VP, Business Operations & Partnerships at Alnylam Pharmaceuticals in Cambridge, MA

Job description

• The Vice President, Business Operations & Partnerships is a critical executive-level role responsible for defining, governing, and scaling the operating model that enables Alnylam’s Pipeline Delivery organization to execute on clinical trials with speed, quality, and predictability across a growing and increasingly complex portfolio.
• This leader owns the integrated planning architecture, governance frameworks, resource and capacity strategy, external partner performance and delivery performance insights that enable Pipeline Delivery to execute on clinical programs with speed, quality, and predictability at scale.
• This is a high-impact, high-visibility position at a pivotal moment: Alnylam’s Pipeline is growing and the Pipeline Delivery organization must scale rapidly. The VP will serve as a key strategic advisor to PD leadership while building and leading a high-performing Business Operations & Partnerships team that will accelerate the organization’s ability to deliver medicines to patients.

Responsibilities

• Performance & Governance: Enable Pipeline Delivery to make informed, timely decisions through strong governance structures (i.e. Development Operations Council) and performance frameworks.
• Design and operationalize clear, efficient governance frameworks across the portfolio (e.g., cross-functional trial teams, Pipeline Delivery governance, escalation pathways)
• Enable decision clarity and speed by defining roles, decision rights, and “decision-ready” materials
• Lead function performance tracking, including milestones, risks, and delivery confidence and provide actionable insights to Pipeline Delivery Leadership to support prioritization and trade-off decisions
• Resource Planning & Management: With an enterprise view, develop and oversee the capabilities required to strategically plan and manage resources across Pipeline Delivery.
• Lead the design and implementation of resource planning frameworks that provide visibility into capacity, demand, and capability needs.
• Partner with Finance and functional leaders to align portfolio strategy, budgets, and resource allocation.
• Guide Vendor Management team members to Implement tools and processes to optimize internal staffing models and external partner utilization
• Ensure the organization has the right capabilities and capacity to support the evolving pipeline.
• Provide leadership with scenario planning and forecasting insights to support strategic decision-making.
• Vendor & Alliance Management: Define and execute a forward-looking, centralized vendor strategy, ensuring strong governance, clear accountability, and high-performing partnerships that enable speed, quality, and cost efficiency while keeping an enterprise lens.
• Provide strategic oversight and performance management of external partners — including CROs and key service providers — across the clinical development portfolio
• Drive vendor strategy, governance frameworks, and accountability mechanisms to ensure high-quality, cost-effective delivery
• Ensure partner performance is aligned to program timelines and organizational priorities
• Lead governance of partner relationships with a focus on value realization and risk mitigation
• Leadership Responsibilities: Build and lead a high-performing Portfolio Management organization supporting Pipeline Delivery.
• Foster strong partnerships across Clinical Research, Program Management, Clinical Operations, Data Management, IT, Finance, and external partners.
• Serve as a key strategic advisor to senior leaders on operating model design, systems strategy, and execution effectiveness.
• Champion a culture of collaboration, transparency, accountability, and innovation.
• Develop organizational capabilities that enable the company to scale and deliver an expanding pipeline.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree with 20+ years of experience in biotech/pharma, with expertise in Clinical Development Operations
• Proven ability to design and operationalize governance models, decision-making frameworks, escalation pathways, and portfolio performance management processes
• Demonstrated success in organizational transformation and operating model design and implementation
• Demonstrated ability to translate portfolio strategy into actionable operational plans, balancing timelines, budgets, capabilities, and organizational priorities
• Significant experience managing strategic partnerships, CROs, and external service providers, including vendor governance, performance management, and contract oversight
• Strong financial and business acumen, including experience partnering with Finance on forecasting, budgeting, investment planning, and scenario modeling
• Experience developing executive-level insights, dashboards, and performance metrics to support informed decision-making and organizational transparency
• Exceptional leadership, collaboration, and influencing skills with demonstrated success working across highly matrixed organizations and senior leadership teams
• Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving capabilities with the ability to anticipate risks, evaluate trade-offs, and drive operational excellence
• Excellent communication and executive presence with the ability to synthesize complex information into clear, actionable recommendations
• Demonstrated ability to lead organizational change, build scalable operating models, and drive continuous improvement initiatives
• Prior experience in RNAi or complex, multi-asset pipelines preferred

Skills

Required

• Clinical Development Operations
• Organizational transformation
• Operating model design
• Portfolio strategy translation
• Vendor management
• CRO management
• Financial acumen
• Forecasting
• Budgeting
• Investment planning
• Scenario modeling
• Executive-level insights and dashboards

Preferred

• RNAi experience
• Complex multi-asset pipeline experience

Benefits

• The pay range below reflects the full-time base salary range we expect to pay for this role at the time of posting. Base pay will be determined based on a number of factors including, but not limited to, relevant experience, skills, and education. This role is eligible for an annual short-term incentive award (e.g., bonus or sales incentive) and an annual long-term incentive award (e.g., equity).
• Alnylam’s robust Total Rewards package is designed to support your overall health and well-being. We offer comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, and vision coverage, life and disability insurance, a lifestyle reimbursement program, flexible spending and health savings accounts and a 401(k)with a generous company match. Eligible employees enjoy paid time off, wellness days, holidays, and two company-wide recharge breaks. We also offer generous family resources and leave. Our commitment to your well-being reflects our belief that caring for our people fuels the impact we create together.
• Learn more about these and additional benefits offered by Alnylam by visiting the Benefits section of the Careers website: https://www.alnylam.com/careers
• $301,800 - $408,200 USD