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

Role Summary

Senior Manager, Focus Area Leader (FAL), IM R&D. Location: New Brunswick, NJ; Titusville, NJ; Raritan, NJ; Horsham, PA; Spring House, PA. Reporting to the Head, Focus Area Leadership IM, the Senior Manager will lead SPRG's IM R&D strategy and engagement with senior IM R&D leaders in a matrix environment. This role secures, maximizes, and sustains strategic U.S. federal and state Public–Private Partnerships (PPPs) to amplify R&D resources and ensures PPPs are executed within J&J’s risk framework and regulatory requirements. The role is not geographically bound and serves as a subject-matter expert within the team to support a growing federal and state PPP environment in the U.S.

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

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

Skills

• Required 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
• 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 (e.g., Washington, D.C. corridor), partner visits, and internal stakeholder engagements.