Strategic Planning & Operations Manager

Job description

Career Category Operations Job Description About the Role Increasing demand for observational research and real-world evidence (RWE) from regulatory and reimbursement authorities makes observational research a critical component of drug development and commercialization. The CfOR Strategic Planning & Operations Manager drives operational excellence, strategic execution, workforce planning, study operations, analytics, and digital transformation across the organization. This role requires expertise in business operations, study management, data analytics, dashboarding, forecasting, process optimization, and digital enablement. The ideal candidate is analytical, execution-oriented, and capable of translating complex operational data into actionable leadership insights using tools such as Power BI. Strategic Planning & Business Operations Partner closely with CfOR leadership to support strategic planning, operational execution, workforce planning, and organizational initiatives. Drive cross-functional operational programs and strategic initiatives across global teams, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and priorities. Support leadership decision-making through business analysis, operational insights, scenario planning, and executive-ready presentations. Manage and track organizational priorities, risks, dependencies, timelines, and action plans across multiple workstreams. Support headcount management, staffing analysis, requisition tracking, organizational planning, resource forecasting, and capacity planning. Support operational budgeting, financial tracking, forecasting, and resource planning activities across organizational initiatives and study operations. Analyze resource utilization, portfolio demand, operational capacity, and forecasting trends to support leadership planning and prioritization decisions. Lead operational transformation initiatives and strategic special projects. Support organizational governance activities including leadership reviews, operational planning cadences, hiring alignment, and cross-functional coordination. Drive operational readiness initiatives across teams by improving visibility into resource capacity, prioritization, and execution tracking. Partner with functional leaders to streamline onboarding, collaboration models, knowledge management, and operational communication frameworks. Data Analytics, Reporting & Visualization Develop and maintain executive dashboards, operational metrics, KPIs, and reporting frameworks using Power BI and other visualization tools. Translate operational, organizational, and portfolio data into actionable insights for senior leadership. Analyze trends across resource allocation, study delivery, operational efficiency, financials, forecasting, and portfolio performance to support strategic decisions. Build scalable reporting solutions that improve visibility, transparency, and operational governance across CfOR. Partner with stakeholders to define reporting standards, business requirements, and performance measurement frameworks. Develop integrated reporting solutions, forecasting models, and self-service dashboards across multiple operational data sources. Drive data quality, reporting consistency, process standardization, and governance across operational systems. Study, Project & Program Management Lead operational planning, coordination, and execution of observational research studies and cross-functional operational initiatives. Partner with study teams, functional stakeholders, and vendors to support study timelines, deliverables, operational readiness, and execution tracking. Support end-to-end study operations including planning, governance, resource coordination, risk tracking, issue resolution, and stakeholder communication. Develop and maintain project plans, roadmaps, RAID logs, governance trackers, and operational documentation. Facilitate cross-functional meetings, manage dependencies, and ensure timely completion of operational and study-related milestones. Monitor portfolio progress, operational risks, execution metrics, and forecasting trends to support proactive decision-making. Communicate project and study status, risks, escalations, and key updates effectively to stakeholders and leadership. Support vendor coordination, budget tracking, financial monitoring, forecasting activities, and resource management. Operate effectively in fast-paced, matrixed environments with evolving priorities and competing business needs. Observational studies related compliance responsibilities & governance with understanding of Veeva vault, regulatory information management, inspection and submission Readiness. Digital Transformation & Operational Excellence Lead adoption and optimization of digital collaboration and workflow tools including Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, Miro, and Power Platform solutions. Support SharePoint governance, content organization, operational documentation, and knowledge management initiatives across teams. Evaluate and implement modern workflow management and collaboration tools that improve operational scalability and team effectiveness. Identify opportunities to improve operational processes through automation, standardization, and digital enablement. Leverage AI and productivity tools such as Microsoft Copilot, ChatGPT, and AI agents to streamline workflows, documentation, communications, reporting, and meeting management. Support experimentation and implementation of emerging technologies that enhance organizational efficiency and stakeholder engagement. Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on scalability, operational maturity, and user experience. Stakeholder Management & Communication Build strong collaborative relationships across CfOR, study teams, functional partners, and enterprise stakeholders. Influence stakeholders across varying levels of the organization through structured problem-solving, operational leadership, and data-driven recommendations. Prepare executive communications, dashboards, presentations, operational summaries, leadership business reviews, and forecasting updates. Facilitate alignment across geographically distributed teams through structured communication, governance processes, and operational planning. Act as a trusted strategic operations partner capable of balancing organizational priorities with tactical execution. Preferred Qualifications 8–10+ years of experience in strategic operations, program management, business operations, analytics, or related roles within pharma, biotech, healthcare, consulting, or regulated industries. Strong expertise in Power BI, dashboard development, data visualization, operational analytics, and reporting automation. Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, Power BI, Microsoft O365, SharePoint, and modern workflow/project management platforms. Experience supporting operational management of observational research studies or cross-functional healthcare/pharma initiatives preferred. Experience building executive-level dashboards and presenting operational insights to senior leadership teams. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to synthesize large datasets into actionable recommendations. Proven ability to manage complex cross-functional projects in fast-paced, matrixed environments. Experience with Agile methodologies including SAFe, Scrum, and Kanban. Demonstrated ability to improve operational efficiency through automation, process optimization, and digital transformation initiatives. Familiarity with Power Platform tools (Power Automate, Power Apps) and workflow automation solutions preferred. Working knowledge of AI productivity tools such as Microsoft Copilot, ChatGPT, AI agents, and other emerging digital solutions. Strong communication and stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence across organizational levels. Experience supporting workforce planning, hiring coordination, resource management, budgeting, forecasting, and strategic planning activities. Experience with operational budgeting, portfolio forecasting, capacity planning, and business planning support preferred. Experience building scalable operational processes, governance frameworks, and executive reporting models in matrixed organizations preferred. Understanding of pharmaceutical development, real-world evidence, clinical operations, or healthcare business environments preferred. Knowledge of GxP, regulatory, and compliance environments is a plus with understanding of Veeva vault, regulatory information management, inspection and submission Readiness. Key Success Attributes Strategic thinker with strong operational execution capabilities. Highly data-driven with strong business acumen. Comfortable balancing strategy, analytics, operations, and execution. Strong ownership mindset with ability to independently lead initiatives. Collaborative and relationship-oriented with excellent communication skills. Passion for innovation, continuous improvement, and leveraging technology to drive efficiency. Adaptable, agile, and capable of thriving in rapidly evolving environments. .