Executive Director, R&D Strategy & Operations
Travere Therapeutics
August 21, 2026
Remote friendly (United States)
United States
Operations
Position Summary:
The Executive Director, R&D Strategy & Operations serves as the strategic partner and Chief of Staff to the EVP, Head of R&D & Chief Medical Officer, driving organizational effectiveness, strategic alignment, and operational excellence across the R&D organization.
Responsibilities:
- Serve as trusted strategic advisor and Chief of Staff to the EVP, Head of R&D & CMO.
- Maintain visibility across R&D to identify opportunities, risks, and issues requiring executive attention.
- Synthesize priorities, risks, dependencies, resources, and key decision points.
- Represent the Office of the EVP in cross-functional meetings and strategic initiatives.
- Support Executive Team, Board, and strategic planning materials.
- Support long-range R&D strategy and portfolio planning; monitor scientific/clinical/competitive/business landscape.
- Enable diligence for licensing/partnership/acquisition opportunities; support integration planning for acquired/partnered assets.
- Improve organizational effectiveness and cross-functional collaboration; facilitate resolution of complex issues; support organizational design/change.
- Lead R&D Leadership Team operating model and governance framework; plan leadership meetings, portfolio reviews, off-sites, workshops.
- Develop executive dashboards and reporting.
- Partner on budgeting/forecasting/resource planning; maintain enterprise view of R&D investments; identify constraints/gaps; lead integrated resource allocation.
- Serve as liaison to Enterprise Effectiveness Committee; translate enterprise priorities into R&D action plans.
- Coordinate executive communications; develop presentations/messages; support Board/Executive/investor/scientific meeting preparation.
- Lead administrative operations for the Office of the EVP; support Executive Assistant; implement scalable administrative processes.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in life sciences, business, healthcare, or related field (equivalent education/experience may be considered).
- Advanced degree (PhD, MD, PharmD, MBA, or equivalent) strongly preferred.
- 12+ years in biotechnology/pharmaceutical industry required.
- 10+ years progressive leadership in R&D strategy/operations/portfolio/organizational effectiveness or related roles; significant executive partnership and leading complex R&D initiatives required.
Skills/Experience:
- End-to-end drug development lifecycle knowledge.
- Experience building operating model(s) for R&D leadership teams to increase effectiveness/collaboration.
- Change leadership; strong communication, strategic thinking, influence, and discretion.
- Ability to travel 20% domestically/internationally; role not expected to be 100% remote; essential function requires face-to-face/onsite presence in San Diego.
Benefits (explicitly stated):
- Premium health and well-being offerings; life insurance; disability; retirement plan match; generous paid time off.
Compensation (explicitly stated):
- Target base pay range: $246,000.00 - $332,000.00.
Application instructions:
- Travere will accept applications on an ongoing basis until a candidate is selected.
The Executive Director, R&D Strategy & Operations serves as the strategic partner and Chief of Staff to the EVP, Head of R&D & Chief Medical Officer, driving organizational effectiveness, strategic alignment, and operational excellence across the R&D organization.
Responsibilities:
- Serve as trusted strategic advisor and Chief of Staff to the EVP, Head of R&D & CMO.
- Maintain visibility across R&D to identify opportunities, risks, and issues requiring executive attention.
- Synthesize priorities, risks, dependencies, resources, and key decision points.
- Represent the Office of the EVP in cross-functional meetings and strategic initiatives.
- Support Executive Team, Board, and strategic planning materials.
- Support long-range R&D strategy and portfolio planning; monitor scientific/clinical/competitive/business landscape.
- Enable diligence for licensing/partnership/acquisition opportunities; support integration planning for acquired/partnered assets.
- Improve organizational effectiveness and cross-functional collaboration; facilitate resolution of complex issues; support organizational design/change.
- Lead R&D Leadership Team operating model and governance framework; plan leadership meetings, portfolio reviews, off-sites, workshops.
- Develop executive dashboards and reporting.
- Partner on budgeting/forecasting/resource planning; maintain enterprise view of R&D investments; identify constraints/gaps; lead integrated resource allocation.
- Serve as liaison to Enterprise Effectiveness Committee; translate enterprise priorities into R&D action plans.
- Coordinate executive communications; develop presentations/messages; support Board/Executive/investor/scientific meeting preparation.
- Lead administrative operations for the Office of the EVP; support Executive Assistant; implement scalable administrative processes.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in life sciences, business, healthcare, or related field (equivalent education/experience may be considered).
- Advanced degree (PhD, MD, PharmD, MBA, or equivalent) strongly preferred.
- 12+ years in biotechnology/pharmaceutical industry required.
- 10+ years progressive leadership in R&D strategy/operations/portfolio/organizational effectiveness or related roles; significant executive partnership and leading complex R&D initiatives required.
Skills/Experience:
- End-to-end drug development lifecycle knowledge.
- Experience building operating model(s) for R&D leadership teams to increase effectiveness/collaboration.
- Change leadership; strong communication, strategic thinking, influence, and discretion.
- Ability to travel 20% domestically/internationally; role not expected to be 100% remote; essential function requires face-to-face/onsite presence in San Diego.
Benefits (explicitly stated):
- Premium health and well-being offerings; life insurance; disability; retirement plan match; generous paid time off.
Compensation (explicitly stated):
- Target base pay range: $246,000.00 - $332,000.00.
Application instructions:
- Travere will accept applications on an ongoing basis until a candidate is selected.