Senior Director, IT Product Management - SAP Platform
DiversityJobs, Alameda, CA, United States
SUMMARY/JOB PURPOSE
(Basic purpose of the job):
The
Senior
Director
IT Product Management,
SAP Platform
, will
oversee and
lead a portfolio of digital products critical to Exelixis's success and ambition to launch innovative medicines for patients. This role is pivotal in
defining and driving
the strategy, development, and operational excellence of our
Enterprise Resource Planning
ecosystem, ensuring alignment with business
objectives
and a strong focus on user experience and value delivery. Operating within a product-centric model, the
Senior
Director will
be responsible for
defining product roadmaps, fostering cross-functional collaboration, and leading agile product teams to deliver innovative and impactful digital solutions that accelerate drug discovery, development, and commercialization.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:
Product Strategy & Roadmap (Product-Centric Focus):
Define, evangelize, and drive the enterprise vision and multi-year strategyfor a portfolio of digital products (
Enterprise Resource Planning, Financial Reporting and Analytics, Supply and Demand Planning, SAP S/4HANA Platform
), ensuring alignment with corporate
objectives
and
Information technology
goals.
Engage senior business leaders and functional executivesacross
multiple business functions (Finance, Accounting, Strategic Sourcing, Pharmaceutical Supply Chain)
to shape product direction
, uncover unmet needs, and translate strategic opportunities into actionable product roadmaps.
Conduct
market research, competitive analysis, and technology trends assessment to
identify
new opportunities and ensure our
enterprise
applications
remain
cutting-edge
and competitive within the life science landscape.
Prioritize product initiatives based on business value, technical feasibility, regulatory compliance, and resource availability, ensuring a balanced portfolio of short-term wins and long-term strategic investments.
Conduct final review and approval of
architecture and design patterns
to ensure
enterprise
solutions
are built
in
the
right and secured manner
Product Development & Delivery (Agile/Product Team Leadership):
Inspire and lead multiple cross-functional teams, including Product Analysts, Product Lead(s
)
and digital application specialists, by cultivating a culture of strategic ownership, innovation, and continuous improvement across the digital product lifecycle.
Provide executive oversight of
the entire product lifecycle from ideation to launch and post-launch optimization, ensuring efficient and effective product development processes (e.g., Agile Scrum, Kanban).
Set standard
s
for definition and delivery
of multiple
enterprise
products
by guiding the creation of high-impact user stories, acceptance criteria, and product specifications that
balance and
reflect business priorities and user needs
across multiple functions
.
Partner at a strategic level with engineering, architecture, and quality leadersto ensure the delivery of secure, scalable, and high-quality
enterprise
applications that meet evolving business demands.
Shape and govern strategic vendor relationships, ensuring alignment of external capabilities with internal product roadmaps, delivery timelines, and operational excellence standards.
Champion
a user-centric design approach,
leveraging
user research, usability testing, and feedback loops to continuously improve the user experience and effectiveness of
enterprise
solutions
across multiple
enterprise
products and business functions
.
Manage and
sustain
a
robust
data management & AI practice
to protect sensitive information and ensure its accuracy and reliability
across multiple
enterprise
products and business functions
.
Stakeholder Management & Cross-Functional Collaboration:
Serve
as a
n
executive
liaison between IT and various business functions, translating complex technical
strategies
into
actionable
business
outcome
.
Forge and sustain strategic
partnership
with key stakeholders across the organization to ensure alignment on product vision,
investment
priorities, and
measurable
outcomes.
Facilitate effective communication and decision-making across product teams, 3+ business units, and IT functional groups.
Represent the
Information Technology
team in
executive steering committees
, strategic planning
councils
, and
enterprise
-
wide cross
-
functional
initiatives.
Operational Excellence, Quality & Compliance:
Accountable for the operational stability, performance, and security of digital applications, working closely with IT operations and infrastructure teams.
Establish and lead governance frameworksfor vendor partnerships and third-party software solutions, ensuring alignment with enterprise architecture, compliance mandates, and business continuity
objectives
.
Define and enforce
all
enterprise
applications, feature releases and
processes
comply with
relevant regulatory requirements (e.g.,
GxP
, HIPAA, GDPR
, SOX
) and internal quality and security standards.
Ensure that all product releases meet rigorous quality standards and compliance requirements
.
Partner with
quality and compliance leaders to re-define and update standards as ne
eded.
Design and operationalize strategic KPIs and performance dashboards, enabling executive visibility into product adoption, business impact, and continuous improvement opportunities driven by data and stakeholder feedback.
Team Leadership & Development:
Shape and execute a strategic talent agendafor the Information Technology organization, attracting, developing, and
retaining
top-tier talent to build a resilient, high-performing team aligned with enterprise goals.
Provide visionary leadership and mentorship, fostering a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous growth through structured coaching, feedback, and career development frameworks.
Champion a culture of digital innovation and learning agility, embedding continuous improvement, adaptability, and inclusion into the team's operating model to meet evolving business and technology demands.
Manage
budgets
allocation and financial planning for product
a portfolio
within Digital Applications job family. Influence budget and financial planning across all products.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:
Manage through
direct
team of managers and high-level individual contributors.
Coach and train managers to ensure consistent and effective management of highly performing teams.
Develop and recommend an organizational structure to
accomplish
objectives
of the unit.
Recruit staff to meet the unit's immediate
objectives
and create succession planning to meet function's longer-term
objectives
.
EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE/KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS:
Education: Bachelor's degree in related discipline and
15
years of related experience; or
Master's degree in
mathematics or statistics
or
engineering
and
13
years of related experience.
PhD degree in a related discipline and
12
years
of related experience; or
Equivalent combination of education and experience.
Experience/The Ideal Candidate will have:
Minimum of
10
years of experience supporting Enterprise IT enabling business functions.
Minimum of 1
2
+ years of progressive experience in IT, with at least
8
+ years in a leadership role focused on
enterprise
applications or product management within the life science or pharmaceutical industry.
Proven experience in leading product development teams in an agile/product-centric operating model is essential.
Strong understanding of
Finance, Commercial Supply Chain, and Procurement business processes
within a pharmaceutical or biotechnology company.
Demonstrated success in defining and delivering complex
enterprise
products that drive significant business value.
Extensive e
xperience
managing and implementing SAP S/4HANA
with a focus on Finance, Supply
Chain
and analytics
Experience managing and implementing supply and demand planning solutions (
e.g.
Kinaxis)
Experience with integration platforms
, such as CPI (Cloud Platform Integration)
, Integration
Suite
or other similar middleware
Experience with regulatory frameworks and compliance in a
SOX and
GxP
environment
including IT
G
eneral
C
ontrols
(ITGC) and Segregation of Duties (
SoD
)
.
Knowledge / Skills:
Exceptional leadership and team-building skills, with the ability to inspire and motivate diverse teams.
Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities, with a data-driven approach to decision-making.
Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate effectively at all levels of the organization.
Deep understanding of product management methodologies (e.g., Agile, Scrum, Kanban) and product lifecycle management.
Solid technical acumen with the ability to understand complex IT architectures and development processes.
Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
Work Environment/Physical Demands
:
Our office is a modern, open-plan space that fosters collaboration and creativity. Teams work closely together, sharing ideas and solutions in a supportive atmosphere. We provide all necessary equipment, including dual monitors and ergonomic chairs, to ensure a comfortable workspace.
Occasional travel (5-10%)
may be
required
to other company sites, conferences, or vendor locations.
On-call availability for critical escalations.
#LI-EZ1 If you like wild growth and working with happy, enthusiastic over-achievers, you'll enjoy your career with us!
Our compensation reflects the cost of labor across severalU.S. geographic markets, and we pay differently based on those defined markets.
The base pay range for this positionis $228,500 - $323,500 annually. The base pay range may take into account the candidate's geographic region, which will adjust the pay depending on the specific work location. The base pay offered will take into account the candidate's geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, experience and internal equity, among other factors.
In addition to the base salary, as part of our Total Rewards program, Exelixis offers comprehensive employee benefits package, including a 401k plan with generous company contributions, group medical, dental and vision coverage, life and disability insurance, and flexible spending accounts.
Employees are also eligible for a discretionary annual bonus program, or if field sales staff, a sales-based incentive plan.
Exelixis also offers employees the opportunity to purchase company stock, and receive long-term incentives, 15 accrued vacation days in their first year, 17 paid holidays including a company-wide winter shutdown in December, and up to 10 sick days throughout the calendar year. DISCLAIMER The preceding job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to the job.
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state or local protected class.
(Basic purpose of the job):
The
Senior
Director
IT Product Management,
SAP Platform
, will
oversee and
lead a portfolio of digital products critical to Exelixis's success and ambition to launch innovative medicines for patients. This role is pivotal in
defining and driving
the strategy, development, and operational excellence of our
Enterprise Resource Planning
ecosystem, ensuring alignment with business
objectives
and a strong focus on user experience and value delivery. Operating within a product-centric model, the
Senior
Director will
be responsible for
defining product roadmaps, fostering cross-functional collaboration, and leading agile product teams to deliver innovative and impactful digital solutions that accelerate drug discovery, development, and commercialization.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:
Product Strategy & Roadmap (Product-Centric Focus):
Define, evangelize, and drive the enterprise vision and multi-year strategyfor a portfolio of digital products (
Enterprise Resource Planning, Financial Reporting and Analytics, Supply and Demand Planning, SAP S/4HANA Platform
), ensuring alignment with corporate
objectives
and
Information technology
goals.
Engage senior business leaders and functional executivesacross
multiple business functions (Finance, Accounting, Strategic Sourcing, Pharmaceutical Supply Chain)
to shape product direction
, uncover unmet needs, and translate strategic opportunities into actionable product roadmaps.
Conduct
market research, competitive analysis, and technology trends assessment to
identify
new opportunities and ensure our
enterprise
applications
remain
cutting-edge
and competitive within the life science landscape.
Prioritize product initiatives based on business value, technical feasibility, regulatory compliance, and resource availability, ensuring a balanced portfolio of short-term wins and long-term strategic investments.
Conduct final review and approval of
architecture and design patterns
to ensure
enterprise
solutions
are built
in
the
right and secured manner
Product Development & Delivery (Agile/Product Team Leadership):
Inspire and lead multiple cross-functional teams, including Product Analysts, Product Lead(s
)
and digital application specialists, by cultivating a culture of strategic ownership, innovation, and continuous improvement across the digital product lifecycle.
Provide executive oversight of
the entire product lifecycle from ideation to launch and post-launch optimization, ensuring efficient and effective product development processes (e.g., Agile Scrum, Kanban).
Set standard
s
for definition and delivery
of multiple
enterprise
products
by guiding the creation of high-impact user stories, acceptance criteria, and product specifications that
balance and
reflect business priorities and user needs
across multiple functions
.
Partner at a strategic level with engineering, architecture, and quality leadersto ensure the delivery of secure, scalable, and high-quality
enterprise
applications that meet evolving business demands.
Shape and govern strategic vendor relationships, ensuring alignment of external capabilities with internal product roadmaps, delivery timelines, and operational excellence standards.
Champion
a user-centric design approach,
leveraging
user research, usability testing, and feedback loops to continuously improve the user experience and effectiveness of
enterprise
solutions
across multiple
enterprise
products and business functions
.
Manage and
sustain
a
robust
data management & AI practice
to protect sensitive information and ensure its accuracy and reliability
across multiple
enterprise
products and business functions
.
Stakeholder Management & Cross-Functional Collaboration:
Serve
as a
n
executive
liaison between IT and various business functions, translating complex technical
strategies
into
actionable
business
outcome
.
Forge and sustain strategic
partnership
with key stakeholders across the organization to ensure alignment on product vision,
investment
priorities, and
measurable
outcomes.
Facilitate effective communication and decision-making across product teams, 3+ business units, and IT functional groups.
Represent the
Information Technology
team in
executive steering committees
, strategic planning
councils
, and
enterprise
-
wide cross
-
functional
initiatives.
Operational Excellence, Quality & Compliance:
Accountable for the operational stability, performance, and security of digital applications, working closely with IT operations and infrastructure teams.
Establish and lead governance frameworksfor vendor partnerships and third-party software solutions, ensuring alignment with enterprise architecture, compliance mandates, and business continuity
objectives
.
Define and enforce
all
enterprise
applications, feature releases and
processes
comply with
relevant regulatory requirements (e.g.,
GxP
, HIPAA, GDPR
, SOX
) and internal quality and security standards.
Ensure that all product releases meet rigorous quality standards and compliance requirements
.
Partner with
quality and compliance leaders to re-define and update standards as ne
eded.
Design and operationalize strategic KPIs and performance dashboards, enabling executive visibility into product adoption, business impact, and continuous improvement opportunities driven by data and stakeholder feedback.
Team Leadership & Development:
Shape and execute a strategic talent agendafor the Information Technology organization, attracting, developing, and
retaining
top-tier talent to build a resilient, high-performing team aligned with enterprise goals.
Provide visionary leadership and mentorship, fostering a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous growth through structured coaching, feedback, and career development frameworks.
Champion a culture of digital innovation and learning agility, embedding continuous improvement, adaptability, and inclusion into the team's operating model to meet evolving business and technology demands.
Manage
budgets
allocation and financial planning for product
a portfolio
within Digital Applications job family. Influence budget and financial planning across all products.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:
Manage through
direct
team of managers and high-level individual contributors.
Coach and train managers to ensure consistent and effective management of highly performing teams.
Develop and recommend an organizational structure to
accomplish
objectives
of the unit.
Recruit staff to meet the unit's immediate
objectives
and create succession planning to meet function's longer-term
objectives
.
EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE/KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS:
Education: Bachelor's degree in related discipline and
15
years of related experience; or
Master's degree in
mathematics or statistics
or
engineering
and
13
years of related experience.
PhD degree in a related discipline and
12
years
of related experience; or
Equivalent combination of education and experience.
Experience/The Ideal Candidate will have:
Minimum of
10
years of experience supporting Enterprise IT enabling business functions.
Minimum of 1
2
+ years of progressive experience in IT, with at least
8
+ years in a leadership role focused on
enterprise
applications or product management within the life science or pharmaceutical industry.
Proven experience in leading product development teams in an agile/product-centric operating model is essential.
Strong understanding of
Finance, Commercial Supply Chain, and Procurement business processes
within a pharmaceutical or biotechnology company.
Demonstrated success in defining and delivering complex
enterprise
products that drive significant business value.
Extensive e
xperience
managing and implementing SAP S/4HANA
with a focus on Finance, Supply
Chain
and analytics
Experience managing and implementing supply and demand planning solutions (
e.g.
Kinaxis)
Experience with integration platforms
, such as CPI (Cloud Platform Integration)
, Integration
Suite
or other similar middleware
Experience with regulatory frameworks and compliance in a
SOX and
GxP
environment
including IT
G
eneral
C
ontrols
(ITGC) and Segregation of Duties (
SoD
)
.
Knowledge / Skills:
Exceptional leadership and team-building skills, with the ability to inspire and motivate diverse teams.
Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities, with a data-driven approach to decision-making.
Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate effectively at all levels of the organization.
Deep understanding of product management methodologies (e.g., Agile, Scrum, Kanban) and product lifecycle management.
Solid technical acumen with the ability to understand complex IT architectures and development processes.
Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
Work Environment/Physical Demands
:
Our office is a modern, open-plan space that fosters collaboration and creativity. Teams work closely together, sharing ideas and solutions in a supportive atmosphere. We provide all necessary equipment, including dual monitors and ergonomic chairs, to ensure a comfortable workspace.
Occasional travel (5-10%)
may be
required
to other company sites, conferences, or vendor locations.
On-call availability for critical escalations.
#LI-EZ1 If you like wild growth and working with happy, enthusiastic over-achievers, you'll enjoy your career with us!
Our compensation reflects the cost of labor across severalU.S. geographic markets, and we pay differently based on those defined markets.
The base pay range for this positionis $228,500 - $323,500 annually. The base pay range may take into account the candidate's geographic region, which will adjust the pay depending on the specific work location. The base pay offered will take into account the candidate's geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, experience and internal equity, among other factors.
In addition to the base salary, as part of our Total Rewards program, Exelixis offers comprehensive employee benefits package, including a 401k plan with generous company contributions, group medical, dental and vision coverage, life and disability insurance, and flexible spending accounts.
Employees are also eligible for a discretionary annual bonus program, or if field sales staff, a sales-based incentive plan.
Exelixis also offers employees the opportunity to purchase company stock, and receive long-term incentives, 15 accrued vacation days in their first year, 17 paid holidays including a company-wide winter shutdown in December, and up to 10 sick days throughout the calendar year. DISCLAIMER The preceding job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to the job.
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state or local protected class.