Role Purpose
The R&D Domain Architect is the senior architecture leader accountable for shaping and governing technology strategy across end-to-end product development and launch. This role translates R&D and enterprise growth strategy into coherent, executable architecture outcomes that deliver measurable in-year savings, enable multi-year simplification, and establish a scalable target-state architecture supporting the full value delivery lifecycle.
The role spans portfolio planning, stage-gate management, regulatory submission, launch readiness, and cross-functional enablement with Commercial, Supply Chain, Finance and other functions. The architect ensures consistency, reuse, and operational efficiency across global R&D portfolios in a regulated healthcare environment.
Outcomes That Define Success
- Quantifiable in-year and recurring cost savings across the R&D technology portfolio
- Approved multi-year simplification and modernization roadmaps with clear cost-reduction targets
- Reduced architectural complexity and standardization of project and portfolio management across divisions
- Improved time-to-market and launch readiness through integrated, end-to-end architecture
- Improved decision quality and visibility across portfolio, pipeline, and investment trade-offs
Core Responsibilities
Strategy Realization: R&D Architecture
- Partner with R&D leadership to translate innovation and growth strategies into target operating models and capability roadmaps
- Lead target-state architecture across product development, R&D lab management, product design and testing, product security and regulatory compliance, and product release.
- Ensure architectural alignment across regulatory, clinical, quality, manufacturing, and commercial readiness activities
- Develop sequenced, value-backed roadmaps delivering in-year savings and sustained simplification
Solution and Platform Architecture Leadership
- Provide architectural leadership for major R&D initiatives, programs, and platform investments
- Drive consistency and reuse across product lifecycle management, project and portfolio management, and development platforms
- Ensure alignment with Commercial and Finance systems to support product costing, pricing readiness, and launch execution
- Ensure solutions meet regulatory, validation, data integrity, and security requirements
Portfolio Simplification and Savings Delivery
- Assess the R&D application landscape to identify consolidation, rationalization, and retirement opportunities
- Standardize project, portfolio, and development workflows across divisions to reduce duplication and cost
- Partner with Finance and Enterprise Architecture to quantify, track, and realize savings
- Embed simplification, automation, and cost discipline into R&D architecture decisions
Governance and Decision Enablement
- Represent R&D architecture within enterprise governance, investment, and technology assessment forums
- Enable consistent architectural decision-making without slowing innovation or delivery
- Surface cross-domain dependencies, risks, and readiness gaps early
Executive Relationships
The R&D Domain Architect serves as a trusted advisor to R&D, Commercial, Supply Chain, Finance, Regulatory, and IT leadership, enabling integrated product development and successful market launches.
Qualifications and Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in IT, Engineering, Life Sciences, or equivalent experience
- 10+ years in enterprise, domain, or solution architecture roles supporting R&D or product development functions
- Deep understanding of regulated healthcare or life sciences development environments
- Proven track record delivering portfolio simplification, cost savings, and enterprise-scale standardization
- Strong executive communication and influence skills
Leadership Profile
- Enterprise-first and outcome-driven mindset
- Strong understanding of end-to-end product lifecycle and launch readiness
- Pragmatic systems thinker balancing innovation, compliance, and cost
- Trusted leader who aligns diverse stakeholders and drives execution
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