Senior Director - AI Strategy Lead (Secondment - 12 Months)

WHY PATIENTS NEED YOU

We are looking to identify an experienced leader who is passionate about the potential of novel technologies to transfer clinical development efficiency and effectiveness. 

WHAT YOU WILL ACHIEVE

In this role, reporting into the Head AI Portfolio, you will lead cross-functional teams of senior leaders within Pfizer R&D, other Pfizer teams and external partners to develop and deliver digital, data and technology transformation that can accelerate clinical trial recruitment, enhance patient experience, inform clinical program decision-making, or otherwise produce a step change in Pfizer R&D’s clinical development capabilities.   Leveraging your matrix leadership experience, you will be responsible for strategy, business case, deployment and value capture for technology projects in your portfolio.  You will be responsible for timelines, budget and quality of solutions in your portfolio.  You will also partner and collaborate with functional leadership to ensure appropriate resourcing for your projects.

HOW YOU WILL ACHIEVE IT

Strategy: 

• Act as a thought partner and provide strategic support to the Head AI Portfolio, Development in the identification of opportunities for digital technologies/transformation to accelerate clinical trial recruitment, enhance patient experience and inform clinical program decision making, aligned with Purpose Blueprint 4.1 (Develop medicines at lightspeed) and 5.1 (Make trials more patient-centric, now). 

• Identify key clinical development use cased that can benefit from novel technologies such as digital biomarkers, wearables, and novel diagnostic techniques, develop a R&D strategy for leveraging these technologies through internal capabilities, external partnerships and BD, and ensure buy-in from relevant R&D leaders. 

• Partner with AI Strategy Leads to identify use cases for AI, machine learning and advanced analytics in clinical development, medical and medical information. 

• Provide directive input to market research of technology trends and industry solutions via market intelligence and strategic vendor partnerships. 

• Owns relationships with senior external stakeholders at actual or potential technology partners, with responsibility for positioning Pfizer externally at the forefront of digital innovation. 

• Represents R&D and Pfizer externally at AI / technology congresses / industry bodies. 

Implementation: 

• Experienced matrix leader accountable for leading the enterprise project team delivery of multiple complex use case/ solution teams that advance technology solutions for Oncology drug development. 

• Single point of accountability for AI Strategic Development projects to ensure feasibility of execution, planning and delivery of use cases on time, within budget and with quality.  This includes external partnerships. 

• Accountable for developing the strategy for execution of the use case, managing timelines, budget and assessing impact of the projects ensuring delivery to AI Portfolio strategic goals. 

• Lead planning and oversight of oncology focused strategic partnerships designed to advance the oncology technology development business goals. 

• Partners and collaborates with functional line leadership to ensure optimal resourcing for project teams. 

• Leads preparations and proactive planning for digital initiative governance and decision point milestones. 

• Accountable for communication internally and externally to Pfizer R&D leadership and external steering committees regarding project status, milestones, risks and value capture. 

• Leads business case development for above innovation opportunities (in partnership with Business Development where relevant) and work with senior Pfizer R&D functional leaders and the digital to obtain enterprise endorsement and funding for the proposed innovations.  

• Lead delivery of above-program / enterprise-level innovations in partnership with Clinical Development & Operations, Medical and Medical information and other digital and data teams across the enterprise. Responsibilities include leading fit-for-purpose matrix teams to achieve cross-functional alignment, budget management, KPI monitoring and successful deployment. 

• Manage lifecycle of digital solutions from concept design, prototyping, to development and release. Work with R&D IT teams to identify and manage data security risks and GxP validation requirements for digital technologies. 

• May represent Pfizer R&D in Business Development discussions / due diligence for technology partnerships to advance oncology drug development.  

Impact: 

• Accountable for measuring and demonstrating tangible business impact of digital-solutions and analyzing data to assess ROI and making continuous data-driven decisions to maximize value creation. 

• Accountable for driving a culture of continuous learning and improvement across Pfizer AI Portfolio R&D clinical development teams and medical to ensure lessons learnt from previous novel technology deployments inform future projects. 

• Drive awareness among Pfizer senior leaders of the value created / ROI from development-focused technological innovation, and work with Pfizer Medical Strategy and Scientific Affairs colleagues on external communications on these topics. 

QUALIFICATIONS

Must-Have

• Applicant must have a bachelor's degree in a relevant scientific/medical discipline and 12+ years clinical development and operations experience, including expert knowledge in clinical trial conduct, clinical, monitoring and regulatory operations.

• Experience leading cross-functional teams and delivering on complex, global clinical trials, deliver innovation projects, including managing SOP compliance and data privacy/regulatory requirements e.g., GCP. 

• Utilizes negotiation and conflict resolution as necessary to achieve goals. 

• Deep insights into the clinical trial digital ecosystem and expertise in developing and implementing pragmatic digital solutions to accelerate and improve efficiency of clinical trials. 

• Passionate about the potential of novel technologies to transfer clinical development efficiency and effectiveness. 

• Experience developing business cases and securing funding for investment in innovation projects, including senior leadership / executive engagement to achieve this. 

• Experience monitoring and reporting on ROI / value creation from technological innovations within clinical development, including quantitative and qualitative outcomes. 

  

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS 

• Masters degree in a relevant scientific/medical discipline and 10+ years clinical development and operations experience including expert knowledge in clinical trial conduct, clinical, monitoring and regulatory operations.

• PhD in a relevant scientific/medical discipline and 7+ years clinical development and operations experience, including expert knowledge in clinical trial conduct, clinical, monitoring and regulatory operations.

• MD in a relevant scientific/medical discipline and 5+ years clinical development and operations experience, including expert knowledge in clinical trial conduct, clinical, monitoring and regulatory operations.

• Experience in technology / data vendor oversight and business development. 

• Experience utilizing market intelligence and leading vendor assessment to identify potential digital / technology transformation partners, working closely with R&D Procurement, IT and other functional teams. 

• Has a demonstrated network within the clinical trial digital ecosystem to support technology scouting. 

• Oncology experience. 

• Experience with R&D digital solution lifecycle management and GxP testing and validation. 

Candidate demonstrates a breadth of diverse leadership experiences and capabilities including: the ability to influence and collaborate with peers, develop and coach others, oversee and guide the work of other colleagues to achieve meaningful outcomes and create business impact.

OTHER JOB DETAILS

• Last Date to Apply for Job: August 7, 2026

• Additional Location Information: CT - Groton, PA - Collegeville, CA - San Diego (Torrey Heights), WA - Bothell, MA - Cambridge, Europe - Any Pfizer Site, North America - Any Pfizer Site.

• Eligible for Relocation Package – NO

• Secondment 12 months

• If you are currently in a driving position with a fleet vehicle and this secondment does not require driving as an essential function of the position for 12 months or longer, you will be required to turn in your fleet vehicle for the duration of the non-driving secondment.  Please refer to the Fleet Policy and Procedures document for more information.

• There will be no change to your current work location.

• Position is considered Flexible, and colleagues are expected to comply with Log In For Your Day (LIFYD) requirements at site location (e.g. about 2.5 days a week in office).

• Note: This secondment offers a valuable opportunity for professional growth. It will need to be funded by the secondee’s home market.

This role is posted in multiple locations. If you are applying for the role in an secondary job posting location where pay transparency regulations apply, your Talent Advisor will share the local pay information with you during the first interview.

Relocation assistance may be available based on business needs and/or eligibility.

Candidates must be authorized to be employed in the U.S. by any employer.

U.S. work visa sponsorship (such as TN, O-1, H-1B, etc.) is not available for this role now or in the future.

To learn more about acceptable and prohibited uses of AI during the recruitment process, please review our candidate AI-use guidelines available on Pfizer Careers.

Medical