Head of R&D IT

Role Summary

The Sr. Director, Business Technology Partner (R&D) is the senior technology leader accountable for shaping and delivering the R&D Digital and Information Technology strategy that enables Alcon’s shift to a full‑spectrum innovation model—sustaining incremental excellence while accelerating breakthrough and disruptive innovation across MedTech and Pharma. This leader partners with R&D executives to build a faster, digitally enabled development engine driving and accelerating the R&D lifecycle from Concept through launch.

As the leader of the IT/Digital teams that power R&D, you will translate the strategic pillars of R&D into a sequenced technology roadmap and measurable outcomes—learning velocity, cycle-time reduction, decision clarity, cost productivity, and risk reduction—while ensuring strong governance, cybersecurity, compliance, and partner enablement.

Key Responsibilities

1) Strategic Technology Leadership for R&D Transformation

• Partner with R&D leadership to define and evolve the R&D digital and Information Technology strategy aligned to the operating model and the 2026–2028 journey (alignment → scale → transformation).
• Co-develop the Information Technology capability roadmap for next-generation R&D (e.g., AI/GenAI, modeling & simulation, computational design, connected data ecosystem, software-enabled product features, evidence automation).
• Establish a clear technology investment thesis across incremental enhancements vs. breakthrough/disruptive enablers, tied to portfolio goals and measurable business impact.
• Be the thought leader for the R&D leadership on how technology ( from traditional SaaS implementations, to custom built software, to partnering with startups) can drive R&D transformation and acceleration.

2) Value creation through delivery on the Information Technology investment portfolio

Lead delivery of an integrated, end-to-end Information technology backbone that accelerates the entire R&D Value Chain including key focus areas such as generative design, opto‑mechanical stacks, modeling & simulation, protocol design, and CER/CSR workflow automation. Drive scalable R&D platforms and workflows that reduce reliance on costly physical prototyping and accelerate iteration cycles.

Drive adoption and value realization from the technology investments.

3) Sustain and drive continuous improvement of R&D capabilities

The Application Lifecycle Management ( ALM), Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) and Quality Management (QM) capabilities will be delivered through the Polarion and TeamCenter platforms under the Create to Make Program umbrella. Driving value for R&D through the adoption of these platforms will be a key mandate for this role.  The Product Development Productivity (PDP) program

• Lead digitization and Information Technology programs that modernize and simplify late-stage development through NPI, starting with instrumentation and expanding across technology platforms.
• Partner with product owners and R&D operations to implement standardized data models, traceability, and governance to enable fast, evidence-based decisions.

4) Enable External Innovation Velocity & Externalization Model

• Build technology capabilities that support externalization/partnering in non-core areas (e.g., process development, design houses, electronics/programming, validation/VMV, pharma discovery), including:
  • Partner connectivity, secure data exchange, and IP protection
  • Vendor/partner performance transparency and delivery governance
  • Rapid onboarding/offboarding and peak-load absorption mechanisms

5) Portfolio & Governance: Improve Throughput, Quality, and “Fast Kills”

• Establish portfolio technology platforms/enablers and analytics that support best in class R&D Portfolio management.
• Deliver executive dashboards and decision cadences that connect R&D execution to outcomes (speed, cost, risk, readiness).

6) Culture, Talent, and Operating Model Leadership

• Build and lead high-performing cross-functional digital teams (SaaS partners ( Veeva, Labvantage etc), product, engineering, data, enterprise architecture, cybersecurity, vendor partners).
• Reinforce an innovation culture by enabling: calculated risk-taking, rapid learning, intelligent experiments, and celebrating fast evidence-based decisions (including fast kills).
• Develop next-gen skills across teams: AI/ML literacy, data fluency, product mindset, platform thinking, systems engineering collaboration.

7) Risk Management, Compliance, and Resilience (Non‑negotiables)

• Ensure compliance across regulated R&D contexts, including data integrity, validation, security, privacy, and audit readiness.
• Proactively manage risks across technology, process, partners, and talent—including cybersecurity risks in external collaboration models.

Scope & Interfaces

• Primary stakeholders: R&D leadership, R&D Operations, Quality/Regulatory, Clinical, Engineering, Product Development, NPI, Procurement/Vendor Management, Cybersecurity, Enterprise Architecture
• Delivery model: Internal IT teams + strategic partners + platform vendors
• Decision rights: Technology roadmap prioritization for R&D digital capabilities, platform standards and integration patterns, delivery governance, and business case outcomes tracking

Qualifications & Experience

• 12+ years in technology leadership roles, including strategic business partnering in complex, global environments; R&D/MedTech/Pharma experience strongly preferred
• Proven track record delivering digital and technology transformation with measurable outcomes in cycle time, productivity, and portfolio throughput
• Strong experience in the application of AI/GenAI, data platforms, modeling/simulation enablement, digital workflow automation, and product/platform operating models to drive R&D value.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams and vendors, manage budgets, and drive executive alignment
• Deep understanding of risk/compliance requirements in regulated development environments (validation, data integrity, privacy, cybersecurity)

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Alcon’s Total Rewards programs are designed to align to incentives with business goals, encourage the right values and behaviors, and deliver long-term value.  The first layer of our rewards program is compensation.  We offer a combination of fixed pay and variable pay, which includes short-term incentives, and long-term incentives for eligible population.  Our benefits program provides security for life events through life and disability insurance, supports savings for retirement, promotes good health and well-being and supports associates and their families during times of illness.  To learn more about Alcon’s Corporate Social Responsibility including our Total Rewards, click here

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Alcon is an Equal Opportunity Employer and participates in E-Verify. Alcon takes pride in maintaining a diverse environment and our policies are not to discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion or other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status. Alcon is also committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process, or in order to perform the essential functions of a position, please send an email to alcon.recruitment@alcon.com and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.