Vice President, Information Technology

Position Summary

The Vice President of Information Technology (IT) is accountable for the oversight of IT, including IT strategy and architecture, applications, sourcing and vendor management, performance and services, and aligning with business leaders and the Executive Leadership Team (ELT).

The Vice President, Information Technology will be a knowledgeable and experienced leader who will work well with colleagues to ensure business alignment to the IT strategy and projects. The candidate will demonstrate excellent leadership skills, an ability to influence others and build collaborative relationships, solid change management skills and strong analytical and critical thinking.

This position is remote with an occasional presence in the Parsippany, NJ headquarter office, and will report to the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.

Primary Responsibilities

• Oversee management of the IT service portfolio, architecture strategy and development, IT blueprints and roadmaps, along with IT process development, maintenance, and compliance
• Manage annual IT budgeting and quarterly forecasting through portfolio prioritization, sourcing planning, financial planning, technical strategies, and roadmap development
• Monitor actual financial performance and reporting
• Evolve and adapt the IT strategy as required, including sourcing, services, operating model, talent, and workforce
• Ensure overall risk and security compliance, especially Cybersecurity, SOX, GxP and GDPR, are appropriate with back-up and recovery and business continuity and disaster recovery
• Ensure appropriate resources in place responsible for IT onsite support
• Serve as a business partner to the members of the ELT on all matters related to IT and provide advice and input to drive forward the corporate strategy
• Manage and ensure business alignment on IT projects
• Define and ensure the technical foundation requirements for each IT initiative
• Evaluate and manage IT value and performance of services provided
• Oversee supplier selection, sourcing, and vendor management
• Manage vendor relationships, vendor/platform technology selection, and overall supplier performance and reporting
• Provide leadership, mentorship, and coaching to direct reports that fosters an environment of problem solving and improved IT practices and attracts and retains IT talent
• Ensure IT employees are developed professionally and that rigorous performance management is in place
• Ensure deployment readiness through development of business continuity plans and performance of external system audits before contract sign-off
• Provide oversight for defining risk and security policies for the Company
• Ensure appropriate technical architects in place to integrate the overall IT infrastructure through the various IT service providers
  
  

Competencies

• Ability to develop a compelling strategic technology vision by focusing on business objectives and augmenting technology capabilities to drive business value
• Excellent leadership and communication skills with ability to lead by serving as a role model through knowledge, expertise, and collaborative skills
• Ability to drive professional development and growth within the IT team
• Ability to influence others by listening and challenging the status quo
• Willing to take a stand to enforce corporate policies, principles, and guidelines when needed
• Ability to execute and ensure resolution of issues
• Deep knowledge and experience in growing biopharma companies of operational issues, as well as IT capabilities and frameworks
• Clear line of sight and ability to enable appropriate connections between the business and technology to drive value and outcomes
• Ability to pull data and insights from across functions and externally to provide advice, understand patterns/issues/root causes, and identify simple and effective solution options to enable the business to succeed through technology
• Ability to establish trust and collaborative relationships between the business and IT stakeholders both internally and with external parties
• Proficient in bringing together multiple groups to facilitate implementation of goals
• Ability to discuss IT in business terms and demonstrate change leadership
  
  

Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related field; master’s degree preferred
• A minimum of 15 years of progressive IT management experience in the biotechnology/pharmaceutical industry; prior Head of IT experience strongly preferred
• Experience running an IT team with commercial operations outside the United States, preferred
  
  

EEO Statement:

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.

Benefit Statement:

All regular-status, full-time employees of Geron are eligible to participate in the Company’s comprehensive benefit program, pursuant to plan terms and conditions. Plan choices include medical, dental, vision, life insurance, flexible spending accounts, disability insurance, supplemental health insurance, a 401(k) retirement savings plan, and an employee stock purchase plan. Geron also provides regular-status, full-time employees with a generous time off program that includes the eligibility to accrue 160 hours of vacation during each full year of employment, 64 hours of sick leave, 9 standard paid holiday days off, and paid leave for certain life events. Geron recognizes that its employees work in many different states and therefore may be affected by different laws. It is Geron’s intention to comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws that apply to the Company’s employees.

Salary Statement:

Offered compensation is determined based on market data, internal equity, and an applicant’s relevant skills, experience, and educational background.

General Salary Range: $290,000 to $325,000