Head Strategy & Operations

Job Description Summary

Own and drive the BU’s central strategic, planning and operational agenda, with particular responsibility for enabling effective planning and decision-making in the Business Unit. Lead the BU-level Strategy & Operations organisation—including Strategic Portfolio & Analytics, Hospital Operations, Customer Service and biosimilar-related Compliance—and enable the BU Head and Leadership Team to achieve the BU’s financial, operational and strategic objectives through clear standards, robust reporting and the increasing use of AI and global shared service centres.

Job Description

Sandoz continues to go through an exciting and transformative period as a global leader and pioneering provider of sustainable Biosimilar and Generic medicines. As we continue down this new and ambitious path, unique opportunities will present themselves, both professionally and personally. Join us, the future is ours to shape! 

Your Key Responsibilities: 

• Own the BU operating model and management cadence, including planning cycles, forecasts, performance reviews, decision governance, standard reporting and follow-through on agreed actions 

• Lead and develop the Strategic Portfolio & Analytics, Operations and biosimilar-related Compliance teams, as well as the Customer Service Team Lead and Customer Service team; continuously improve service processes through the appropriate use of AI and global shared service centres 

• Own BU planning, target setting, resource allocation and performance management in close alignment with the BU Head, with particular focus on the hospital business; together with the team, define and embed consistent planning standards, processes and decision frameworks that enable high-quality, efficient and timely decision-making, and coordinate BU inputs to financial processes, the Strategic Demand Plan and the Strategic Plan 

• Define, govern and ensure the reliable execution of standard management reports and performance analyses covering financial and in-market performance and the market environment; translate insights into clear recommendations, projects and initiatives, and progressively improve reporting quality, speed and efficiency through AI and global shared service centres 

• Lead BU-wide cross-functional priorities, strategic projects and organisational change, including the identification, prioritisation and implementation of AI, automation and global shared-service opportunities with clear process ownership, controls and quality standards 

• Ensure efficient, customer-focused and compliant BU operations; through the Customer Service Team Lead, drive service levels, customer experience, process quality and productivity, and manage effective interfaces with Sales, Supply Chain, Finance and Commercial Channels 

• Define decision rights, governance forums, escalation paths and data standards, and support the BU Head with clear management reports, business-review materials and recommendations that accelerate high-quality decisions 

• Serve as the central coordination point for strategic and operational requests from Europe Region and Global, safeguard BU priorities with regional and global stakeholders, and build planning, analytical, AI and operational-excellence capabilities across the teams and wider BU 

What you’ll bring to the role: 

• University degree in business administration, economics, life sciences, pharmacy or a related field; advanced degree preferred  
• Fluent English; Strong German skills preferred 
• Several years of relevant experience in strategy, commercial operations, business management; business finance or a related function within the pharmaceutical industry, ideally with previous strategy consulting experience 

• In-depth understanding of the German pharmaceutical market and its commercial and regulatory environment; experience in biosimilars strongly preferred
• Proven track record in structuring complex business questions, strategic planning, performance management and translating insights into action 

• Demonstrated ability to lead complex, cross-functional programmes and organisational change 

• Strong stakeholder management skills across local, regional and global organisations with demonstrated experience advising and working directly with senior executive leadership 

• Ability to lead and integrate teams with diverse professional profiles, spanning strategic, analytical, governance/ compliance and operational responsibilities 

• Proven people-leadership experience, including the development of diverse teams and leadership through team leads 

• Experience in operating-model design, process improvement, reporting governance, digital and AI-enabled transformation, and effective management of global shared-service interfaces 

Compensation Structure & Criteria:   

Sandoz compensation is determined by job level, qualifications, niche skills, experience, and location within company salary ranges. Fully proficient and highly effective employees can expect a starting salary around market median, with those new to the level or with less functional depth at the lower end of the range and those with sustained superior or niche skills towards the higher end of the range. Internal equity and external market data inform our range placement. Annual salary reviews consider performance outcomes, market alignment, and business needs.   

• Job location: Holzkirchen, Germany   

• Starting pay range: 109,200 - 202,800 EUR

• Variable compensation: 20% performance-based bonus , long term incentive

• Additional benefits include: 30 vacation days per year (in full time), 1.200€ vacation payment (in full time), €40/month in capital-forming benefits (in full time), company pension, eligibility for a company car, flex-hybrid working 50% per week in the office, access to our learning & development platforms Skillsoft & Learnlight, Access to our employee share program “OurShare” 

• Pay frequency: Monthly 

• Expected weekly working hours: 40 hours 

• Contract type: full time 

Why Sandoz? 

Sandoz is the global leader in Biosimilar and Generic medicines, a segment of the healthcare industry that delivers 80% of the world’s medicines at 30% of the cost, touching the lives of more than 1 billion people across 100+ countries! While we are proud of our achievements, we have an ambition to do more so that everyone can achieve the basic human right of good health.  

With investments in new development capabilities, production sites, new acquisitions, and partnerships, we have the opportunity to shape the future of Sandoz and help even more people gain access to low-cost, high-quality medicines, sustainably.   

Our momentum is powered by an open, collaborative culture driven by our talented and ambitious colleagues, who, in return for applying their skills, experience an agile and collegiate environment with impactful careers, where diversity of thought is welcomed and where personal growth is supported!   

Join us, help us make healthcare fairer and faster.   

Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion: 

We are committed to building an outstanding, inclusive work environment and diverse teams representative of the patients and communities we serve. 

Hiring decisions are only based on the qualification for the position, regardless of gender, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, age and disability.Hiring decisions are only based on the qualification for the position, regardless of gender, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, age and disability. 

The law provides for severely disabled / equal applicants the opportunity to involve the local representative body for disabled employees (SBV) in the application process. If you would like to request this, please let us know in advance as a note on your CV. 

#Sandoz  

Skills Desired

Business Partners, Business Planning, Business Reviews, Crm (Customer Relationship Management), Customer Requirements, Customer Service, Effectiveness, Employee Onboarding, Finance, Influencing Skills, Microsoft Access, Operations, Problem Solving Skills, Resource Allocation, Sales, Sales Operations, Sales Targets, Selling Skills, Strategic Planning, Technical Skills