Manager, Portfolio Operations & Governance Excellence

Title:

Manager, Portfolio Operations & Governance Excellence

Company:

Ipsen Biopharm Ltd

 

About Ipsen:

Ipsen is a mid-sized global biopharmaceutical company with a focus on transformative medicines in three therapeutic areas: Oncology, Rare Disease and Neuroscience. Supported by nearly 100 years of development experience, with global hubs in the U.S., France and the U.K, we tackle areas of high unmet medical need through research and innovation.

 Our passionate teams in more than 40 countries are focused on what matters and endeavor every day to bring medicines to patients in 88 countries. We build a workplace that champions human-centric leadership and fosters a culture of collaboration, excellence and impact. At Ipsen, every individual is empowered to be their true selves, grow and thrive alongside the company’s success. Join us on our journey towards sustainable growth, creating real impact on patients and society!

For more information, visit us at https://www.ipsen.com/ and follow our latest news on LinkedIn and Instagram.

Job Description:

Job Title:  

Manager, Portfolio Operations & Governance Excellence

Division / Function: 

Global Portfolio Operations (GPO); Research and Development (R&D)

Manager’s Job Title: 

Head of Portfolio Operations & Governance Excellence

WHAT - Summary & Purpose of the Position

This role drives transformation and operational excellence across Global Portfolio Operations (GPO) by leading change initiatives, managing performance through robust KPI frameworks, and championing a culture of continuous improvement. It combines strategic project and change management with hands-on delivery of training, knowledge sharing, and process optimization. By ensuring accurate KPI reporting and actionable insights, the role enables data-driven decisions that enhance efficiency and align operations with business objectives.

WHAT - Main Responsibilities & Technical Competencies

Transformation and Change Management

• Actively contributes to transformation and continuous improvement initiatives, including project planning, material development, meeting coordination, and action tracking
• Provides project management, change management, and problem-solving expertise to priority initiatives, ensuring timely and effective delivery
• Maintains and supports execution of the GPO Change Management plan, developing high-quality communication and training materials (e.g., emails, newsletters, presentations) to support adoption
• Identifies and drives continuous improvement opportunities across processes, culture, tools and systems
• Develops and monitors project charters, timelines, and budgets within scope, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives
• Champions a continuous improvement mindset across all activities
• Maintains awareness of biopharmaceutical industry trends, operational best practices, and external developments to inform decision-making
• Supports special projects in collaboration with the Head of Portfolio Operations & Governance Excellence and GPO Leadership Team

Performance Management (Key Performance Indicators)

• Facilitates the collection, validation, and reporting of defined KPIs to enable accurate monitoring of time, cost, and quality across Ipsen studies and transformation initiatives
• Ensures KPI insights support data-driven decision-making and continuous improvement in operational performance

Training

• Designs and implements role-specific training plans and programs within GPO as needed
• Coordinates and supports delivery of training sessions, including the development of high-quality training materials
• Facilitates knowledge-sharing initiatives and creates supporting resources to promote best practices
• Develops and maintains GPO and Portfolio Operations & Governance processes, SOPs, and systems, ensuring strong collaboration across GPO teams.

Business Support

Provides targeted support to the Head of Portfolio Operations & Governance Excellence on key business support activities for GPO, including:

• Resource planning and management to ensure optimal allocation and utilization
• Financial oversight and budget administration, maintaining accuracy and compliance
• Coordination of team meetings and offsite events, ensuring smooth execution and engagement

HOW - Behavioural Competencies Required

Competency

Excellence in Execution

Planning and prioritizing work to meet commitments aligned with organizational goals; consistently achieving results, even under tough circumstances.

Critical for managing KPIs, timelines, and ensuring delivery of transformation initiatives.

Managing Complexity

Making sense of complex, high-volume, and sometimes contradictory information to effectively solve problems.Essential for navigating change management and continuous improvement projects.

Communicates Effectively

Developing and delivering clear, multi-mode communications tailored to different audiences.Key for creating impactful change communications, training materials, and stakeholder engagement.

Cultivates Innovation

Creating new and better ways for the organization to be successful.

Important for driving continuous improvement and transformation initiatives.

Collaborates

Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.Necessary for working across GPO teams and with leadership on strategic projects.

HOW - Knowledge & Experience

Knowledge & Experience (essential):

• 5+ years of experience in project and change management within the Life Sciences industry.
• Strong understanding of the drug development lifecycle and related processes.
• Proven track record in managing high-impact programs, with expertise in project management tools and frameworks.
• Demonstrated experience in designing and implementing performance management frameworks (KPIs) to drive operational excellence.
• Highly agile and proactive, with strong problem-solving skills and emotional intelligence.
• Ability to collaborate effectively in cross-functional environments and build strong stakeholder relationships.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, both written and verbal.
• Skilled in facilitating project team meetings, ensuring alignment across internal and external stakeholders.
• Comfortable working independently and as part of a team, with strong prioritization and multitasking abilities in fast-paced settings.
• Demonstrates a strong sense of urgency and ability to maintain momentum toward milestone achievement in competitive environments.
• Deep customer and patient focus, ensuring alignment with organizational purpose and values.

Knowledge & Experience (preferred):

• Formal Project Management qualifications e.g. Lean Six Sigma, Agile, Prince 2, PM

Education / Certifications (essential):

• Bachelor’s degree in related field

Education / Certifications (preferred):

•  Master’s degree or MBA in related field

Language(s) (essential):

•  English

Language(s) (preferred):

• French is beneficial

#LI-MM1 #LI-hybrid

We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels heard, valued, and supported; where we embrace “The Real Us”. The value we place on different perspectives and experiences drives our commitment to inclusion and equal opportunities. When we include diverse ways of thinking, we make more thoughtful decisions and discover more innovative solutions. Together we strive to better understand the communities we serve. This means we also want to help you perform at your best when applying for a role with us. If you require any adjustments or support during the application process, please let the recruitment team know. This information will be handled with care and will not affect the outcome of your application.