Associate Director, Business Strategy & Operations – WCH Development
Location: South San Francisco, CA (Hybrid)
About This Role
The Associate Director, Business Strategy & Operations will play a critical role in advancing the strategic, operational, and cultural priorities of Biogen’s West Coast Hub (WCH) Development organization. Reporting to the Head of Strategy, Operations & Excellence for WCH, this role serves as a trusted thought partner and execution lead, supporting site-level strategy, communications, and operational excellence aligned with Biogen’s enterprise strategy. This position is designed for a strategic, action-oriented leader who thrives in a dynamic, matrixed environment and is motivated by building high-performing teams, strong culture, and scalable ways of working. The role combines strategic planning, operational delivery, and hands-on leadership support to ensure WCH Development continues to operate as a purpose-built, execution-ready development organization.
What You’ll Do
Strategic Planning & WCH Enablement
· Act as a strategic partner to the WCH Head of Strategy, Operations & Excellence, supporting site-level strategy, prioritization, and execution.
· Translate strategy into clear operating plans, milestones, and decision-ready materials.
· Lead planning and execution for key WCH Development forums (e.g., learning platforms, all-hands, on-sites) under leadership guidance.
· Track progress across strategic priorities, proactively surfacing risks, dependencies, decisions, and tradeoffs.
· In partnership with the Head of Strategy, Operations and Excellence, deliver change management efforts tied to evolving ways of working, including communications, adoption, and reinforcement.
Business Operations & Strategic Initiatives
· Shepherd WCH Development–specific business operations initiatives aligned with Development and enterprise strategy in close partnership with the Head of Strategy, Operations and Excellence as well as the Head of Portfolio and Project Management at WCH.
· Drive process design, mapping, and continuous improvement to improve clarity, speed, and execution rigor.
· Support and evolve Development operating rhythms, planning cadences, and learning forums under the guidance of the Head of Strategy, Operations, and Excellence.
· Design practical, scalable solutions that enable Development teams to move faster while maintaining quality and compliance.
Site, Culture & Ecosystem Engagement
· Support and advance WCH site leadership priorities, with a focus on how the site operates, collaborates, and builds a strong, intentional site culture.
· Help shape and steward the Biogen WCH identity and culture, aligned with enterprise values and Development priorities, in partnership with HR leadership.
· Plan and execute site-based events and experiences that strengthen connection, visibility, and engagement (e.g., leadership visits, scientific forums, community-facing events).
· Support WCH’s presence in the Bay Area and California biotech/pharma ecosystem, including:
o Hosting and coordinating local scientific, academic, and industry engagements in close partnership with the WCH Executive Admin team.
o Supporting site-aligned sponsorships and community partnerships.
o Pursuing opportunities to connect with academic institutions, industry groups, and public officials in partnership with Corporate Affairs and leadership.
o Act as a point of coordination for external-facing site engagements, ensuring alignment with enterprise guidance and local strategy.
· Partner with HR to contextualize enterprise people and engagement programs for WCH, as needed.
Communications
• Working closely with the Head of Strategy, Operations, and Excellence, curate and elevate key Development milestones, stories, and achievements in partnership with enterprise teams and WCH functions.
• Support WCH Development external and local engagement strategy, aligned with site and enterprise guidance.
Who You Are
You are a strategic operator with strong judgment, emotional intelligence, and a bias for action. You are comfortable working with senior leaders, navigating ambiguity, and influencing without authority. You bring a blend of strategic thinking, operational rigor, and people-centric leadership, and you are motivated by building strong teams, culture, and sustainable ways of working.
Qualifications
Required
• Bachelor’s degree in a science related field required.
• 8+ years of experience in biotech/pharma, with at least 3 years in project management, strategic initiatives, or business operations.
• Experience working with executive leadership.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including experience preparing senior-level materials.
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities and drive execution.
Preferred
• PhD, PharmD, or MD (candidates with advanced degrees may be considered with fewer years of industry experience).
• MBA or equivalent business training preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex, cross-functional initiatives in a matrixed environment.
• Change management, communications, and alliance management experience.
• Experience supporting R&D, Development, or scientific organizations.
• Experience with designing programs that influence site-level activities in collaboration with leadership.
Additional Information
Base salary offered is determined through an analytical approach utilizing a combination of factors including, but not limited to, relevant skills & experience, job location, and internal equity.
Regular employees are eligible to receive both short term and long-term incentives, including cash bonus and equity incentive opportunities, designed to reward recent achievements and recognize your future potential based on individual, business unit and company performance.
In addition to compensation, Biogen offers a full and highly competitive range of benefits designed to support our employees’ and their families physical, financial, emotional, and social well-being; including, but not limited to:
- Medical, Dental, Vision, & Life insurances
- Fitness & Wellness programs including a fitness reimbursement
- Short- and Long-Term Disability insurance
- A minimum of 15 days of paid vacation and an additional end-of-year shutdown time off (Dec 26-Dec 31)
- Up to 12 company paid holidays + 3 paid days off for Personal Significance
- 80 hours of sick time per calendar year
- Paid Maternity and Parental Leave benefit
- 401(k) program participation with company matched contributions
- Employee stock purchase plan
- Tuition reimbursement of up to $10,000 per calendar year
- Employee Resource Groups participation
Why Biogen?
We are a global team with a commitment to excellence, and a pioneering spirit. As a mid-sized biotechnology company, we provide the stability and resources of a well-established business while fostering an environment where individual contributions make a significant impact. Our team encompasses some of the most talented and passionate achievers who have unparalleled opportunities for learning, growth, and expanding their skills. Above all, we work together to deliver life-changing medicines, with every role playing a vital part in our mission. Caring Deeply. Achieving Excellence. Changing Lives.
At Biogen, we are committed to building on our culture of inclusion and belonging that reflects the communities where we operate and the patients we serve. We know that diverse backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives make us a stronger and more innovative company, and we are focused on building teams where every employee feels empowered and inspired. Read on to learn more about our DE&I efforts.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, race, color, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, religion, age, veteran status, disability, genetic information or any other basis protected by federal, state or local law. Biogen is an E-Verify Employer in the United States.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in a science related field
- 8+ years of experience in biotech/pharma
- At least 3 years in project management, strategic initiatives, or business operations
- Experience working with executive leadership
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Proven ability to manage multiple priorities and drive execution
- PhD, PharmD, or MD may be considered with fewer years of experience
- MBA or equivalent business training preferred
- Demonstrated ability to lead complex, cross-functional initiatives
- Change management, communications, and alliance management experience
- Experience supporting R&D, Development, or scientific organizations
- Experience with designing programs that influence site-level activities
Biogen Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Biogen and has not been reviewed or approved by Biogen.
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Fair & Transparent Compensation — Pay is generally positioned as competitive and often perceived as fair across roles, with total compensation framed as strong when bonus and equity are included. Compensation sentiment is described as above-average overall, though it varies by function and business cycle.
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Equity Value & Accessibility — Equity programs are repeatedly highlighted as a meaningful part of the total package, including stock programs and an employee stock purchase plan. Equity and bonus elements are portrayed as important contributors to feeling well rewarded beyond base pay.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Time-off benefits are described as distinctive, including a year-end shutdown and a paid sabbatical after extended tenure. Vacation, holidays, sick time, and personal-significance days are also presented as supportive of work-life needs.
Biogen Insights
What We Do
Through cutting-edge science and medicine, Biogen discovers, develops and delivers innovative therapies worldwide for people living with serious neurological and neurodegenerative diseases. Founded in 1978, Biogen is a pioneer in biotechnology and today the Company has the leading portfolio of medicines to treat multiple sclerosis, has introduced the first and only approved treatment for spinal muscular atrophy, and is at the forefront of neurology research for conditions including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Biogen also manufactures and commercializes biosimilars of advanced biologics. With approximately 7000 people worldwide, we are truly a global organization, headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, which is also home to our research operations. Our international headquarters are based in Zug, Switzerland and we have world-class manufacturing facilities in North Carolina and Denmark. We offer therapies globally through direct affiliate presence in 30 countries and a network of distribution partners in over 50 additional countries. For more information, please visit www.biogen.com. Follow us on social media – Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube.
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