Job Details

Associate Director, IT – Business Relationship Manager

contract to hire.

Location: Hybrid (San Francisco area)

3rd party and subcontract staffing agencies are not eligible for partnership on this position. 3rd party subcontractors need not apply.

This position requires candidates to be eligible to work in the United States, directly for an employer, without sponsorship now or anytime in the future.

Are you an experienced IT leader looking to shape the future of research and development in the life sciences? We are seeking an Associate Director, IT – Business Relationship Manager to join our dynamic team supporting a global R&D organization. This high-impact role will bridge the gap between leading-edge scientific research and the technology solutions that drive discovery, with particular focus on Precision Medicine and Aesthetics.

Location: Hybrid (San Francisco area)

Key Responsibilities

Build and maintain productive partnerships across global leadership, scientists, external collaborators, and stakeholders to develop and execute integrated technology strategies within the R&D organization.

Collaborate with R&D scientists, executives, and IT leaders to initiate, plan, and set strategic direction for R&D IT projects.

Oversee deployment and integration of scientific technology tools, including AI solutions and high-performance computing resources for discovery research.

Champion continuous improvement through education, best practice evaluation, and the implementation of innovative solutions.

Develop and execute stakeholder engagement strategies to inform, consult, and involve stakeholders in key initiatives.

Ensure compliance with all relevant corporate and divisional policies and procedures.

Lead and develop a distributed team of scientific, technical, and business analysts and consultants, fostering a positive, collaborative, and high-performing culture.

Promote a strong customer-focused mindset to ensure stakeholder engagement and satisfaction.

Guide team professional growth through mentorship, training, and development programs.

Proactively advise leadership on risks and issues to ensure effective management and communication.

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree with 9 years of experience; Master's degree with 8 years; or PhD with 4 years – preferably in life sciences, computer science, or business.

At least 9 years of experience in business relationship management, business systems analysis, project management, software development or deployment, with significant project leadership responsibilities.

Experience managing direct reports, contractors, or cross-functional teams.

Strongly Preferred:

Advanced degree (MS or PhD) in Life Sciences, Bioinformatics, Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related scientific field.

Experience in business relationship management within pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or healthcare/scientific research organizations.

Strong understanding of drug discovery and development, precision medicine, and scientific data management.

Experience leading cross-functional teams in IT, R&D, or scientific environments.

Exceptional stakeholder management, communication, and influencing skills.

Proven ability to align technical strategy with scientific and business objectives.

Familiarity with regulatory requirements (GxP, data privacy), compliance, and quality management in research.