Executive Director, Chief of Staff, Strategy & Operations, Neuroscience

Working with Us
Challenging. Meaningful. Life-changing. Those aren’t words that are usually associated with a job. But working at Bristol Myers Squibb is anything but usual. Here, uniquely interesting work happens every day, in every department. From optimizing a production line to the latest breakthroughs in cell therapy, this is work that transforms the lives of patients, and the careers of those who do it. You’ll get the chance to grow and thrive through opportunities uncommon in scale and scope, alongside high-achieving teams. Take your career farther than you thought possible.

Bristol Myers Squibb recognizes the importance of balance and flexibility in our work environment. We offer a wide variety of competitive benefits, services and programs that provide our employees with the resources to pursue their goals, both at work and in their personal lives. Read more: careers.bms.com/working-with-us.

Position Summary
Serves as the Chief of Staff and strategic thought partner to the Neuroscience Head, with accountability for shaping strategy, driving portfolio direction, and ensuring disciplined operational execution across the organization.
This role goes beyond coordination to actively define priorities, challenge thinking, and guide decision-making across the Neuroscience portfolio. Translates Neuroscience and Drug Development strategy into clear, actionable plans, ensures alignment across functions, and drives execution with a focus on portfolio value, risk, and impact.  Works with and accountable to the Therapeutic Area Leadership Team (TALT) to define priorities, establish work plans, drive workstreams or subteams. Partners closely with Project Leadership, and cross-functional stakeholders to ensure strategic clarity, operational rigor, and end-to-end visibility across the portfolio.

Key Responsibilities
 

Shape Strategy & Direction

• Act as a trusted advisor and thought partner to the Neuroscience Head and the TALT; help shape strategy, priorities, and key decisions
• Drive development of Neuroscience strategy, annual objectives, and enterprise alignment (Drug Development LT, BMS LT, Board of Directors as needed)
• Identify portfolio risks, trade-offs, and opportunities, and proactively frame strategic options

Lead Portfolio Insight & Prioritization

• Provide end-to-end visibility across the development portfolio for early and late development
• Assess portfolio status, risks, and systemic challenges to execution
• Lead and facilitate portfolio prioritization in partnership with Portfolio Strategy Implementation and Reporting (PSI&R), Commercial, and Business Insights and Analytics
• Ensure alignment of prioritization with resourcing and long-range financial plans

Translate Strategy into Execution

• Convert strategic priorities into integrated, actionable plans across functions
• Track progress against objectives; ensure risk mitigation, contingency planning, and accountability
• Enable effective execution of integrated Drug Development strategies across Project Leaders and PM

Drive Operating Model & Governance

• Lead Neuroscience LT agenda, governance, and operating rhythm, ensuring focus on highest-value topics and strategic decisions
• Lead workstreams or initiatives to identify solutions to challenges in the TA or across the organization
• Partner with PSI&R and stakeholders to optimize governance forums and decision quality

Own Business & Operational Performance

• Oversee business operations, including budget planning, resource forecasting, and performance tracking
• Identify and escalate business risks and trade-offs
• Drive preparation for business reviews, governance forums, and external engagements

Enable Leadership Effectiveness & Engagement

• Orchestrate leadership communications (town halls, key messaging, change communications)
• Strengthen team effectiveness, alignment, and follow-through across LT
• Manage key stakeholder relationships across Drug Development and enterprise

Lead Through Influence

• Operate in a highly matrixed environment to align stakeholders and drive outcomes without formal authority
• Serve as a credible representative of the Neuroscience Head in key discussions

Qualifications & Experience
 

• Deep Clinical Development experience (strongly preferred), with demonstrated understanding of end-to-end trial execution and cross-functional interfaces
• Degree in Life Sciences or Business Management, and/or advanced degree in related discipline preferred (e.g., PhD, MS, MBA)​
• 10-15 years of experience with the Pharmaceutical industry​ (preferred)
• Business operations experience and familiarity with divisional management preferred​
• Experience as Chief of Staff and​ experience with portfolio management and reporting.

• Experience in developing portfolio and program strategy
• Display understanding of the drug development process and the roles that each function plays in design and execution of programs

• Demonstrated strength in partnering with business leaders to assess critical needs and performance, developing, and effectively managing plans and initiatives, and delivering business outcomes​.
• Comfort in agile work environment and capable of bringing structure to vaguely defined problems while using creative yet pragmatic problem-solving approaches. ​
• Initiative-taking, organized, and promoter of diversity and inclusivity​.
• Highly effective verbal and written communication skills; strong change & stakeholder management skills​
• Ability to build relationships and influence and drive organizational engagement across functions and sites​.
• Excellent communication and people skills, with the ability to interface with a broad range of internal and external stakeholders at all levels of the organization. ​
• Excellent influencing and negotiating experience and capabilities in a matrix environment​.
• Excellent project management and execution skills and can manage multiple projects and prioritize as needed. Ability to plan and conduct projects within a multi-disciplinary environment. ​ 

If you come across a role that intrigues you but doesn’t perfectly line up with your resume, we encourage you to apply anyway. You could be one step away from work that will transform your life and career.

The starting compensation range(s) for this role are listed above for a full-time employee (FTE) basis. Additional incentive cash and stock opportunities (based on eligibility) may be available. The starting pay rate takes into account characteristics of the job, such as required skills, where the job is performed, the employee’s work schedule, job-related knowledge, and experience. Final, individual compensation will be decided based on demonstrated experience. 
Eligibility for specific benefits listed on our careers site may vary based on the job and location. For more on benefits, please visit https://careers.bms.com/life-at-bms/.
 

Benefit offerings are subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable plans in effect at the time and may require enrollment. Our benefits include:

• Health Coverage: Medical, pharmacy, dental, and vision care.

• Wellbeing Support: Programs such as BMS Well-Being Account, BMS Living Life Better, and Employee Assistance Programs (EAP).

• Financial Well-being and Protection: 401(k) plan, short- and long-term disability, life insurance, accident insurance, supplemental health insurance, business travel protection, personal liability protection, identity theft benefit, legal support, and survivor support.

​Work-life benefits include:

Paid Time Off

• US Exempt Employees: flexible time off (unlimited, with manager approval, 11 paid national holidays (not applicable to employees in Phoenix, AZ, Puerto Rico or Rayzebio employees)

• Phoenix, AZ, Puerto Rico and Rayzebio Exempt, Non-Exempt, Hourly Employees: 160 hours annual paid vacation for new hires with manager approval, 11 national holidays, and 3 optional holidays

Based on eligibility*, additional time off for employees may include unlimited paid sick time, up to 2 paid volunteer days per year, summer hours flexibility, leaves of absence for medical, personal, parental, caregiver, bereavement, and military needs and an annual Global Shutdown between Christmas and New Years Day.

All global employees full and part-time who are actively employed at and paid directly by BMS at the end of the calendar year are eligible to take advantage of the Global Shutdown. 

*Eligibility Disclosure: The summer hours program is for United States (U.S.) office-based employees due to the unique nature of their work. Summer hours are generally not available for field sales and manufacturing operations and may also be limited for the capability centers. Employees in remote-by-design or lab-based roles may be eligible for summer hours, depending on the nature of their work, and should discuss eligibility with their manager. Employees covered under a collective bargaining agreement should consult that document to determine if they are eligible. Contractors, leased workers and other service providers are not eligible to participate in the program.

Uniquely Interesting Work, Life-changing Careers
With a single vision as inspiring as “Transforming patients’ lives through science™ ”, every BMS employee plays an integral role in work that goes far beyond ordinary. Each of us is empowered to apply our individual talents and unique perspectives in a supportive culture, promoting global participation in clinical trials, while our shared values of passion, innovation, urgency, accountability, inclusion and integrity bring out the highest potential of each of our colleagues.

On-site Protocol

BMS has an occupancy structure that determines where an employee is required to conduct their work. This structure includes site-essential, site-by-design, field-based and remote-by-design jobs. The occupancy type that you are assigned is determined by the nature and responsibilities of your role:

Site-essential roles require 100% of shifts onsite at your assigned facility. Site-by-design roles may be eligible for a hybrid work model with at least 50% onsite at your assigned facility. For these roles, onsite presence is considered an essential job function and is critical to collaboration, innovation, productivity, and a positive Company culture. For field-based and remote-by-design roles the ability to physically travel to visit customers, patients or business partners and to attend meetings on behalf of BMS as directed is an essential job function.

Supporting People with Disabilities

BMS is dedicated to ensuring that people with disabilities can excel through a transparent recruitment process, reasonable workplace accommodations/adjustments and ongoing support in their roles. Applicants can request a reasonable workplace accommodation/adjustment prior to accepting a job offer. If you require reasonable accommodations/adjustments in completing this application, or in any part of the recruitment process, direct your inquiries to [email protected]. Visit careers.bms.com/eeo-accessibility to access our complete Equal Employment Opportunity statement.

Candidate Rights

BMS will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records, pursuant to applicable laws in your area.

If you live in or expect to work from Los Angeles County if hired for this position, please visit this page for important additional information: https://careers.bms.com/california-residents/

Data Protection

We will never request payments, financial information, or social security numbers during our application or recruitment process. Learn more about protecting yourself at https://careers.bms.com/fraud-protection.

Any data processed in connection with role applications will be treated in accordance with applicable data privacy policies and regulations.

If you believe that the job posting is missing information required by local law or incorrect in any way, please contact BMS at [email protected]. Please provide the Job Title and Requisition number so we can review. Communications related to your application should not be sent to this email and you will not receive a response. Inquiries related to the status of your application should be directed to Chat with Ripley.