Senior Director Strategy
📍 CH - Basel
Role and responsibilities
Support the development and execution of business platform and corporate strategies, ensuring alignment with Lonza’s growth ambitions. Act as a sparring partner to senior leaders, providing data-driven insights, strategic options, and recommendations. Conduct industry research, trend analysis, and scenario planning to assess market opportunities and risks. Prepare decision-making materials for senior leadership, ensuring transparency, depth, and strategic relevance. Engage with cross-functional teams to validate strategic hypotheses and refine cases. Analyse market dynamics, innovation trends, driven movements, and customer needs to advise strategy. Conduct benchmarking studies to identify Lonza’s competitive edge and areas for differentiation. Monitor and evaluate industry shifts, exciting technologies, and investment trends to provide proactive recommendations. Synthesize complex market insights into executive-level strategic reports and presentations. Develop financial models, business cases, and investment assessments to support corporate and business platform decision-making. Collaborate with Finance and Business Platform teams to evaluate potential growth strategies, investment priorities, and performance metrics. Support capital allocation discussions by assessing ROI, alignments, and risks of key critical initiatives. Identify and assess potential M&A;, partnership, and investment opportunities in alignment with Lonza’s strategic roadmap. Provide analytical and due diligence support for mergers, acquisitions, and joint ventures. Work closely with Corporate Development, Finance, and Business Platform teams to evaluate deal structures and strategic fit. Engage with business platform teams, corporate strategy, finance, and innovation leaders to align on key initiatives. Prepare and deliver high-quality strategic presentations for senior leadership and board-level discussions. Act as a trusted thought partner to the Chief Strategy Officer and other senior collaborators, providing structured insights and recommendations. Facilitate discussions that challenge assumptions and bring new perspectives to sophisticated strategic challenges.
Team / description
Today, Lonza is a global leader in life sciences operating across five continents. While we work in science, there’s no magic formula to how we do it. Our greatest scientific solution is talented people working together, devising ideas that help businesses to help people. In exchange, we let our people own their careers. Their ideas, big and small, genuinely improve the world. And that’s the kind of work we want to be part of.
Qualifications and Skills
Many years of experience in corporate strategy, business development, investment banking, management consulting, or related fields, preferably within the pharma, biotech, CDMO, or life sciences sector.
Strong analytical background with experience in market research, financial modelling, and strategic recommendations for senior leadership.
Validated ability to analyse sophisticated business problems, develop strategic insights, and present clear recommendations.
Strong experience in financial modelling, market research, and competitive analysis.
Excellent problem-solving and critical-thinking abilities, with a structured and analytical mindset.
Outstanding communication and storytelling skills, with experience engaging senior leaders.
Ability to work independently and handle multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Strong project leadership skills, with the ability to influence cross-functional teams without direct authority.
MBA or equivalent advanced degree preferred but not required.