Strategy and Value Lead GDIT R&D MedicalIPSEN

Job Title: Strategic and Value Lead for R&D Medical Digital & Information Technology

Division / Function: R&D and Medical Digital & IT

Location: Paris, FR / Paddington, UK / Cambridge, US

Summary / purpose of the position

The new Strategic and Value Lead serves as a strategic partner to the IT leadership team, aligning strategy with execution across key priorities. The role provides structure, governance, and oversight for transformation efforts, ensuring initiatives deliver measurable value.

Positioned at the intersection of technology, value, and change, the Strategy & Value Role enables effective decision-making and drives cross-functional collaboration-especially across IT, R&D, and Medical-while promoting operational discipline and agile ways of working.

Main responsibilities / job expectations

• Strategic Focus & Leadership Alignment
  Ensure alignment between enterprise goals and IT execution. Support IT leadership in setting priorities, monitoring progress, and enabling decision-making through clear communication, planning, and follow-through. Lead strategic initiatives from definition through delivery and transition to operational support.
• Program & Portfolio Governance
  Oversee cross-functional programs and transformation initiatives. Lead roadmap planning, milestone tracking, and risk mitigation activities to ensure on-time, on-scope, and on-value delivery. Provide regular updates to governance bodies and enable informed decision-making.
• Value Management & Financial Oversight
  Drive value realization through the definition of KPIs, tracking of business cases, and outcome reporting. Oversee financial performance of strategic initiatives, including coordination with Finance for budgeting, forecasting, and cost control.
• Change Enablement & Ways of Working
  Support adoption of new operating models, talent strategies, and engagement practices. Promote agile methodologies and continuous improvement through structured change management efforts.
• Delivery Orchestration & Operational Readiness
  Coordinate integrated planning across resources, budgets, and capacity. Anticipate and address delivery challenges, escalate issues when needed, and ensure organizational readiness. Ensure solutions are scalable, maintainable, and effectively transitioned into operational support.
• Stakeholder Engagement & Communication
  Act as a liaison between IT and key internal partners, ensuring transparency, alignment, and shared accountability across R&D, Medical, and enterprise teams. Build strong relationships across all levels and translate technical and strategic content into actionable insights for senior leadership.
• Team Leadership & People Management
  Provide day-to-day leadership and professional development support to the Strategy Business Analysts (BAs). Foster a high-performing team culture through coaching, feedback, and clear expectations. Ensure alignment of individual contributions with strategic priorities and promote collaboration across functions.

Knowledge, abilities & experience

Education / Certifications:

• Ideal: Master's degree, 6-7 years of experience, including at least three years directing projects
• Minimum: Master's degree, 4-5 years of experience, including at least one to two years directing projects
• Project Management training and certification desirable (PMP), but not required.

Experience:

• Experience shaping strategy for a large IT or development organization, contributing to the definition of long-term priorities, operating models, or transformation initiatives.

• Solid knowledge of purchasing / legal practices and of the IT management process

• Strong knowledge of the technology landscape supporting Medical Affairs activities, including systems for Patient Centricity, Promotional & Scientific Material Review, Investigator Sponsored Studies, Medical Information Inquiry, and Medical Grants.

• Familiarity with tools and platforms used in Clinical Development and Portfolio Management, including systems for study planning, execution, and executive reporting.
• Proven ability to establish and maintain a high level of customer trust and confidence
• Ten or more years of progressively responsible IT experience, with sensitivity and commitment to business problem solving or ten years with responsibilities in business department and/or IT projects as project owner.
• Demonstrated experience in leading diverse teams and managing several external partners
• Knowledge of project management methodology and experience or familiarity with major defined PM approaches (for example, PMI, Prince II or agile)

• Effective influencing and negotiating skills in an environment where this role may not directly control resources

Languages:

• English, with French preferred

Key Technical Competencies Required

• Demonstrated ability to operate independently in ambiguous environments, proactively identifying tasks, learning new skills as needed, and executing across a wide range of responsibilities with minimal oversight.
• Knowledge of project management methodology and experience or familiarity with major defined PM approaches (for example, PMI, Prince II or agile)
• Knowledge of GxP requirements
• Previous experience managing Medical and R&D systems
• Solid experience in the management of matrixed and transverse projects, potentially over several years

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