US Head of Strategy & Operations, Chief of Staff - Job ID: SO25

Ascendis Pharma is a dynamic, fast-growing global biopharmaceutical company with locations in Denmark, Europe, and the United States. Today, we're advancing programs in Endocrinology Rare Disease and Oncology.

Here at Ascendis, we pride ourselves on exceptional science, visionary leadership, and skilled and passionate colleagues.

Guided by our core values of Patients, Science, and Passion, we use our TransCon® drug development platform to fulfill our mission of developing new and potentially best-in-class therapies to address unmet medical needs.

Our culture fosters a place where skilled, adaptable, and highly resourceful professionals can truly make their mark. We offer a dynamic workplace for employees to grow and develop their skills.

The US Head of Strategy & Operations, Chief of Staff is a key partner and advisor to the EVP and President of US on a variety of strategic, operational, and organizational matters. The individual must be able to span matters that involve business strategy as well as complex operational programs within the broader Ascendis US organization, as it scales its rare endocrine disease business and prepares for future potential launches. The role requires both strategic thinking as well as an ability to manage complex details and drive actions across a variety of functional areas. This individual will help drive the execution of critical initiatives and partnerships, ensuring they are completed on time and within scope.

Key Responsibilities

• As a member of the Ascendis USBU and US Leadership Team, this individual will work closely with the President and other members of the team to set strategic direction for the US organization and ensure alignment with key objectives.

• Manage a team of administrative professionals supporting the USBU and US Leadership Team
• Proactively develop and manage a process for setting quarterly cross-functional USBU priorities (marketing, field, medical affairs, access, government affairs, etc.), defining goals and measuring/reporting progress across the USBU.
• Partner with USBU leaders, global partners, and other cross-functional teams to help carry out USBU goals and remove roadblocks. Keep the EVP and other stakeholders informed on key accomplishments, risks, and next steps through KPIs, OKRs, etc.
• Lead and/or facilitate special projects and high-profile business initiatives (e.g., launch planning teams, quarterly USBU priorities), as appropriate.
• Develop agendas and support the EVP in the management of key leadership meetings to ensure that important decisions and action items are fully addressed and accountable.
• Support the EVP in defining, developing, and rehearsing high-impact executive communications, including presentations for Executive Committee and Board of Directors meetings, as well as All Hands meetings and other internal and external audiences.
• Champion for change and navigate towards alignment with a patient-centric mindset and enterprise approach.
• Partner cross functionally with HR and Finance on strategic initiatives – including culture-based initiatives, tracking of FTEs, planning for new hires, utilization of contractors, and allocation of FTEs over projects and programs.

• Bachelor’s degree required. Advanced degree preferred.
• 15+ years of experience in the pharmaceutical and/or biotechnology industries.
• Experience working within a commercial organization with demonstrable experience organizing and directing multiple teams and departments. People manager experience preferred.
• Outstanding communication of information and ideas, both written and verbal, to diverse audiences.
• Proven project management skills, including the ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities; adapt to new projects rapidly and effectively; Strategic thinker with a proven history of driving towards implementation.
• Demonstrated analytical and information technology skills.
• Navigates organizational complexities, recommends solutions, and promotes collaboration across functions with an emphasis on change management.
• Self-motivated; Acts independently and prioritizes appropriately.
• Solid interpersonal skills enabling individual to engender trust and manage conflict, facilitate constructive debate, while collaborating effectively across various teams.
• Display solid ethics and additive towards Ascendis’s core values and beliefs.
• Ability to travel up to 20% of the time domestically and internationally.

A note to recruiters:

We do not allow external search party solicitation.  Presentation of candidates without written permission from the Ascendis Pharma Inc Human Resources team (specifically from: Talent Acquisition Partner or Human Resources Director) is not allowed.  If this occurs your ownership of these candidates will not be acknowledged.

• 401(k) plan with company match
• Medical, dental, and vision plans
• Company-offered Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) insurance
• Company-provided short and long-term disability benefits
• Unique offerings of Pet Insurance and Legal Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Employee Discounts
• Professional Development
• Health Saving Account (HSA)
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Various incentive compensation plans
• Accident, Critical Illness, and Hospital Indemnity Insurance  
• Mental Health resources
• Paid leave benefits for new parents