Strategy Execution Leader

The Strategy Execution Leader enables disciplined execution, governance, and value realization of strategic and operational excellence initiatives within a GMP-regulated Oral Solid Dose (OSD) pharmaceutical environment. The role ensures transformation programs deliver measurable, sustained business impact while maintaining quality, compliance, safety, and supply continuity. Operates as a site program governance leader, embedding standard ways of working, portfolio transparency, risk-based decision making, and cross-functional alignment across Operations, Quality, Supply Chain, MSAT, Engineering, Digital, and Finance.
This position is designed as a developmental role for future enterprise leadership, requiring systems thinking, influence without authority, and execution discipline—without direct ownership of operations. Acts as a trusted partner to the Strategy & Operational Excellence Leader and Site Leadership Team to translate strategy into delivery and benefits.
Typical Accountabilities

Portfolio Governance and Strategy Execution

Portfolio oversight: Establish and maintain the integrated portfolio of Operational Excellence and transformation initiatives, ensuring alignment to site strategy and enterprise priorities.

Governance framework: Design and run program governance, cadence, and escalation routines (steercos, stage gates, tollgates), embedding standard methodologies and compliant documentation.

Benefits realization: Track, validate, and report business cases, financial benefits, and value realization in partnership with Finance; ensure targets are credible, time-bound, and audited.

Decision-ready visibility: Provide clear, concise, and accurate performance reporting (KPIs, OKRs, benefits, milestones, risks, dependencies) to enable timely decision-making by leaders.

Execution standards: Enable adoption of standard execution practices (charters, RACIs, risk registers, plans, change controls), and coach teams to improve maturity.

Cross-Functional Alignment and Stakeholder Engagement

Alignment and flow: Enable cross-functional alignment across Operations, Quality, Supply Chain, MSAT, Engineering, Digital, and Finance, resolving constraints and dependencies.

Change leadership: Support change management plans, communications, and stakeholder engagement to drive adoption, capability building, and sustainability of improvements.

Standards and playbooks: Develop and maintain execution playbooks, templates, and education materials; support training delivery and coaching.

Digital and Analytics Enablement

Data-driven performance: Establish standard metrics and dashboards to monitor execution health, benefits, and risk posture; ensure data quality and integrity.
Advanced analytics: Partner with Digital and MSAT to leverage analytics for predictive insights, throughput improvement, and value tracking.

Continuous improvement: Identify patterns and improvement opportunities across programs; drive corrective actions and share best practice.
Financial Stewardship

Financial governance: Coordinate with Finance to align budgets, benefits tracking, cost control, and investment prioritization; ensure transparency and auditability.

Value focus: Maintain emphasis on realized business value (service level, quality, cost, cycle time, throughput, compliance maturity), not only project completion.

As a Member of the Site Leadership Network
Policy alignment: Ensure adherence to AstraZeneca Policies, Standards, and Procedures; promote an ethical business environment and strong internal controls.

Performance management: Support development planning, coaching, and capability uplift for project and operations teams involved in portfolio execution.

Strategic contribution: Contribute to site strategic planning, translating objectives into executable portfolios with defined outcomes and guardrails.

Employee relations & compliance: Support an engaging workplace culture, maintaining effective employee relations and compliance to cGMP, other regulatory requirements, EHS obligations, and AstraZeneca standards.
 

EHS Responsibilities

EHS compliance: Ensure portfolio activities comply with EHS Policy and local regulations; integrate EHS risk assessment into program governance.

Risk management: Identify and manage EHS risks arising from business activities, ensuring mitigation plans are resourced and tracked.

Resources and accountability: Confirm adequate EHS support resources and ensure teams understand and fulfill their EHS responsibilitie

Education, Qualifications, Skills and Experience

Essential:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Science, Operations, or Business.

• 8–12+ years in pharmaceutical manufacturing, technical operations, quality, supply chain, or operational excellence.

• Proven experience leading cross-functional programs in a GMP-regulated environment with demonstrated benefits realization.

Desirable:

• Master’s degree (MBA or equivalent).

• Experience in Lean environments; Green/Black Belt certification.

• PM certification (PMP, Prince2, Agile).

• Exposure to digital/analytics in manufacturing (dashboarding, KPI automation, predictive analytics).

• Knowledge of FDA, EMA, GDP, and data integrity expectations

Would you like to be part of an excellent team of professionals?

Apply Today!

IPR provides a comprehensive benefits package for its employees. It includes: Health, Pharmacy, Dental and Vision Insurances, STD and LTD Insurances, Retirement Plan with company match and Profit Sharing among others.

To be considered for this exciting opportunity, please complete the full application on our website at your earliest convenience – it is the only way that our Recruiter and Hiring Manager can know that you feel well qualified for this opportunity. If you know someone who would be a great fit, please share this posting with them. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

iPR Pharmaceuticals & AstraZeneca embraces diversity and equality of opportunity! We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse team representing all backgrounds, with as wide a range of perspectives as possible, and harnessing industry-leading skills. We believe that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be. We welcome and consider applications to join our team from all qualified candidates, regardless of their characteristics. We follow all applicable laws and regulations on nondiscrimination in employment (and recruitment), as well as work authorization and employment eligibility verification requirements.

Date Posted

Closing Date

Our mission is to build an inclusive environment where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and employees. In furtherance of that mission, we welcome and consider applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of their protected characteristics. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please complete the corresponding section in the application form.