IT Business Relationship Director

The IT Business Partner Director (a.k.a. IT Business Relationship Management (“BRM”) Director) influences and shapes the portfolio to align and enhance the organizational strategy.  This role achieves this through excellent understanding of the business strategies and processes, awareness of the evolution of technologies, and understanding of relevant regulations impacting the business areas.  Successful, consistent, and predictable delivery of programs, projects, and overall support is also in the remit of this role, whether the delivery partners are internal or external.  This IT leadership role is part of the business unit leadership team and will work collaboratively and cross-functionally with Senior and Divisional Vice Presidents (SVP and DVPs) and their associates in product development, manufacturing, quality, regulatory, commercial, sales, marketing, supply chain, etc. on the overall IT strategy and delivery.   In addition, this role plays an additional global role in Supply chain and Distribution pan-Medical Devices strategy and technology direction.  This role reports to the DVP IT (“divisional CIO”).

WHAT YOU’LL DO

• Be the primary partner to business unit leadership for IT strategy, delivery and support. Serve as IT sponsor for the IT initiatives for the business, and closely support and/or lead critical IT initiatives for the business unit.
• Actively participate in the business strategy, translating it into an aligned IT strategy and portfolio of programs, projects and applications, and guiding business functional strategy for the business around information technology. 
• Develop and maintain a robust technology roadmap which covers all areas of business unit in alignment with Medical Devices overall roadmaps, business requests and IT delivery functions
• Provide structured governance of new demand received by the business
• Develop, propose, sell, and implement innovative solutions to improve business outcomes in support of the business strategies, either directly or through partners.
• Champion change and innovation. Stimulate creativity and innovation in others. Open to new ideas. Supports those who initiate change and take risks. Promotes a Global Perspective.
• Be constantly aware of evolving regulatory requirements and their applicability to the business process and IT portfolio and influences the IT stakeholders and partners in addressing these evolutions in the most efficient way.
• Partner and collaborate with key IT staff of other Abbott divisions in order to support cross divisional business initiatives and explore IT synergies and efficiencies.
• Negotiates for and secures resources to meet the long-range needs of the business.
• Oversee and control business and IT budgets, project capital/RCE expenditures and ROI.
• Continually drive opportunities for cost reductions and cost avoidance.
• Acts as key leaders on DVP IT staff, actively participating and collaborating with peers including leading cross business unit activities as needed.  Has responsibility for setting cross-business unit IT strategy in the Supply Chain and Distribution space.
• Responsible for all aspects of people leadership for the BRM team; setting expectations, coaching, counseling, developing, evaluating, feedback, hiring, discipline and separation.
• Confronts and deals with people issues in a constructive and timely manner. Responsible for overall morale of team and promotes cohesive attitude.
• Establishes staffing/resources plans determining appropriate mix of sourcing opportunities. Responsible for overall organizational effectiveness.
• Responsible for compliance with applicable Corporate and Divisional policies and procedures.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, business administration or another discipline relevant for the healthcare industry or equivalent experience.
• A minimum of 15 years IT experience in large or mid-size multinational company healthcare.
• Broad IT expertise in various disciplines, like systems development, infrastructure etc.
• At least 5 years project management and/or direct IT management experience.
• Additional experience in setting IT strategy and business IT alignment.
• Strong organizational skills, including program/project governance and increased levels of staff oversight.
• Strong interdisciplinary, intercultural, influence, and networking skills
• Experience with GxP validation and large-scale IT implementations (i.e., ERP, CRM, QSM, etc.)
• Experience with vendor management
• Pharma/Medical Device/Medical Diagnostics or highly regulated industry (i.e., aerospace) commercial (sales/marketing), R&D product development, and manufacturing business process knowledge, as related to IT, is highly preferred.
• Broad knowledge of all technologies used or to be used by the internal customer, their external customers and internal partners.
• Strong influence and negotiating skills.
• Experience leading teams - both with direct staff and indirect project teams