Executive Director, R&D Strategy & Operations
Travere Therapeutics
August 21, 2026
Remote friendly (San Diego Metropolitan Area)
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 R&D.
Responsibilities:
- Serve as trusted strategic advisor and Chief of Staff; provide synthesis of priorities, risks, dependencies, resources, and key decision points.
- Partner with R&D leadership to translate strategic priorities into coordinated execution and proactively identify organizational risks.
- Support long-range R&D strategy and portfolio planning; monitor scientific/clinical/competitive landscape.
- Improve organizational effectiveness and cross-functional collaboration; facilitate resolution of complex issues.
- Lead R&D Leadership Team operating model/governance; plan leadership meetings, portfolio reviews, off-sites, and workshops; develop executive dashboards.
- Coordinate budgeting/forecasting/resource planning with Finance Business Partners; maintain enterprise view of R&D investments.
- Serve as liaison to Enterprise Effectiveness Committee; coordinate enterprise-to-R&D action plans.
- Lead communications, meeting agendas/cadence, executive presentations, and Board/exec/investor prep (as needed).
- Lead administrative operations for the Office of the EVP; support scalable administrative processes.
Qualifications (Required/Preferred):
- Required: Bachelor’s degree in life sciences/business/healthcare or related; 12+ years biotech/pharma; 10+ years progressive leadership in R&D strategy/operations/portfolio/organizational effectiveness.
- Preferred: PhD/MD/PharmD/MBA (or equivalent).
Skills/Experience:
- End-to-end drug development lifecycle knowledge; operating model design for R&D leadership teams; strong change management; exceptional communication/influence/discretion; travel ~20%; not 100% remote (onsite in San Diego as needed).
Benefits (as stated): premium health; life insurance/disability; retirement match; generous paid time off; wellness/support programs.
Application instructions:
- Apply 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 R&D.
Responsibilities:
- Serve as trusted strategic advisor and Chief of Staff; provide synthesis of priorities, risks, dependencies, resources, and key decision points.
- Partner with R&D leadership to translate strategic priorities into coordinated execution and proactively identify organizational risks.
- Support long-range R&D strategy and portfolio planning; monitor scientific/clinical/competitive landscape.
- Improve organizational effectiveness and cross-functional collaboration; facilitate resolution of complex issues.
- Lead R&D Leadership Team operating model/governance; plan leadership meetings, portfolio reviews, off-sites, and workshops; develop executive dashboards.
- Coordinate budgeting/forecasting/resource planning with Finance Business Partners; maintain enterprise view of R&D investments.
- Serve as liaison to Enterprise Effectiveness Committee; coordinate enterprise-to-R&D action plans.
- Lead communications, meeting agendas/cadence, executive presentations, and Board/exec/investor prep (as needed).
- Lead administrative operations for the Office of the EVP; support scalable administrative processes.
Qualifications (Required/Preferred):
- Required: Bachelor’s degree in life sciences/business/healthcare or related; 12+ years biotech/pharma; 10+ years progressive leadership in R&D strategy/operations/portfolio/organizational effectiveness.
- Preferred: PhD/MD/PharmD/MBA (or equivalent).
Skills/Experience:
- End-to-end drug development lifecycle knowledge; operating model design for R&D leadership teams; strong change management; exceptional communication/influence/discretion; travel ~20%; not 100% remote (onsite in San Diego as needed).
Benefits (as stated): premium health; life insurance/disability; retirement match; generous paid time off; wellness/support programs.
Application instructions:
- Apply on an ongoing basis until a candidate is selected.