Head of R&D and Pipeline Long-Term Planning

About us

Based in Parma, Italy, Chiesi is an international research-focused pharmaceutical and healthcare group with 90 years' experience, operating in 31 countries with more than 7,000 employees (Chiesi Group). To achieve its mission of improving people's quality of life by acting responsibly towards society and the environment, the Group researches, develops and markets innovative drugs in its main therapeutic areas: Discover more here

We are proud to be the largest global pharmaceutical group to be awarded B Corp Certification, a recognition of high social and environmental standards. We are a reliable company that adopts and promotes a transparent and ethical behavior at all levels.

We believe that the success of Chiesi is built and shaped by our people and our strong set of shared Values and Behaviors. Our people make a critical difference to our success, which is why it is vital that we attract and retain the right talent who will continue to enrich our culture by living and breathing our values and behaviors.

In fact, we are a global family made up of different cultures, different genders, generations, ethnicities, abilities, sexual identities and many other enriching diversities. 

Chiesi Research & Development

Our R&D team represents a fundamental asset for the business. It is divided into integrated functional areas focusing on pipeline projects including discovery and preclinical research, global technical development, drug delivery technology, clinical development, regulatory affairs, pharmacovigilance, intellectual property, quality assurance, R&D project and portfolio management.  Headquartered in the new purpose-built and fully integrated Research and Development Centre in Parma (Italy), the team also has important operations in Paris (France), Chippenham (UK), Cary (US), Stockholm (Sweden), Toronto (Canada) and Shanghai (China).

Who we are looking for

• Provide Chiesi Governance Bodies and Senior Management with robust, data-driven insights and long-term projections to enable informed decision-making and maximize business value delivery across the Chiesi pipeline.
• Ensure structured and transparent communication of pipeline status to senior stakeholders.
• Deliver reliable analyses and projections on pipeline value, composition, timelines, costs, resource demand, and probability of success.
• Drive the design and management of standardized project cards for internal projects' evaluation, ensuring consistency with external opportunities evaluation.
• Guide project cards data collection and elaboration process by coordinating the relevant stakeholders.
• Support alignment of cross-functional teams on key project assumptions and enable effective pipeline reviews and R&D strategy definition.
• Guide with R&D Performance Mgnt Head the process to define and update project Probability of Technical and Regulatory Success (PTRS) and ensures that it is performed according to internal guidelines and based on the most reliable benchmarks available.
• Ensure robust methods and processes to support cost and workload projections and analysis, also supporting decision making on R&D headcount requests.
• Responsible for building, developing, and motivating a high-performing team of skilled professionals to drive long-term R&D and pipeline planning excellence.

Project cards

• Is accountable for the design and management of standardized project cards to evaluate R&D pipeline business cases.
• Ensure alignment with Business Development for consistent evaluation of internal and external opportunities.
• Oversee Project Cards' data collection and elaboration process by coordinating and engaging the relevant stakeholders.
• With the R&D Portfolio and Resource Management Sr Director, design and execute XRC meetings to align cross-functional teams on key project assumptions.
• Deliver reliable analyses on the value, composition, and strategic outlook of Chiesi's pipeline.

Long term planning

• Ensure robust quantitative projections on pipeline and any other R&D relevant costs and resources, working with GPMs, GPLs and other relevant stakeholders (eg PID, TID, etc).
• Ensure the maintenance & improvement of R&D long term planning processes and tools, guiding the process of building and updating standard values based on internal & external available benchmark and subject matter experts contribution.
• Collaborate with GPMs and R&D Performance Mgnt Head to ensure project Probability of Technical and Regulatory Success (PTRS) update process to follow internal guidelines.
• Collaborating with REDEO Process and Integration Sr Lead, guarantee consistency between cost, workload and PTRS assessment for internal projects and external opportunities.

Pipeline reviews and R&D strategy

• Support qualitative R&D strategy definition and refresh cycles.
• Provide Pipeline Reviews and R&D strategy definition and refresh cycles with robust quantitative projections on R&D pipeline.
• Support the set up and update of the appropriate processes & tools to guide projects prioritization, working with Global Strategy and Franchises

Team management

• Foster a collaborative and growth-oriented team culture that encourages innovation, ownership, and continuous improvement in R&D strategic and long term planning activities.
• Define clear roles, objectives, and development paths for each team member, ensuring alignment with organizational goals, R&D TBO and individual strengths.
• Provide regular coaching, feedback, and performance evaluations to support professional development and maintain high engagement.
• Lead by example in cross-functional collaboration, ensuring the team effectively interfaces with other R&D and non-R&D relevant units

• Proven experience in R&D strategy, portfolio management, or business planning within the pharmaceutical or biotech industry.
• Strong analytical capabilities and familiarity with forecasting and simulation tools.
• Excellent communication and cross-functional leadership skills.
• Strategic mindset with a focus on value creation and operational efficiency.
• Ability to operate cross-functionally in a dynamic environment
• Fluency in English, fluency in Italian language is considered a plus
• Management Engineering or Business Economics Degree with previous experience in Pharma R&D development or at least Product Innovation / Degree in Scientific Area with MBA or relevant previous experience in similar role

Parma, Italy

What we offer

You would join a dynamic, fast-growing, challenging and friendly environment.

In Chiesi we firmly believe that our people are our most valuable asset, that is why we invest in continuous training, learning and development. Therefore, we strive to continuously promote and satisfy development needs, paying particular attention to the quality of our working environment and to collective well-being.

We want our people to come to work happy every day, and we know how important it is to find the right work-life balance in order to be able to give our best. That is why we offer flexible working approach, remote working, support in the relocation process, tax assistance service for foreign colleagues and many other people-care services.