Global R&D Demand and Business Knowledge Data Scientist

Purpose

We are looking for a motivated R&D Demand and Business Knowledge Data Scientist to join our R&D Portfolio Management team.

Main Responsibilities

• Develop reliable analyses for Chiesi Governance Bodies and Senior Management, leveraging data science methodologies, on the value and composition of Chiesi pipeline, including long-term projections on timelines, costs and resource demand, and projects’ probability of success, with the aim of enabling a correct decision making to maximize the business value delivery of Chiesi pipeline.
• Design and manage project cards to enable a standardized evaluation of business cases for pipeline projects and collaborate with BD to ensure consistency of treatment of projects in pipeline vs new external opportunities evaluations, acting as a point of reference for project teams.
• Organize and manage discussions during XRC meetings ensuring Company cross-functional alignment on project assumptions regarding different inputs of projects’ business cases, ensuring robust assumptions feeding the pipeline review.
• Co-design and deliver in close collaboration with Global Strategy the Pipeline reviews, with useful insights to optimize and prioritize Chiesi pipeline projects.
• Support qualitative and quantitative R&D Strategy definition and refresh.
• Support short- and long-term R&D workload assessment and decision making on R&D headcount requests based on these projections.
• Maintain and improve R&D long-term planning, Portfolio management and benchmarks processes and tools, incorporating data science techniques.
• Act as a reference point for data analysis and modeling within the unit, contributing to cross-functional innovation projects.

Activities

• Conduct comprehensive evaluations of Chiesi projects and assets in pipeline using scientific and commercial inputs provided by functional teams to inform decision-making and leveraging data science methodologies.
• Design, manage and maintain standardized project cards to evaluate business cases across Chiesi pipeline, ensuring they effectively capture all critical information required to support informed decision-making processes and consistency between internal projects and external opportunities valuation.
• Support project teams by offering expertise and clarification on the use and structure of project cards.
• Organize and manage discussions during dedicated XRC meetings to validate and align on project assumptions, ensuring robust and shared inputs for business case evaluations.
• Co-develop and execute Pipeline Review processes in collaboration with Head of DBK and Global Strategy, providing actionable insights to optimize and prioritize Chiesi pipeline projects.
• Support the definition and periodic refresh of the R&D strategy through the collection and elaboration of both qualitative and quantitative information.
• Support short- and long-term R&D workload assessments and headcount planning decisions based on projected resource needs.
• Support the maintenance & improvement of R&D long term planning processes and tools integrating advanced data science techniques, including the definition and update of standard values based on internal & external available benchmark and subject matter experts contribution.
• Contribute to Global R&D portfolio milestones tracking and resource workload analyses, while supporting initiatives related to design of new optimized reporting formats and implementation of new state-of-the-art IT tools, aiming at maximizing reporting communication power and data processing efficiency in collaboration with R&D Planning & Control and PPM & R&D Digital Strategy and Execution Support units.
• Support the definition, calculation, maintenance and update of the R&D KPIs, as well as of the R&D high level MBOs and “premio funzionale” proposals.
• Ensure and enhance internal data collection process to support benchmark analyses and to provide source of anonymized external benchmark, e.g. CMR.
• Interfacing with Project Managers, support the provision of data to all the R&D functions in terms of time, costs and workload allocated to projects, in collaboration with R&D Planning & Control unit.
• Support the maintenance and update of R&D Enterprise Project and Portfolio Management system (Planisware), including structures and features relevant for the unit, in collaboration with R&D Planning & Control unit.
• Act as a point of reference within R&D Demand and Business Knowledge unit for support on data analysis and modelling questions, partnering within cross-unit teams for common innovation projects.

Experience Required

Solid background in pharmaceutical or biotech industry, with at least 3 years of experience in roles involving pipeline strategy, business case evaluation, project management, resource management or long-term planning.

Education

Master’s degree in Economics, Business Management, Management Engineering with experience in Pharmaceutical R&D or new product development. 
Alternatively, Master’s degree/PhD in Scientific area relevant to pharmaceutical R&D with previous experience in quantitative evaluations of projects, finance, controlling, resource management and/or project management.
University degree or proven experience in data science, as well as MBA or equivalent experience in strategic roles within R&D or portfolio management is considered a strong asset.

Languages

Fluent in English

Technical Skills

• Business Administration, Economics, New Product Development, Pharmaceutical development processes, Project Management
• Advanced analytical skills for predictive and optimization modeling
• Deep knowledge of specific digital tools and programming languages supporting data science
• Familiarity with enterprise project and portfolio management systems (previous experience with PLANISWARE is a plus)
• Proficiency in BI tools (Power BI is a plus)
• Experience in AI/machine learning field is a plus
• Culture of digital transformation and innovative/creative mindset
• Excellent Excel skills are essential

Other skills:

• Strong motivation for acting within a business environment in R&D area
• Strategic thinking and synoptic view paired with strong analytical attitude
• Willingness, entrepreneurship, proactivity and sense of responsibility, combining a creative and innovative mindset, with a pragmatic business and result-oriented attitude
• Written and verbal communication skills
• Adaptability and resilience in a dynamic, evolving environment
• Ability to act as a reliable and supportive team-player, engaging with other team members and other department colleagues with a positive, partnering attitude
• Planning and self-organization skills