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The Position

A healthier future. It’s what drives us to innovate. To continuously advance science and ensure everyone has access to the healthcare they need today and for generations to come. Creating a world where we all have more time with the people we love. Unwavering focus, collaborative teamwork and exceptional delivery are key behaviours that drive our mission of doing now what patients need next. Together, we can be transformative. That’s what makes us Roche.

Within Roche’s Pharma Research and Early Development (pRED), Neuroscience & Rare Diseases (NRD) represents a major focus area where we are committed to realising our long-term vision of changing the lives of patients with severe brain disorders. Our preclinical research and early clinical development activities centre around indications within the four major pillars of dementias, movement disorders, multiple sclerosis, and neurodevelopmental/neuromuscular disorders. With unparalleled strengths across diverse fields, Roche is uniquely positioned to lead in transforming science into medicines for patients with disorders of the nervous system.

To achieve our goals, Roche pRED NRD is currently recruiting for Head of the Portfolio Development department. The position is based in Basel, Switzerland.

The Opportunity

The Head of the Portfolio Development department acts as a strategic partner to the DTA Head, and works closely with the NRD Leadership Team (NLT), and the late-stage organisation to define, execute and maintain a cutting-edge Portfolio Development strategy, coordinate updates and drive alignment. The successful candidate leads, motivates, and challenges the Portfolio Development department as an empowering leader to harness the creativity of the group, and develops members to contribute beyond their individual projects to shape the clinical portfolio of NRD.

The Head of Portfolio Development also fills the role of a Project Team Leader (PTL), to oversee one or more projects, assuming full accountability for the delivery of the assigned project(s) (strategy & budget), maximising its value for pRED and Roche within the programme strategic context of pRED. In addition, the PTL represents the best interests of the project and Roche by providing high-quality strategic leadership to early global cross-functional development project teams within pRED.

As the Head of the Portfolio Development department you will demonstrate VACC (Visionary-Architect-Catalyst-Coach) leadership competencies, empowering team members to develop a strong portfolio mindset and encouraging thought leadership. You will act as the point of contact and liaison with the NRD, pRED, and Roche stakeholders, ensuring that the Portfolio Development group delivers the best possible portfolio development environment across NRD projects; building effective cross-functional working relationships. Addition you will:

• Ensures the onboarding of new team members. Provides learning opportunities and a growth environment, as well as a space to exchange ideas and works on further improving NRD portfolio execution. Acts as a coach and mentor where applicable

• Provides timely communication and further elevates the visibility of the department within the organisation

• Accountable for the development of the group and its members, for contingency planning and hiring

• Accountable for timely and appropriate staffing of new Ph0Go ready, in-licensed, or changes on projects

As a member of the NLT you will support DTA strategy periodic updates, exploring new areas of potential strategic interest, ensuring strategic priorities are clear and being progressed. You will communicate all aspects of the NRD strategy for key stakeholders in pRED/Roche, driving alignment, transferring learnings and building relationships. In addition you provide thought leadership to further grow the value, strength, resilience, and balance within NRD´s clinical portfolio, supporting the NLT from a portfolio management perspective by co-developing criteria and a framework to help characterise the clinical portfolio and aid ongoing prioritisation and decision-making.

As a PTL you will be accountable for the identification, prioritisation and facilitation of all key decisions associated with assigned projects at the project team level and ensuring that all team members and functions are aligned behind the objectives of the team and inspires the team to achieve challenging goals. You will create a positive team environment to instil trust, clear transparent communications, and gets the team behind the overall goals and vision for the project, coaching and mentoring project team members in achieving project deliverables. In addition you will:

• Provides input to team member performance, including members of sub-teams

• Leads teams to ensure scenario development including alternative development options (cost, time, risk/benefit) for strategic decision-making

• Effectively manages and deploys budget and resources to efficiently move the project forward

• Ensures effective, clear decision-making within the team

• Leads co-development of projects balancing the needs of Roche and partners in collaborations

Who you are

You will have a PhD, MD, PharmD or equivalent experience, and a background in neuroscience. Confirmed experience as a successful, decisive leader in a strategic multi-functional environment and in people management is essential. Experience in challenging senior management in relation to science, data and resources, as well as very strong influence management skills and the ability to impact decisions positively in a matrix environment. Furthermore, you will bring the following:

• At least 6 years in the pharmaceutical industry with a broad cross-functional experience and at least 3 years of experience in clinical development (preferably at early stages)

• Demonstration of successful movement in the organisation towards positions of greater impact and responsibility

If you are ready to join an exciting and challenging environment where science and patient health is your purpose, please submit your application.

Who we are

At Roche, more than 100,000 people across 100 countries are pushing back the frontiers of healthcare. Working together, we’ve become one of the world’s leading research-focused healthcare groups. Our success is built on innovation, curiosity and diversity.

Basel is the headquarters of the Roche Group and one of its most important centres of pharmaceutical research. Over 10,700 employees from over 100 countries come together at our Basel/Kaiseraugst site, which is one of Roche`s largest sites. Read more .

Besides extensive development and training opportunities, we offer flexible working options, 18 weeks of maternity leave and 10 weeks of gender independent partnership leave. Our employees also benefit from multiple services on site such as child-care facilities, medical services, restaurants and cafeterias, as well as various employee events.

We believe in the power of diversity and inclusion, and strive to identify and create opportunities that enable all people to bring their unique selves to Roche.