Executive Director, R&D Reporting, Insights & Strategy

Location: UK (preferred), other EU locations considered | Hybrid/Remote with travel as required

Competitive Executive Package

I am seeking an accomplished Executive Director to lead Reporting, Insights & Strategy within my clients global R&D organisation. This is a senior, high-impact role (C-suite -2) designed for someone who doesn’t just know what to do, but understands why and how to do it at scale, without needing direction. You’ll lead a global team of ~30, transforming the Reporting & Insights function from a service into a true strategic driver that informs decision-making at the highest levels. This isn’t about maintaining processes, it’s about modernising them. You’ll be expected to challenge assumptions, champion new ways of working, and embed a culture of continuous improvement. Your mission is to partner with senior leadership as an equal—to set priorities, navigate complexity, and deliver practical, impactful solutions. We’re looking for a true leader of leaders. Someone with the gravitas to hold their own in Board-level discussions, the rigour to interrogate systems and data with precision, and the credibility to inspire change across a complex, global organisation.

What You’ll Do:

• Lead, inspire, and develop a diverse, global team of ~30, optimising structure, culture, and performance to meet strategic goals.
• Transform the Reporting & Insights function into a strategic decision-support capability, delivering clear, actionable, and persuasive intelligence to senior leadership.
• Actively challenge existing practices and bring fresh ideas to improve efficiency, quality, and impact across R&D.
• Translate complex data and dashboards into clear narratives that support prioritisation and investment decisions at the highest level.
• Partner directly with executive leadership to identify challenges, set priorities, and deliver solutions that improve timelines, resources, and pipeline performance.
• Drive organisational change and digital transformation—balancing vision with hands-on delivery.
• Ensure systems, processes, and people are fully aligned to enable world-class R&D operations.
• Serve as a sparring partner to senior leaders, confident enough to say “this isn’t working” and propose better approaches.

Who You Are:

• A seasoned leader of leaders with experience managing senior managers and directors in complex, global environments.
• Proven track record of delivering large-scale organisational change and digital transformation in pharma or life sciences R&D.
• Comfortable challenging the status quo and influencing senior leaders to adopt new ways of working.
• A strategic thinker who can see beyond data to business implications—and tell the story that drives action.
• Commercially savvy, detail-oriented, and unafraid to question, prioritise, and solve complex problems.
• Proven experience in managing budgets and demonstrating ROI.
• Confident communicator with the presence and credibility to engage Board-level stakeholders and executive leadership.
• MBA or equivalent advanced business qualification strongly preferred.

This isn’t a role for someone who wants to be told what to do. It’s for a senior leader ready to step up, own the mission, and deliver real change in a complex, global R&D environment.

If you’re ready to partner with executive leadership, challenge assumptions, and lead meaningful, measurable change I'd love to hear from you!