Director, Cell Therapy Medical Program Management & Strategic Operations

At Bristol Myers Squibb, our employees often ask, “Who are you working for?”—a question that fuels collaboration, accountability, and urgency in our work. Our purpose-driven culture inspires us to discover, develop, and deliver innovative medicines to prevail over serious diseases. We offer uniquely interesting and meaningful work, opportunities for growth, and a supportive environment that values inclusion, wellbeing, flexibility, and comprehensive benefits. This is work that transforms the lives of patients, and the careers of those who do it.

Reporting to VP of WW Portfolio strategy, Cell Therapy Medical, the Director of Program Management & Strategic Operations will lead a team of Program Managers supporting Global and US Cell Therapy Medical Affairs and drive strategic operations across the medical organization. The role partners with Medical Affairs leadership to translate strategic priorities into coordinated plans, disciplined execution, governance, and measurable outcomes.

This leader will coach and develop Program Managers, advance enterprise initiatives, support organizational planning and business operations, and enable cross-functional execution across Cell Therapy Medical. Success requires strategic thinking, strong people leadership, organizational influence, and the ability to navigate complexity in a fast-paced environment.

The Director will serve as a connector across Medical Affairs, Commercial, Finance, Corporate Affairs, and enterprise partners to ensure alignment, transparency, and execution of critical priorities.

Key Responsibilities:

Team Leadership & Talent Development

• Lead, coach, and develop Program Managers supporting Cell Therapy Medical priorities across global and US teams.
• Establish clear expectations, development plans, and succession strategies for team members.
• Foster a high-performing culture grounded in accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement, and engagement.
• Build project management capability, standard practices, and operational excellence across the organization.
• Serve as a mentor and strategic advisor to Program Managers navigating complex initiatives.

Strategic Planning & Operational Excellence

• Partner with Medical Affairs leadership to translate strategy into operational plans, milestones, and measurable deliverables.
• Drive annual functional planning, goal setting, budget planning, and business reviews.
• Establish governance processes that support prioritization, decision making, resource allocation, and execution.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives that streamline processes, improve efficiency, and reduce complexity.
• Develop performance indicators and dashboards to monitor organizational effectiveness and execution progress.

Enterprise Programs & Special Initiatives

• Lead high-impact enterprise initiatives across Cell Therapy Medical and broader BMS organizations.
• Coordinate complex cross-functional programs involving multiple stakeholders, workstreams, and senior leaders.
• Identify dependencies, risks, and opportunities, and proactively develop mitigation plans.
• Support organizational transformation, change management, and implementation of new operating models.
• Serve as operational lead for strategic initiatives related to portfolio strategy, congress excellence, AI adoption, data and analytics, organizational effectiveness, and business transformation.

Financial & Resource Management

• Lead organization-wide budget management, including annual planning, forecasting, ongoing tracking, and financial stewardship.
• Monitor resource allocation and utilization across strategic initiatives.
• Identify opportunities to optimize investments and improve operational efficiencies.
• Partner with Finance and functional leaders to support budget governance and business planning activities.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Build partnerships across Medical Affairs, Clinical Development, Commercial, Corporate Affairs, Compliance, Finance, and external stakeholders when appropriate.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to senior leaders on organizational priorities, operational opportunities, and execution challenges.
• Influence across a matrix organization and align stakeholders around shared objectives.

Qualifications & Experience:

Required

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• 8+ years of experience in pharmaceutical, biotechnology, healthcare, consulting, or related industries.
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex cross-functional programs and enterprise initiatives.
• Experience managing, coaching, and developing teams.
• Strong business operations, planning, governance, and project management experience.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including executive-level presentations and facilitation of cross-functional discussions.
• Ability to influence senior leaders, build alignment, and drive execution across matrix organizations.

Preferred

• Cell therapy, oncology, hematology, or Medical Affairs experience.
• Experience supporting global organizations.

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