Global Senior Director, Lab Strategies & Vivarium Operations

At Johnson & Johnson, we believe health is everything. Our strength in healthcare innovation empowers us to build a world where complex diseases are prevented, treated, and cured, where treatments are smarter and less invasive, and solutions are personal. Through our expertise in Innovative Medicine and MedTech, we are uniquely positioned to innovate across the full spectrum of healthcare solutions today to deliver the breakthroughs of tomorrow, and profoundly impact health for humanity. Learn more at jnj.com.

As guided by Our Credo, Johnson & Johnson is responsible to our employees who work with us throughout the world. We provide an inclusive work environment where each person is considered as an individual. At Johnson & Johnson, we respect the diversity and dignity of our employees and recognize their merit.

Job Function:

Discovery & Pre-Clinical/Clinical Development

Job Sub Function:

Pharmacology

Job Category:

People Leader

All Job Posting Locations:

Beerse, Antwerp, Belgium, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America, San Diego, California, United States of America, Spring House, Pennsylvania, United States of America

Job Description:

We are searching for our new Global Senior Director, Lab Strategies & Vivarium Operations, to be based in Beerse, Belgium; Spring House, Pennsylvania; La Jolla, California; or Remote, Continental United States.

Our expertise in Innovative Medicine is informed and inspired by patients, whose insights fuel our science‑based advancements. Visionaries like you work on teams that save lives by developing the medicines of tomorrow.

Join us in developing treatments, finding cures, and pioneering the path from lab to life while championing patients every step of the way.

Learn more at https://www.jnj.com/innovative-medicine

Role Overview

The Global Senior Director provides strategic and operational leadership and oversight for the in‑house vivarium and animal care and welfare programs located in Spring House, PA, La Jolla, CA, and Beerse, Belgium, and oversees all departmental laboratory strategies and planning, inclusive of in vitro and analytical laboratories, office space planning, and global facilities and laboratory operations across the PSTS organization. The role provides global strategic and operational oversight of vivaria, laboratories, and office planning worldwide, including CAPEX planning, facility design, renovations, equipment investments, and utilization.

This position partners with the SIS Global Head, senior leadership, key stakeholders, and SIS functional discipline leaders to ensure global alignment with J&J Enterprise, J&J Innovative Medicine, and internal standards and expectations, integrates portfolio priorities into functional planning, applies data‑driven decision making to guide short‑, mid‑, and long‑term strategic planning, and fosters a collaborative culture. Other responsibilities may include regulatory license holder activities, crisis management, business continuity, risk mitigation, workforce leadership, collaboration with Environmental Health & Safety, promotion of ethical standards, and serving as a visible change agent. This is an essential personnel role.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide global strategic and operational leadership of the internal vivaria, including prioritization of work targeted toward impactful portfolio contributions, key capabilities, and culture of care, including oversight of facilities and laboratory operations.

• Serve as a strategic partner with leaders and peers in other R&D teams, key stakeholders, and SIS functional discipline leaders to ensure global alignment with J&J Enterprise, J&J Innovative Medicine, and internal standards and expectations.

• Develop strategies to ensure proactive global resource and business planning and operational excellence and serve as a global champion, partner, and sponsor.

• Serve as a member of the senior leadership team and cross‑functional PSTS and DPDS strategic teams and contribute to strategic and long‑range planning.

• Engage as a business leader at the campus level to advise and guide strategy and functional planning influencing infrastructure and campus needs.

• Participate in internal and external symposia, scientific forums, conferences, and meetings at major scientific, industry, and regulatory venues.

• Hire, manage and develop high performing talent who share furthering our business opportunities and Credo mindset.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in project management, animal sciences or related fields with 15 years of relevant in vivo sciences or related experience is required.

• This role requires excellent communication and interpersonal skills, a high level of organizational ability and attention to detail and troubleshooting skills.

• In-depth knowledge of regulatory requirements related to research animals including US and international animal welfare guidelines and AAALAC standards is required.

• Experience with international teams is required.

• Extensive experience in vivarium and/or business operations and facility or laboratory management and external engagement activities is required.

• Direct people management experience is required.

• Exceptional diplomacy and negotiating skills are required. 

• Other advanced degrees (DVM, VMD, Ph.D.) with extensive experience business planning, strategy, project management, animal sciences, and/or related disciplines is preferred.

• 15 + years of working experience in a biotech, pharmaceutical, or healthcare setting is preferred.

• Recognized/established expert or key opinion leader in the area of laboratory animal medicine preferred.

• Proven track-record in working with large complex and international teams is highly preferred.

• Certified Manager of Animal Resources (CMAR), Project Management Professional (PMP) or equivalent credential preferred.

Certifications (Preferred)

• Certified Manager of Animal Resources (CMAR)

• Project Management Professional (PMP) or equivalent

Additional Requirements

• Applicable vaccinations may be required for work within specific laboratory and vivarium spaces

Travel

Domestic and international travel required, up to 20%.

Remote work location may require domestic and international travel up to 50%.

At J&J, we work flexibly with 3 days in‑office and 2 days remote work.

In the United States of America, the anticipated pay range is $173,000–$299,000. For locations outside of the United States, time in office and compensation will be adjusted accordingly.

Subject to the terms of their respective plans, employees are eligible to participate in the Company’s consolidated retirement plan (pension) and savings plan (401(k)).
This position is eligible to participate in the Company’s long‑term incentive program.

Subject to the terms of their respective policies and date of hire, employees are eligible for the following time‑off benefits: vacation, sick time, holiday pay, work/personal/family time, parental leave, bereavement leave, caregiver leave, volunteer leave, and military spouse time‑off.

For additional general information on Company benefits, please visit:
https://www.careers.jnj.com/employee-benefits

Johnson & Johnson is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or other characteristics protected by law.

Johnson & Johnson is committed to providing an inclusive interview process. If you require an accommodation, please contact the Employee Health Support Center or AskGS to be directed to your accommodation resource.

Required Skills:

Preferred Skills:

Clinical Data Management, Data Savvy, Developing Others, Drug Discovery Development, Financial Competence, Inclusive Leadership, Innovation, Leadership, Pharmacodynamics, Pharmacology, Pharmacometrics, Pharmacovigilance, Product Lifecycle Management (PLM), Product Management, Regulatory Affairs Management, Researching, Scientific Research, Technical Credibility, Validation Master Plans