Senior Manager, Focus Area Leader (FAL), IM R&D

Role Summary

Senior Manager, Focus Area Leader (FAL), IM R&D leads the Strategic Partnerships and Resource Group (SPRG) IM R&D strategy and engagement with senior IM R&D leaders. This role secures, maximizes, and sustains strategic U.S. federal and state Public–Private Partnerships (PPPs) to amplify R&D resources, ensuring PPPs are executed within Johnson & Johnson's risk framework and regulatory requirements. The position is not geographically restricted to a single region and serves as a subject-matter expert for a growing federal/state PPP environment in the U.S. Location options include New Brunswick, NJ; Titusville, NJ; Raritan, NJ; Horsham, PA; Spring House, PA. Travel expected 20–30% domestically.

Responsibilities

• U.S. Portfolio Leadership: Provide leadership and strategic direction for U.S. IM R&D PPP initiatives, federal and state; serve as a highly valued resource to U.S.-based IM R&D leaders. Where projects are global or cross-sector, ensure seamless collaboration with relevant leaders and team members.
• Primary U.S. Point of Contact: Act as the primary SPRG point of contact for senior U.S. IM R&D leaders and external U.S. stakeholders, including federal and state agencies and consortia.
• USG Engagement & Capture: Lead capture strategy, relationship development, and opportunity shaping with U.S. agencies (e.g., NIH, BARDA/ASPR, ARPA-H, DARPA, DoD/CDMRP, DTRA, VA/ORD, CDC, NIST, NSF) and relevant state/regional innovation bodies. Drive white papers, concept notes, consortia formation, and partnering strategies.
• End-to-End PPP Delivery: Oversee end-to-end PPP lifecycle—opportunity identification, internal alignment, proposal development, submission, negotiation, execution, governance, close-out, and audit readiness—ensuring timelines, approvals, and communications are met.
• Complex Agreement Structures: Navigate and help negotiate complex U.S. mechanisms, including grants, cooperative agreements, CRADAs, OTAs, contracts, prizes/challenges, and research consortia agreements, in alignment with Legal, IP, and Compliance and Grant Experts (within SPRG).
• Compliance & Risk Management: Ensure adherence to U.S. federal regulations and policies applicable to PPPs (e.g., Uniform Guidance 2 CFR Part 200, Bayh–Dole Act obligations for IP, and FAR/DFARS where applicable). Ensure visibility, documentation, and compliance with J&J’s HCC and contracting standards.
• Key Account Strategy: In alignment with other SPRG Focus Area Leaders, own or contribute to “key account” strategies for priority agencies and funders; maintain a pipeline view and account plans to drive sustainable, strategic partnerships.
• Strategic Insight & Foresight: Conduct advanced analyses of U.S. R&D trends, federal appropriations, and agency priorities, and translate insights into a proactive PPP pipeline aligned with IM R&D strategy.
• Matrix Leadership & Mentorship: Guide colleagues through consultation, mentoring, and collaborative leadership; provide functional (matrix) supervision to elevate PPP capabilities across SPRG and partner teams.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Foster a highly collaborative culture across Grant Experts, Operations/PMO, Legal, IP, HCC, GA&P, Finance, and Procurement to deliver efficient, high-quality outcomes.
• Stakeholder Satisfaction: Maintain high standards of partner service delivery via regular check-ins with senior U.S. R&D leaders; communicate strategically to bring visibility to SPRG initiatives and outcomes.
• Culture & Inclusion: Foster a purpose-driven culture aligned with Our Credo, champion inclusion, diversity, and belonging, and model J&J leadership imperatives.

Qualifications

• Required: Minimum of 10 years of experience in the pharmaceutical/biotech/medical device industry with deep expertise in R&D and/or adjacent domains (e.g., CMC, translational science, clinical development, supply chain enabling R&D).
• Required: Proven track record delivering U.S. PPPs and non-dilutive funding with federal and/or state agencies (e.g., NIH, BARDA, ARPA-H, DARPA, DoD/CDMRP, VA, CDC, NIST, NSF) from opportunity shaping through execution.
• Required: Knowledge of EU PPP arrangements.
• Required: Demonstrated experience meeting with U.S. Government agencies to discuss complex strategic partnerships, including familiarity with mechanisms such as grants, cooperative agreements, CRADAs, OTAs, and contracts.
• Required: Strong business acumen with budget ownership and financial stewardship for multi-partner programs.
• Required: Excellent communication, presentation, and influencing skills; ability to translate scientific and technical opportunities into compelling partnership strategies for USG audiences.
• Required: Proven ability to build relationships and collaborate effectively in a matrixed environment.
• Required: Experience orchestrating complex, multi-stakeholder programs with governance and risk management.
• Required: Knowledge of PPP models, U.S. healthcare funding, and compliance requirements.
• Preferred: Experience across Innovative Medicine therapeutic areas and enabling technologies (e.g., oncology, immunology, neuroscience, cardiovascular/metabolism; biomarkers; data science; AI/ML).
• Preferred: Experience with consortium governance, IP strategy in multi-party collaborations, and data-sharing frameworks.
• Preferred: Prior experience of collaboration with Government Affairs & Policy and External Innovation/BD to align scientific, policy, and partnership objectives.
• Preferred: Experience engaging with state/regional innovation agencies and life science economic development programs.
• Preferred: Self-motivated and passionate about building relationships and delivering quality results across the organization.
• Preferred: Excellent problem-solving skills and attention to detail with the flexibility to adapt to changing circumstances and priorities.
• Preferred: Strong contracting, analytical, and critical thinking abilities.
• Preferred: Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.
• Preferred: Impeccable integrity, with emotional maturity and patience.

Education

• Minimum of a bachelor’s degree is required. Advanced degree is preferred.

Skills

• Alliance Formation
• Business Planning
• Developing Partnerships
• Market Expansion
• Market Research
• Mentorship
• Organizing
• Program Management
• Relationship Building
• Sales Enablement
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Strategic Change
• Strategic Sales Planning
• Strategic Thinking
• SWOT Analysis
• Technical Credibility

Additional Requirements

• Travel: Travel as needed (~20–30% domestic) for key agency meetings, partner visits, and internal stakeholder engagements.