Principal Program Leader – Digital & Data

At Roche you can show up as yourself embraced for the unique qualities you bring. Our culture encourages personal expression open dialogue and genuine connections where you are valued accepted and respected for who you are allowing you to thrive both personally and professionally. This is how we aim to prevent stop and cure diseases and ensure everyone has access to healthcare today and for generations to come. Join Roche where every voice matters.

The Position

In Pharma Technical Operations (PT) we deliver life-saving medicines to patients worldwide. Beginning in 2026 PTs leadership has committed to expanding our global digital impact and scale major Data & Digital programs across PT.

As a Principal Program Leader PT Digital & Data you will join an elite internal advisory and delivery team within PT Digital and Operational Excellence (PTE). Acting as an internal program leader you will serve as a high-impact catalyst for digital evolution across Pharma Technical Operations (PT).

In this role your initial strategic focus will be spearheading and scaling a complex global Data Governance operationalization initiative across global sites and functions - ensuring robust alignment with QMS GxP Data Integrity and emerging regulatory frameworks (e.g. EU AI Act GMP Chapter 4 Annex 11). As the governance framework reaches maturity and sustainment you will strategically transition your program management scope to lead advise and scale other complex high-priority data and digital transformation initiatives across the PTE portfolio.

Transformational Delivery & Governance:

• End-to-End Program Ownership: Build lead and empower cross-functional workstreams (Process experts Engineering Data AI Migration and Change Management) accountable for achieving key technical operational and business milestones.
• Design create and scale Global PT wide programs: Lead the end-to-end advisory and deployment of e.g. Digital capability Data Governance Data Integrity and QMS frameworks across PT manufacturing sites and functional areas ensuring compliance inspection readiness and operational alignment.
• Executive & Site Leadership Guidance: Serve as a trusted advisor to site heads functional directors and steering committees as well their organizations - guiding them through complex change pathways resource prioritization and digital & data maturity roadmaps.
• Standards & Compliance: Establish robust program governance ensuring full alignment with internal and GMP/GxP standards.
• Stakeholder Alignment & Matrix Leadership: Partner closely with executive stakeholders across diverse domains - including PT site leaders Quality Development (CMC) manufacturing supply chain regulatory and supporting functions - to build confidence manage competing priorities and secure operations-wide alignment.
• Resource & Financial Stewardship: Manage the overall program budget (headcount capital investment operating costs) monitor program effectiveness (tracking promised ROI/business value vs. reality) and apply data-driven decision-making to optimize resource allocation.
• Drive adoption strategies: Drive AI-assisted tools shopfloor automation and operations-wide data models helping teams transition from transactional execution to data-informed decision-making.

Organizational Change Management Onboarding & Adoption:

• Ensure seamless integration of Organizational Change Management (OCM) and behavioral adoption strategies across all program streams partnering with dedicated change leads to drive business process adoption.

You are an executive-level transformation leader who thrives at the intersection of complex digital and data technology human behavior and large-scale operational environments. You combine deep technical literacy and hands-on technical execution with strategic foresight empathy and a proven track record of driving change across matrixed organizations. A balanced blend of direct hands-on technical building alongside Change Management and Stakeholder Coaching is essential for success in this role.

• Education: University degree (Masters or equivalent) in Business Administration Computer Science Information Systems Engineering Life Sciences or a related field.
• Professional Experience:
• Domain & Program Expertise:
  • 10 years of senior leadership experience in program management Digital Data or IT transformation within large-scale matrix organizations and multi-site global operational networks (e.g. 1000 end-users across multiple geographies).
  • 8 years driving transformations within pharmaceutical operations biotechnology manufacturing or healthcare technology.
  • Domain Leadership: Deep expertise in Digital Data GxP/GMP compliance Data Integrity frameworks and IT/OT data environments with a proven track record of strategic advisory and guiding executive stakeholders through multi-site rollouts.
• Regulatory & Compliance:
  • Demonstrated mastery in shaping executive strategy and guiding organizational readiness within validated environments navigating labor frameworks (Workers Councils) and digital governance (GDPR EU AI Act) without compromising strict GxP quality standards.
• Organizational Change & Influence:
  • Lean/Agile mindset with exceptional stakeholder management empathy and executive influence across cross-functional teams.
  • Demonstrated experience applying behavioral science principles (e.g. behavioral economics nudge theory habit formation loops) in a professional or operational context.

• Certifications: Certified in Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) or other large-scale Agile frameworks; formal certification in Organizational Change Management (e.g. Prosci Kotter).
• Languages: Business-fluent English is required; German is an asset given frequent collaboration with major PT hubs (e.g. Kaiseraugst Basel).

At Roche more than 100000 people across 100 countries are pushing back the frontiers of healthcare. Working together weve become one of the worlds leading research-focused healthcare groups. Our success is built on innovation curiosity and diversity.

PT Digital and Operational Excellence (PTE) drives the digital evolution of Pharma Technical Operations empowering our global manufacturing and supply network with cutting-edge data infrastructure and operational tools.

What We Offer:

• Transformational Impact: Direct leadership of Roches flagship AI infrastructure project shaping the future of therapeutic development and operational excellence.
• High-Visibility Scope: Broad strategic influence across both PTE and global Technical Operations executive leadership.
• Growth & Empowerment: An empowering environment that values autonomous leadership psychological safety flexible hybrid working models and continuous learning.

A healthier future drives us to innovate. Together more than 100000 employees across the globe are dedicated to advance science ensuring everyone has access to healthcare today and for generations to come. Our efforts result in more than 26 million people treated with our medicines and over 30 billion tests conducted using our Diagnostics products. We empower each other to explore new possibilities foster creativity and keep our ambitions high so we can deliver life-changing healthcare solutions that make a global impact.

Lets build a healthier future together.

Roche is an Equal Opportunity Employer.