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- Tasks: Lead strategic planning to align and execute innovative projects in genomics.
- Company: Join Oxford Nanopore, a pioneering company in molecular analysis technology.
- Benefits: Hybrid work model, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on global health by shaping strategic initiatives.
- Qualifications: 5+ years in corporate strategy or life sciences; strong analytical skills required.
- Other info: Be part of a dynamic team driving innovation in the biotech industry.
The predicted salary is between 72000 - 108000 £ per year.
Oxford Nanopore has developed a new generation of nanopore-based sensing technology for faster, information-rich, accessible and affordable molecular analysis. The technology is used to understand and characterise the biology of humans, animals, plants, bacteria, viruses, and diseases such as cancer. By enabling biological insights, we strive to improve life on Earth and beyond.
Oxford Nanopore is seeking a highly motivated, analytically sharp individual to join its Corporate team as Director of Strategic Planning. This role sits at the centre of ONT’s enterprise planning system, shaping how the business aligns around its strategic goals and drives execution at scale.
Reporting to the VP Strategic Planning, you will operationalise ONT’s enterprise planning processes, working closely with the VP Strategic Planning to ensure structure, focus, and cross-functional execution. You’ll enable high-quality decisions, trade-offs, and coordination across functions, ensuring the company’s most important priorities are clearly defined, well-owned, and effectively tracked.
This role will focus on building the infrastructure of strategic focus at one of the most innovative companies in genomics. The ideal candidate will have a strong analytical and systems mindset, be proactive in shaping focus where processes are still being built, and bring energy to scaling ONT’s impact through structured, insight-led planning.
Key Responsibilities- Strategic Planning and Alignment: Shape and run the annual and quarterly planning calendar, ensuring alignment across functions in the organization.
- Drive integration of long-range plans and annual objectives into actionable cross-functional deliverables.
- Coordinate cross-functional input and ensure alignment around business priorities.
- Program and Initiative Governance: Maintain the central portfolio of strategic initiatives, ensuring each has clear ownership, scope, and measurable outcomes.
- Facilitate initiative prioritisation, enabling transparent trade-offs across functions and business units.
- Partner with Project Management, BI&A, and Finance teams to ensure resource, performance, and impact visibility across the portfolio.
- Strategic Insight & Executive Support: Develop clear, insight-driven materials that support strategic clarity and informed decision-making by senior leadership.
- Provide structured insight through targeted market, technology, and competitor analysis.
- Support scenario planning and long-range growth modelling in collaboration with Finance and BI&A.
- Work closely with the VP Strategic Planning and leadership team to shape priorities, bring structured insight to decisions, and help ensure strategic clarity.
- 5+ years of experience in corporate strategy, life sciences/tech consulting, commercial, or strategic roles in high-growth companies.
- Experience in genomics, diagnostics, life sciences tools, or biotech is highly desirable.
- Exceptional problem-solver with strong commercial intuition and a high bar for analytical quality.
- Proven ability to navigate ambiguity, influence without authority, and lead structured thinking across functions.
- Excellent communicator capable of simplifying complexity and delivering materials that support clear and confident decision-making by senior stakeholders.
- Comfortable operating cross-functionally and independently in fast-paced environments.
- Undergraduate degree in life sciences; MBA or similar is a plus.
This is a rare opportunity to help institutionalise the strategic planning discipline at ONT. You’ll work closely with leadership, help define and operationalise how the company aligns and delivers on its strategy, and be instrumental in building the structures and rhythm that ensure strategic ambition becomes execution reality.
Director, Strategic Planning in Oxford employer: Oxford Nanopore Technologies
Contact Detail:
Oxford Nanopore Technologies Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Director, Strategic Planning in Oxford
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in your industry, especially those at Oxford Nanopore. A friendly chat can open doors that applications alone can't.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by diving deep into the company’s mission and values. Show us how your experience aligns with our goals in strategic planning and innovation.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain how your analytical skills and strategic mindset can help shape our planning processes. Confidence is key!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves. We’re excited to see what you bring to the table!
We think you need these skills to ace Director, Strategic Planning in Oxford
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in strategic planning and the life sciences sector. We want to see how your skills align with our mission at Oxford Nanopore!
Showcase Your Analytical Skills: Since this role is all about shaping strategic focus, be sure to include examples of your analytical prowess. We love candidates who can demonstrate their problem-solving abilities and commercial intuition.
Keep It Clear and Concise: When writing your application, clarity is key! Use straightforward language and structure your thoughts logically. We appreciate well-organised materials that make it easy for us to understand your qualifications.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to submit your application directly through our website. This way, you’ll ensure it reaches the right people and gets the attention it deserves. Plus, it’s super easy!
How to prepare for a job interview at Oxford Nanopore Technologies
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you understand Oxford Nanopore's technology and its applications in genomics. Brush up on recent advancements in nanopore-based sensing and how they relate to strategic planning. This will show your genuine interest and help you speak confidently about the role.
✨Showcase Your Analytical Skills
Prepare examples from your past experience that highlight your analytical mindset and problem-solving abilities. Be ready to discuss how you've navigated ambiguity and influenced decisions without direct authority, as these are key traits for the Director of Strategic Planning.
✨Communicate Clearly
Practice simplifying complex ideas into clear, concise messages. You’ll need to demonstrate your ability to create insight-driven materials for senior leadership, so think about how you can present your thoughts in a structured way during the interview.
✨Engage with Cross-Functional Scenarios
Be prepared to discuss how you would coordinate cross-functional input and align business priorities. Think of specific scenarios where you’ve successfully worked across teams to achieve strategic goals, as this will resonate well with the role’s responsibilities.
