VICE PRESIDENT, AI STRATEGY & TRANSFORMATION
Global Biopharmaceutical Company · Confidential Search · Managed by TSE Executive Search
THE OPPORTUNITY
This is a rare internal role at a leading global biopharmaceutical company — combining the intellectual rigor of enterprise AI strategy with direct access to senior leadership and the full resources of a world-class drug development organization.
As Vice President, AI Strategy & Transformation, you will partner directly with C-suite executives across Commercial, R&D, Medical Affairs, and Operations to design, develop, and execute the organization’s highest-priority AI and transformation initiatives. This is not a technology role — it is a business leadership role. You will define how AI creates competitive advantage, drives operational excellence, and accelerates the development and commercialization of life-changing therapies.
Projects are high-stakes, cross-functional, and span multiple therapeutic areas, business lines, and geographies. If you have a record of exceptional achievement at the intersection of AI, strategy, and biopharma — and you’re looking for an opportunity to shape the future of how a global organization operates — this is your environment.
WHAT YOU’LL DO
Vice Presidents are expected to lead — not just advise. You will take ownership of enterprise AI workstreams, shape the thinking of senior stakeholders, and develop the next generation of AI-enabled capabilities and talent across the organization.
AI Strategy & Roadmap
- Define and lead the enterprise AI strategy and transformation roadmap across Commercial, R&D, Medical Affairs, and Operations
- Identify high-value AI use cases across the drug development and commercialization lifecycle — from discovery and clinical trials through launch and lifecycle management
- Translate business priorities into AI product strategies, operating models, and deployment plans that scale across therapeutic areas, functions, and regions
- Continuously scan the external AI landscape — emerging technologies, competitive applications, and ecosystem partnerships — to ensure the organization stays ahead
Execution & Delivery
- Lead one or more high-priority AI transformation workstreams with full accountability for quality, timeline, and measurable business outcomes
- Partner with C-suite and senior leadership to frame complex business problems and develop AI-enabled recommendations that are actionable and defensible
- Prepare and deliver board-ready presentations, including business cases, ROI frameworks, and executive narratives that translate technical concepts into strategic decisions
- Define research and analytical frameworks that drive insight, prioritization, and investment decisions
Governance & Investment
- Build and govern the AI investment framework — defining priorities, trade-offs, and ROI standards for AI initiatives across the enterprise
- Partner across legal, privacy, compliance, and IT to ensure responsible, governed AI deployment in a regulated biopharma environment
- Establish governance forums and decision-making structures to ensure coordinated, compliant, and value-driven AI adoption
Team & Ecosystem Leadership
- Build, coach, and develop a high-performing AI strategy team — setting direction, structuring problems, and elevating the quality of their work
- Manage strategic external partnerships with technology companies, AI vendors, and academic institutions — including build-buy-partner decisions
- Foster a culture of AI fluency across the organization — enabling business leaders to confidently apply AI to their most critical challenges
WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR
Education
- MBA, MS, or PhD required; advanced degree in a quantitative or life sciences discipline a plus
Experience — one of the following:
- 4+ years in top-tier strategy consulting with deep AI / digital transformation focus (McKinsey, Bain, BCG, or equivalent)
- 6+ years in enterprise AI strategy, data science leadership, or digital transformation within biopharma or life sciences
- 8+ years in biopharma commercial, R&D, or operations strategy with substantial AI or advanced analytics experience
Competencies
AI & Business Acumen
- Deep understanding of modern AI technologies — LLMs, NLP, agentic AI, machine learning, and advanced analytics — with the judgment to determine where they create real business value
- Ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear business strategy, investment cases, and governance decisions for non-technical senior audiences
- Strong financial acumen — able to build compelling ROI frameworks and influence executive stakeholders to invest in AI as a strategic capability
Problem Solving
- Constructs structured frameworks to decompose complex, ambiguous enterprise challenges
- Designs and executes rigorous analysis with minimal oversight
- Synthesizes findings into clear, defensible recommendations that drive action
Communication & Storytelling
- Communicates with confidence and conviction in C-suite and Board settings
- Produces executive-ready deliverables — slides, business cases, and narratives that are clear, compelling, and decision-ready
Leadership & Teamwork
- Coaches and mentors colleagues; structures their work and raises the bar on quality
- Fosters a collaborative, high-performance team environment
- Proactively surfaces and resolves issues before they escalate
Execution & Accountability
- Delivers consistently against timelines in a fast-paced, regulated environment
- Balances strategic vision with practical execution — knows when to move fast and when to proceed with rigor
WHY THIS ROLE
- Direct exposure to C-suite leadership and board-level AI strategy decisions
- Work on the most strategically significant AI initiatives across a global biopharma organization
- Define how AI transforms drug development, commercial execution, and organizational capability
- Highly selective hiring process — joining a team of exceptional performers
- The rare opportunity to shape AI strategy in an industry where the stakes are always patients
HOW TO APPLY
This search is managed exclusively and confidentially by TSE Executive Search.
Please submit your resume and cover letter to:
jobs@tseworldwide.com
All applications are held in the strictest confidence.
TSE Executive Search · tseworldwide.com · Michael Tal Sharon, Managing Partner