Alcon

Executive Director, Strategy Prioritization & Governance

Alcon$236K — $439K *
Pharmaceuticals & Biotech
11 - 15 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in a related field required; advanced degree (Master of Science or MBA) preferred.
  • 12+ years in strategy, portfolio management, or management consulting.
  • Experience designing senior-level governance and portfolio review processes.
  • Demonstrated ability to influence senior stakeholders in a matrixed environment.
  • Strong skills in executive communication and risk management.

Responsibilities

  • Design and implement the US enterprise strategy portfolio governance model.
  • Create a prioritization framework balancing strategic and commercial values.
  • Translate US leadership imperatives into a decision-ready strategic portfolio.
  • Lead quarterly strategic portfolio reviews and monthly governance routines.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional partners to identify dependencies and capacity constraints.
  • Establish KPIs for initiative delivery and strategic outcomes.
  • Build disciplined portfolio management practices without creating unnecessary bureaucracy.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive health, life, and disability benefits.
  • 401(k) plan with company contributions and matching.
  • Generous vacation and personal days, plus holidays.
  • Eligible for performance-based cash incentives and equity awards.
Full Job Description
Job Description Summary
This position is based in East Hanover, NJ and will not have the ability to be located remotely. Please note that this role would not provide relocation and only local candidates will be considered. The expectation of working hours and travel (domestic and/or international) will be defined by the hiring manager. This position will require up to 20% travel.

Reporting into the VP, Head of US Strategy & Execution, this role leads the US Strategy Prioritization & Governance team for the US business and is accountable for building and leading the US Commercial enterprise strategy portfolio prioritization and integrated strategic governance capability, converting US LT priorities into a transparent portfolio of initiatives with clear trade-offs, decision rights, sequencing, capacity signals, risks and outcome tracking.

The ED, Strategy Prioritization & Governance Lead is responsible for owning the enterprise strategic initiative intake model, prioritization framework, quarterly portfolio review cadence, US LT decision materials, escalation discipline, and portfolio performance management across non-Reimagining Work strategic initiatives and cross-enterprise priorities.

This role will interface closely with senior leadership including US LT and cross-functional leaders while leading a core team of Governance & Portfolio and Planning Leads to build a new capability of integrated intake, prioritization, sequencing, portfolio governance, and strategic outcome tracking across US Commercial Strategy & Execution.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities:
  • Design and operate the US enterprise strategy portfolio governance model, including intake, evaluation, prioritization, sequencing, decision forums, escalation pathways, and outcome tracking.
  • Create a consistent prioritization framework balancing strategic value, patient / customer impact, commercial value, capacity, risk, dependencies, feasibility, timing, and enterprise fit.
  • Translate US LT imperatives into a governed strategic portfolio and decision-ready recommendations on what to start, stop, accelerate, sequence, or deprioritize.
  • Lead quarterly strategic portfolio reviews and monthly executive governance routines; ensure decisions are documented, owned, and followed through.
  • Partner with US Business Strategy Lead, Strategic Projects Lead, Transformation pillar, AI & Platform Products pillar, Finance, DDIT and P&O to expose cross-portfolio dependencies and capacity constraints.
  • Establish leading and lagging KPIs for strategic initiative delivery and strategic outcomes, not just activity completion.
  • Build governance muscle and disciplined portfolio management practices across US Commercial without becoming a bureaucratic PMO.


Essential Requirements:

Education (minimum/desirable):
  • Required: Bachelor's degree in a related field
  • Preferred: Advanced degree (Master of Science and/or MBA)


Experience:

  • 12+ years of experience in strategy, portfolio management, enterprise governance, commercial strategy, R&D / development portfolio management, transformation, or management consulting.
  • Demonstrated experience designing and operating senior-level governance, portfolio review, prioritization, and executive decision processes.
  • Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders and force trade-off decisions in a matrixed enterprise environment.
  • Strong executive communication, quantitative reasoning, scenario framing, and risk / dependency management skills.


Desirable Requirements:
  • Pharma portfolio governance, GDD / drug-development portfolio, stage-gate / tollgate, or strategy portfolio experience.
  • Experience building a new capability, operating cadence, or control-tower function from scratch.


The salary for this position is expected to range between $236,600.00 and $439,400.00 per year.

The final salary offered is determined based on factors like, but not limited to, relevant skills and experience, and upon joining Novartis will be reviewed periodically. Novartis may change the published salary range based on company and market factors.

Your compensation will include a performance-based cash incentive and, depending on the level of the role, eligibility to be considered for annual equity awards.

US-based eligible employees will receive a comprehensive benefits package that includes health, life and disability benefits, a 401(k) with company contribution and match, and a variety of other benefits. In addition, employees are eligible for a generous time off package including vacation, personal days, holidays and other leaves.

To learn more about the culture, rewards and benefits we offer our people click here.

Salary Range
$236,600.00 - $439,400.00

Skills Desired

About Alcon

Alcon is a global medical company specializing in eye care products and services. The company's products include surgical equipment, contact lenses, and eye drops. Alcon was founded in 1945 and is headquartered in Baar, Switzerland. The company operates in over 70 countries and has over 20,000 employees. In 2019, Alcon became an independent publicly traded company after being spun off from Novartis.
Learn more about Alcon
Size
24,389 employees
Market Cap
$33.3 billion
Industry
Founded
1945
NASDAQ

Similar Jobs

More Jobs at Alcon

More Pharmaceuticals & Biotech Jobs

Find similar Executive Director, Strategy Prioritization & Governance jobs: