Domain Architect - Pharma R&D

The Domain Architect – Pharma R&D is a senior, pivotal role within the SPG Enterprise Architecture Business Partnering Functions team. This role serves as the critical connector between the Strategy, Portfolio & Governance (SPG) organization and the Pharma R&D function. Reporting directly to the Head of Enterprise Architecture Business Partnering Functions with a dotted line to the Global Head of Digital Technology - Pharma R&D, you will champion our enterprise architecture practices while deeply understanding the unique complexities of the Pharma R&D environment.

Crucially, in our federated RDT model, you will act as the principal orchestrator of the Pharma R&D architecture network. By leading this network—which includes yourself alongside all domain architects embedded directly within the Pharma R&D organization—you will drive architecture governance and strategy formulation, ensure enterprise coherence, and translate business goals into adaptable, future-ready technology roadmaps.

Description of the area

The Enterprise Architecture Business Partnering Functions area serves as the strategic architectural interface for business domain leaders, fostering collaboration to align applications, business capabilities, and information assets with technology solutions. For the Pharma R&D domain, this involves deeply integrating with teams across Clinical Trial Execution, Discovery & Preclinical, Biometrics, and Regulatory Affairs to drive efficiency and innovation with end-to-end accountability. This role ensures that the bridge between SPG’s enterprise vision and Pharma R&D’s operational execution is seamless, collaborative, and highly effective.

Job Responsibilities

• Strategic Business Partnering: Act as the strategic liaison between SPG and Pharma R&D. Partner with the Global Head of Digital Technology - Pharma R&D and the R&D DT Leadership team to align business priorities with multi-year technology roadmaps and target-state architectures.

• Architecture Network Orchestration: Lead the Pharma R&D architecture network by shaping and promoting shared strategic priorities. Enable Domain and Solution Architects to execute efficiently while maintaining alignment and leveraging shared principles and platforms.

• Architecture Governance Leadership: Provide leadership for governance activities across Pharma R&D in collaboration with function embedded domain architects. Oversee architecture deliverables, technology guardrails, and create alignment on non-functional requirements (e.g., security, resilience).

• Critical Program Delivery & Domain Success: Drive the success of large, critical technology programs in Pharma R&D. Translate strategy into action and ensure transformative initiatives deliver intended business value while providing architectural oversight.

• Domain Architecture Deliverables: Lead the development and upkeep of core domain architecture artifacts for Pharma R&D. Ensure data accuracy across the technology and application inventory using the ArchiMEDES toolchain, delivering key outputs such as Capability Maps, Target-State Architectures, and Architecture Standards.

• Portfolio & Investment Alignment: Work with Pharma R&D Portfolio Management to embed architectural insights into investment decisions. Evaluate the impacts of strategies, address architectural gaps, and prevent fragmentation by maximizing platform reuse and minimizing technical debt.

• Technology Innovation & Vendor Evaluation: Monitor emerging technology trends and evaluate vendors to ensure alignment with Pharma R&D needs. Stay updated on vendor developments to maintain an effective and future-ready architecture.

Qualifications

Education / Experience

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree with 7+ years of experience in IT and architecture

• Deep domain experience within the Pharma R&D environment. Comprehensive understanding of the scientific, clinical, and regulatory processes (e.g., Clinical Trials, Biometrics, Discovery, Regulatory Affairs) that move life-changing medicines forward.

• A successful history of contributing as a senior Domain or Enterprise Architect within complex, matrixed, or federated global organization.

Technical Skills

• Proficiency in designing target-state architectures, capability models, and evolving roadmaps that stay aligned with complex Pharma R&D business needs.

• Strong knowledge of modern digital platforms relevant to Pharma R&D (data ecosystems, computational science platforms, lab operations, AI/ML).

• Cross-domain technical fluency spanning Pharma R&D processes such as Clinical Trial Execution, Biometrics & Clinical Evidence, Discovery & Preclinical, Patient Safety, Regulatory Affairs, and lab operations (LIMS, ELN). Must be able to challenge and align Solution Architects embedded across these specific product domains.

• Regulatory-aware architecture in Pharma R&D (e.g., 21 CFR Part 11, GxP, GCP, GLP) — able to meet strict clinical and regulatory compliance requirements without defaulting to heavyweight or rigid processes

• Application portfolio rationalization: dependency mapping, decommissioning sequencing, data migration, and the governance to sunset legacy systems without breaking business continuity

• Knowledge of architecture frameworks (e.g., TOGAF) as a reference

• Experience utilizing flexible delivery methodologies to drive meaningful value, prioritizing practical outcomes over rigid process adherence.

• A thorough and pragmatic approach to developing sustainable, outcome-driven solutions.

Additional Qualifications

• Network & Community Leadership: Demonstrated ability in leading and influencing federated networks of architects without direct reporting lines. Inspires and empowers diverse partners to align and act with a unified voice.

• Strategic Advisory & Executive Influence: Builds trust and serves as a trusted advisor to senior leadership and Global Function Heads. Combines business acumen and executive presence to guide strategic decisions and influence senior stakeholders without direct authority.

• Effective Communication: Excels in storytelling, translating complex architectural concepts into relatable narratives. Balances enterprise coherence (ensured by SPG) with the agility and autonomy of local Pharma R&D execution.