Senior Director, R&D PMO & Innovation Excellence

This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Senior Director, R&D PMO & Innovation Excellence based in the United States.

This is a senior strategic leadership role focused on transforming enterprise priorities into disciplined, measurable execution.

• Lead and continuously enhance the enterprise R&D PMO operating model, establishing effective portfolio governance, decision rights, reporting cadences, escalation mechanisms, standard processes, and program-management capabilities.
• Build and maintain a reliable enterprise-wide view of the strategic portfolio, including initiative ownership, objectives, milestones, dependencies, risks, resource requirements, investments, and expected value realization.
• Partner with executive and functional leaders to translate strategic priorities into an executable portfolio and facilitate prioritization, stage-gate, investment, continuation, acceleration, and risk-management decisions.
• Establish repeatable needs-driven innovation practices across R&D and product development, covering customer observation, problem definition, need screening, concept development, prototyping, evidence planning, and implementation readiness.
• Provide executive oversight for complex, high-risk, and cross-functional programs, ensuring alignment across R&D, Product Management, Commercial, Operations, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Quality, Regulatory, Finance, IT/Digital, Legal, and other stakeholders.
• Improve portfolio decision-making through integrated planning, resource and capacity management, business-case evaluation, risk analysis, and executive-level reporting.
• Monitor delivery performance and benefits realization, identifying risks, dependencies, resource constraints, and opportunities to improve execution.
• Build and develop a high-performing PMO and innovation excellence organization through coaching, talent development, performance management, communities of practice, and structured learning.
• Develop reusable tools, playbooks, governance frameworks, and operating practices that strengthen program-management maturity across the organization.
• Promote consistent innovation and portfolio-management disciplines while ensuring teams remain focused on customer value, business impact, and implementation readiness.
• Provide senior leadership with clear insights and recommendations that support investment decisions, strategic trade-offs, and long-term portfolio performance.

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, science, business, operations, or a related discipline; an advanced degree such as an MBA, master’s degree, or doctorate is preferred.
• Typically 15+ years of progressive leadership experience across portfolio management, program management, product development, innovation, operations, transformation, or related disciplines.
• At least 7 years of experience leading complex cross-functional programs and/or PMO organizations.
• Demonstrated success building, transforming, or leading an enterprise or business-unit PMO, with measurable improvements in portfolio decisions, delivery performance, resource productivity, and benefits realization.
• Deep practical experience with needs-driven innovation methods, including observation, need finding, need screening, concept development, prototyping, and implementation planning; formal Biodesign training is preferred.
• Strong knowledge of portfolio management, stage-gate governance, integrated planning, capacity and resource management, risk management, business-case analysis, and executive reporting.
• Experience with recognized methodologies or certifications such as PMP, PgMP, PfMP, Lean, Six Sigma, Agile, or comparable credentials is preferred.
• Experience operating in regulated product environments and guiding products, diagnostics, instruments, consumables, software or digital solutions, services, or integrated platforms through development and commercialization.
• Industry experience in food safety, animal safety, life sciences, diagnostics, medical technology, laboratory workflows, industrial biotechnology, or related sectors is highly valued.
• Strong executive presence and the ability to influence senior leaders and diverse cross-functional stakeholders without relying solely on formal authority.
• Excellent strategic thinking, portfolio prioritization, problem-solving, communication, and organizational skills.
• Demonstrated ability to bring structure and clarity to complex environments while balancing competing priorities, resources, risks, and business objectives.
• Strong people leadership capabilities, including coaching, talent development, performance management, and building high-performing teams.

• Strategic senior leadership opportunity to shape enterprise approaches to innovation, portfolio management, and program execution.
• Opportunity to influence high-impact initiatives supporting customer value, sustainable growth, operational readiness, quality, and long-term business performance.
• Collaboration with senior executives and global cross-functional teams within a complex, purpose-driven, regulated environment.
• Opportunity to build lasting organizational capabilities through PMO disciplines, innovation methodologies, and leadership development.
• Standard benefits package, with benefits and eligibility determined according to the position and applicable company programs.
• Remote work environment.