Sr. Director, Real-world Data Strategy

Role Summary

The Senior Director, Real-World Data Strategy leads the delivery of Bristol Myers Squibb's global development and translational medicine RWD strategy and research platforms. This role oversees a global team of data strategists and scientists, directs the development of RWD assets and partnerships, and connects BMS's R&D and commercial priorities with emerging data opportunities. The position requires deep expertise in clinical and genomics real-world data, the RWD compliance landscape, global RWD opportunities within BMS and externally, and a strong orientation to applying AI innovation to the field.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a global real-world data (RWD) strategy that aligns with BMS's research, translational medicine, and commercial goals.
• Communicate strategic direction and decisions to internal and external stakeholders, ensuring organizational alignment.
• Prioritize RWD investments based on business impact and strategic fit, tracking return on investment across functions.
• Lead, grow, and empower a diverse global team of data strategists, scientists, and engineers.
• Build and nurture collaborative relationships with internal stakeholders and external partners to expand RWD capabilities and foster innovation.
• Identify opportunities for new partnerships and cultivate connections that drive data acquisition and solution development.
• Oversee acquisition, integration, and enablement of RWD assets to support research, development, and regulatory needs. Ensure fit-for-purpose data selection and avoid redundant purchases.
• Implement robust data quality frameworks and standards, driving automation and harmonization across datasets and functions.
• Ensure strict adherence to global compliance, privacy regulations, and ethical standards in all RWD activities.
• Champion the application of AI, advanced analytics, and emerging technologies to unlock new insights and capabilities from RWD.
• Deliver regulatory-grade RWD packages when needed (e.g., external control arms, label expansion).
• Partner with cross-functional teams in biostatistics, epidemiology, and data science to ensure access to impactful data and support clinical and commercial use cases.
• Facilitate centralized access to RWD for teams across Commercial, Medical, and R&D, enhancing usability and impact.
• Provide training, guidance, and tools to democratize RWD use and empower teams to leverage data effectively.
• Support key use cases such as medical studies, trial feasibility, external control arms, and post-marketing commitments.
• Continuously measure and communicate the value of RWD investments using clear KPIs, dashboards, and case studies.
• Monitor business impact, including improved trial timelines, patient targeting, and payer negotiations, ensuring effective utilization of assets.
• Strategic Vision: Anticipate and adapt to changing priorities, proactively identifying opportunities and gaps in the data landscape.
• Collaboration: Build strong relationships across teams and with external partners, fostering a culture of openness and shared objectives.
• Innovation: Approach challenges creatively and with a solution-oriented mindset, always seeking to develop new capabilities and improve existing processes.
• Communication: Clearly convey complex concepts to stakeholders at all levels, ensuring alignment and understanding.
• Resilience: Maintain focus and drive results amid changing business priorities and a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Leadership and Communication: Strong consulting and influencing skills, proven capabilities in senior stakeholder engagement, matrix team leadership, and excellent writing and oral communication skills.
• Experience and Expertise: 10+ years in pharmaceutical health services, outcomes, or related research fields, with significant experience in clinico-genomic data and retrospective healthcare data sets. 7+ years of team leadership experience.
• RWD Strategy and Lifecycle: Expertise in leveraging Real-World Data (RWD) throughout the development lifecycle, including discovery, early/late development, and commercialization.
• Data Management and Governance: Proven ability to develop and manage integrated data sources using tokenization, with extensive experience in data ecosystem design, management, and governance.
• Global Collaboration and Compliance: Extensive experience with US and ex-US data collaborators and licensors, with a deep understanding of global RWD landscape and privacy regulations (HIPAA, GDPR).
• Technical Proficiency: Strong knowledge of research applications (SAS, R, Python, SQL, Tableau), data platform technologies, and observational research methods.

Education

• Master's degree in a research or quantitative field required; PhD preferred.