Start Portfolio Strategy (SPOCK) Program

The Strategy Portfolio Career Kickstart (SPOCK) programme provides an exciting opportunity to explore pRED (Pharma Research and Early Development) at Roche. This two-year rotational programme is designed to develop and accelerate early career high potential leaders with strong strategic capabilities. Throughout the programme, you will be mentored by a member of the pRED Leadership Team who will support you in your development. The 2-year rotational programme offers various exceptional features for early in career individuals, including:

In your first year, you’ll work closely with cross-functional teams and PPM teams, leading your own assignments based on your interests. You’ll receive guidance from your SPOCK buddy, PPM leads, and a pRED Leadership Team mentor. You’ll also have time and support to explore second-year rotation opportunities across various pRED areas, including disease therapeutic areas (Immunology, Infectious Diseases and Ophthalmology, Neuroscience and Rare Diseases, Oncology) or global functions (Pharmaceutical Sciences, Therapeutic Modalities, Data & Analytics, Communications, pRED Finance & Operations). First year key responsibilities include:

Key responsibilities:

Conduct business analysis for strategic cross-portfolio projects, ensuring alignment for a unified portfolio view, including annual prioritization and planning.
Manage strategic initiatives within and beyond PPM, overseeing projects from planning to successful completion.
Support cross-functional teams on early development molecules, preparing for governance decisions and creating key deliverables.
Analyze data and through all stages and communicate insights and recommendations throughout projects.

You will need strong strategic, collaboration and communication skills, as well as an entrepreneurial mind-set.

You will have the opportunity to make your mark on the parts of the pRED (pharma Research and Early Development) organization you have chosen through high visibility projects and senior level challenges. pRED can benefit from your innovative mindset throughout your second year rotations.

Examples of previous SPOCK rotations include:

Oncology Insights: Support the oncology strategy review, implementation, and identification of external innovation trends.

Finance Enterprise Partner for the Discovery Leaders Committee: Ensure pRED research portfolio delivery within capacity limits, aligned with leadership strategies and “one pRED” principles.
Product Owner of Core Scientific Technology Platforms: Contribute to developing the framework to create and implement a new scientific organization to improve access to cutting-edge technologies.
Meeting Manager for the Early Strategic Governance Committee: Oversee governance meetings from clinical candidate selection to pivotal trial decisions, and collaborate developing governance guidelines and feedback strategies in close collaboration with senior leaders.
Communications: Develop a communications strategy for the pRED “Academic Collaboration Squad” and supporting Pharma Partnering communications.
Project Manager for Molecule Project: Lead and manage a molecule project, coordinating cross-functional teams, ensuring project milestones are met within scope, timeline, and budget.
Therapeutic/Disease Area Strategy and Portfolio: Provide strategic insights to enhance therapeutic/disease area direction, ensuring alignment with pRED objectives

Who You Are

You have one to four years experience in the medical, pharmaceutical or scientific industries, are a life sciences or data sciences graduate with an advanced degree (MBA and/or PhD desirable but not essential).
You show a well-developed strategic and analytical mindset with a demonstrable ability to integrate and synthesize findings from multiple sources to enable informed strategic decision-making.
Excellent oral communication and presentation skills are needed. You can explain your ideas, are persuasive and can demonstrate new approaches to problems.
You have a “can do” attitude, are collaborative and show flexibility to compromise. You are proactive, solution-oriented and have the ability to see the bigger picture.
An experience of influencing in a matrix organization is a real asset for this role.
You also have the ability to develop special skills, are open to new ideas, demonstrate curiosity, and have a thoughtful understanding of how previous experiences have shaped your attitudes, beliefs and behavior.

Are you ready to apply? We seek individuals who view this position as a learning experience with the potential to open doors to various opportunities within Roche.

FAQ

The SPOCK programme is highly focused on your development. The Value Creation Lead, Capability & Development Lead, and SPOCK buddy will support you in creating a development plan for your time in the program, to help you achieve your goals and ensure your work is in line with your interests. Your pRED Leadership Mentor will also work with you on developing your leadership skills and make sure you are exposed to opportunities in your areas of interest.

Strategy Portfolio Career Kickstart (SPOCK) Programme

Conduct business analysis for strategic cross-portfolio projects, ensuring alignment for a unified portfolio view, including annual prioritization and planning.

Manage strategic initiatives within and beyond PPM, overseeing projects from planning to successful completion.

Support cross-functional teams on early development molecules, preparing for governance decisions and creating key deliverables.

Analyze data and through all stages and communicate insights and recommendations throughout projects.

You will need strong strategic, collaboration and communication skills, as well as an entrepreneurial mind-set.

Oncology Insights: Support the oncology strategy review, implementation, and identification of external innovation trends.

Finance Enterprise Partner for the Discovery Leaders Committee: Ensure pRED research portfolio delivery within capacity limits, aligned with leadership strategies and “one pRED” principles.

Product Owner of Core Scientific Technology Platforms: Contribute to developing the framework to create and implement a new scientific organization to improve access to cutting-edge technologies.

Meeting Manager for the Early Strategic Governance Committee: Oversee governance meetings from clinical candidate selection to pivotal trial decisions, and collaborate developing governance guidelines and feedback strategies in close collaboration with senior leaders.

Communications: Develop a communications strategy for the pRED “Academic Collaboration Squad” and supporting Pharma Partnering communications.

Project Manager for Molecule Project: Lead and manage a molecule project, coordinating cross-functional teams, ensuring project milestones are met within scope, timeline, and budget.

Therapeutic/Disease Area Strategy and Portfolio: Provide strategic insights to enhance therapeutic/disease area direction, ensuring alignment with pRED objectives

Who You Are

You have one to four years experience in the medical, pharmaceutical or scientific industries, are a life sciences or data sciences graduate with an advanced degree (MBA and/or PhD desirable but not essential).

You show a well-developed strategic and analytical mindset with a demonstrable ability to integrate and synthesize findings from multiple sources to enable informed strategic decision-making.

Excellent oral communication and presentation skills are needed. You can explain your ideas, are persuasive and can demonstrate new approaches to problems.

You have a “can do” attitude, are collaborative and show flexibility to compromise. You are proactive, solution-oriented and have the ability to see the bigger picture.

An experience of influencing in a matrix organization is a real asset for this role.

You also have the ability to develop special skills, are open to new ideas, demonstrate curiosity, and have a thoughtful understanding of how previous experiences have shaped your attitudes, beliefs and behavior.

Are you ready to apply? We seek individuals who view this position as a learning experience with the potential to open doors to various opportunities within Roche.

Recruitment Timelines

The SPOCK program hires once a year. We are looking forward to your application in Q3.
In Q4, the online assessment, interview rounds, and assessment days take place. If selected, you will begin the SPOCK program in Q1 of the following year.

Get in touch

Are you interested in a drop-in session with the current SPOCKs? Please fill out this form.

FAQ

What happens at the end of the 2-year programme?

The objective of this program is to attract and develop early stage high potential leaders at Roche. It is up to each participant to find a role, but everyone is supported in this search by their mentor and the personal network created during rotations.

How will I develop during the SPOCK programme?

What kind of exposure will I have to senior leadership at Roche?

How many SPOCK positions are available?

There are 8 SPOCK positions available at one time, with 4 senior SPOCKs in their second year, and 4 junior SPOCKs in their first year. That means that we hire 4 new SPOCKs every year.

Strategy Portfolio Career Kickstart (SPOCK) Programme

Experience

Acquire experience in a world-class and complex portfolio of early development molecules. Develop your project management, problem solving and many other skills, which are transferable to other parts of the organization and beyond.

Adaptability

Shape your own path in the programme with the opportunity of broad exposure and involvement across multiple functions throughout pRED depending on your interests (e.g., Pharmaceutical Sciences, Therapeutic Modalities, Data & Analytics, Communications, pRED Finance & Operations).

Receive coaching from your SPOCK peers, Portfolio and Programme Management team, as well as a member of the pRED Leadership Team who will mentor you throughout the SPOCK programme.

Network

With our central position in the organization, you will have the opportunity to learn from a variety of functions and build a diverse professional network that will benefit your future career.

Discover your own path

Who You Are

You have one to four years experience in the medical, pharmaceutical or scientific industries, are a life sciences or data sciences graduate with an advanced degree (MBA and/or PhD desirable but not essential).

You show a well-developed strategic and analytical mindset with a demonstrable ability to integrate and synthesize findings from multiple sources to enable informed strategic decision-making.

Excellent oral communication and presentation skills are needed. You can explain your ideas, are persuasive and can demonstrate new approaches to problems.

You have a “can do” attitude, are collaborative and show flexibility to compromise. You are proactive, solution-oriented and have the ability to see the bigger picture.

An experience of influencing in a matrix organization is a real asset for this role.

You also have the ability to develop special skills, are open to new ideas, demonstrate curiosity, and have a thoughtful understanding of how previous experiences have shaped your attitudes, beliefs and behavior.

Are you ready to apply? We seek individuals who view this position as a learning experience with the potential to open doors to various opportunities within Roche.

Recruitment Timelines

The SPOCK program hires once a year. We are looking forward to your application in Q3. In Q4, the online assessment, interview rounds, and assessment days take place. If selected, you will begin the SPOCK program in Q1 of the following year.

Get in touch

Are you interested in a drop-in session with the current SPOCKs? Please fill out this form.

FAQ

What happens at the end of the 2-year programme?

How will I develop during the SPOCK programme?

What kind of exposure will I have to senior leadership at Roche?

How many SPOCK positions are available?

The SPOCK program hires once a year. We are looking forward to your application in Q3.
In Q4, the online assessment, interview rounds, and assessment days take place. If selected, you will begin the SPOCK program in Q1 of the following year.