively adopting China-specific solutions that provide the best value for translational science.

• Global Team & Product Execution: Lead a global team of product managers, data scientists, and engineers, ensuring the timely and high-quality delivery of digital products that drive measurable business outcomes.

Key Leadership Competencies and Skills:

• Scientific and Technical Expertise: A deep understanding of the drug discovery and preclinical development process is essential. Experience with lab informatics platforms (e.g., Lab automation, LIMS, ELNs) and deep understanding of AI/ML applications in life sciences are critical.

• Data Architecture & Integration: Experience with scientific data management systems, data lakes, and integration of heterogeneous research data sources (e.g., omics data, imaging, chemical structures, bioassay results)

• Computational Biology Tools: Familiarity with bioinformatics pipelines, molecular modeling software, and high-performance computing infrastructure for drug discovery workflows

• Strategic Acumen: Proven ability to develop a compelling product vision and strategy that connects digital capabilities to scientific outcomes.

• Influential Leadership: Demonstrated ability to lead without direct authority, build consensus across diverse global teams, and effectively communicate complex technical concepts to both scientific and executive audiences.

• Operational Excellence: Experience in managing and optimizing the entire product lifecycle from ideation to retirement, with a focus on data governance, security, and scalability in a regulated environment.

• Global & Cultural Competence: Ability to navigate and lead within a multinational organization, recognizing and adapting to significant regulatory, operational, and cultural differences across US, EU, and China markets, with strategies tailored to each region's unique requirements and constraints.

A healthier future drives us to innovate. Together, more than 100'000 employees across the globe are dedicated to advance science, ensuring everyone has access to healthcare today and for generations to come. Our efforts result in more than 26 million people treated with our medicines and over 30 billion tests conducted using our Diagnostics products. We empower each other to explore new possibilities, foster creativity, and keep our ambitions high, so we can deliver life-changing healthcare solutions that make a global impact.

Let's build a healthier future, together.

Roche is an Equal Opportunity Employer.