Purpose of the Role

This senior transformation leadership role is responsible for shaping and delivering enterprise-wide operating model transformation within a complex, regulated organisation.

The successful candidate will lead the design of future-state operating models, ensuring alignment between organisational strategy, business capabilities, governance, structures, processes, technology, and ways of working. They will work closely with senior executives to translate strategic objectives into practical operating model designs and oversee the successful implementation of those changes.

A key focus will be creating sustainable organisational effectiveness through operating model design, business architecture, organisational design, governance, and transformation delivery.

Key Responsibilities

Operating Model Design

• Lead the design and implementation of enterprise-wide Target Operating Models (TOMs).
• Assess current operating structures, capabilities, governance frameworks, and ways of working to identify opportunities for improvement.
• Define future-state organisational structures, accountabilities, decision-making processes, governance mechanisms, and service delivery models.
• Develop operating model blueprints that align strategy, people, process, technology, and governance.
• Support senior leaders through operating model transition and implementation activities.

Business Architecture & Capability Design

• Develop future-state business architectures and capability models.
• Assess current and future organisational capabilities, identifying gaps and transformation requirements.
• Map processes, organisational interfaces, governance structures, technologies, and operating capabilities.
• Ensure strong alignment between business architecture, operating model design, organisational priorities, and transformation objectives.

Transformation Leadership

• Lead strategic transformation initiatives linked to operating model change.
• Establish programme governance and delivery frameworks.
• Monitor delivery progress, risks, dependencies, and benefits realisation.
• Provide executive-level assurance regarding programme health and organisational readiness.
• Drive problem-solving and decision-making across complex transformation programmes.

Organisation Design & Change

• Lead organisation design activities arising from operating model transformation.
• Ensure people impacts are understood and effectively managed.
• Develop stakeholder engagement and change adoption strategies.
• Build organisational capability to sustain new ways of working.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement and operational excellence.

Governance & Performance

• Design and implement effective governance frameworks.
• Define performance measures, operating metrics, and success criteria.
• Establish clear accountability and decision-making structures.
• Manage strategic, operational, and delivery risks associated with transformation activity.

Skills & Experience

Essential

• Significant experience leading large-scale operating model design and transformation programmes within complex organisations.
• Proven track record designing and implementing Target Operating Models (TOMs).
• Strong experience across business architecture, organisation design, governance, and operating effectiveness.
• Experience translating strategic objectives into practical operating models and organisational structures.
• Senior stakeholder management experience, including Executive Committee and Board-level engagement.
• Strong programme leadership and transformation delivery capability.
• Demonstrated expertise aligning people, process, technology, governance, and culture within operating model programmes.
• Excellent strategic thinking, facilitation, and problem-solving skills.

Highly Desirable

• Experience delivering operating model design within Life Sciences, Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology, Clinical Research, R&D, Healthcare, or other science-led organisations.
• Experience supporting organisations undergoing significant growth, portfolio transformation, or research and innovation change programmes.
• Knowledge of business architecture frameworks and operating model methodologies.
• Experience working within highly regulated environments.

What We're Looking For

• Deep operating model design expertise rather than pure programme management.
• Ability to challenge and shape organisational strategy through TOM design.
• Strong understanding of organisational effectiveness, governance, and business capability design.
• Comfortable operating at Executive and Board level.
• Experience within Life Sciences would be a significant advantage and would differentiate candidates from the wider market.