[Hiring] Senior Director, Development Training & Enablement @Ultragenyx

Role Description

The Senior Director, Development Training & Enablement (Medical & Scientific Focus) is a key strategic leader within Training, Change Management, and Communications supporting the Global Development Organization. This role is accountable for shaping and advancing the enterprise training strategy, operating model, and multi-year roadmap for medical and scientific capability building across Development including Medical Affairs.

The Senior Director partners with senior and executive leaders to understand current and future capabilities, ensuring strong alignment with organizational priorities, evolving portfolio needs, and scientific landscape. The role translates these needs into prioritized, scalable, and measurable training programs that strengthen role readiness, scientific excellence, and organizational performance.

As a trusted strategic partner and advisor, this role provides strategic leadership and oversight of training programs that enhance capabilities across medical and scientific functions, while maintaining a close connection to field medical effectiveness, to deliver on current priorities and prepare for future portfolio needs.

Work Model: Remote: Officially documented as working full-time from home, with travel to Ultragenyx's offices or other locations on occasion as needed.

Responsibilities

• Strategy & Portfolio Alignment:
  • Drive the development and evolution of multi-year medical and scientific training strategy and roadmap aligned with Development and enterprise priorities, portfolio strategy, and Medical Affairs strategy.
  • Translate enterprise and functional strategy into actionable training plans, ensuring effective execution and measurable impact.
  • Provide strategic oversight of training frameworks, curriculum, systems, and delivery approaches, ensuring scalability and consistency across both field and development-facing roles.
• Executive Partnership & Governance:
  • Partner with senior and executive stakeholders across Development, Medical Affairs, and cross-functional teams to shape priorities and align training strategy with broader organizational objectives and priorities.
  • Facilitate and lead governance and engagement forums (e.g., Field Training Stakeholder Committee, and UltraSpark) to drive alignment, transparency, and strategic input across functions.
  • Contribute to and influence cross-functional and organizational initiatives, representing training and capability development in strategic discussions.
• Learning Architecture & Readiness:
  • Provide strategic oversight of disease state, scientific, and capability-based training, ensuring alignment with Medical Affairs strategy and development objectives.
  • Guide the design and delivery of high-impact training programs, ensuring alignment with adult learning principles and scientific rigor.
  • Establish and evolve certification frameworks for medical and scientific roles to ensure readiness for current and future responsibilities.
• Impact, Innovation & Operational Excellence:
  • Continuously assess training effectiveness and identify opportunities for innovation, efficiency, and scalability across Development training approaches.
  • Identify and drive cross-functional opportunities for alignment, shared content, and operational efficiencies across Development and broader organization.
  • Champion simplicity, efficiency, and scalability in training processes and solutions, balancing enterprise needs with practical execution.

Qualifications

• At least 10+ years of Biotech/Pharma experience with at least 5+ years of developing and executing enterprise or global training strategies (an equivalent combination of experience and education may be considered).
• Deep understanding of the medical and scientific capability needs of Medical Affairs, Field medical, and Development organizations.
• Direct experience supporting or working within field medical, Medical Affairs, or another externally facing scientific function strongly preferred.
• Master’s degree in clinical field required; (RN, RNP, Nurse Education, or alternative).
• Instructional Design and/or Training Professional Certification preferred.
• Change Management certification preferred.
• Experience in instructional design principles of communication, training delivery methods, and adopting new learning technologies including AI or digitally enabled learning approaches.
• Experience designing and developing high-quality training solutions including capability models, curricula, learning pathways, certification program.
• Proven excellence in verbal and written communication to a wide variety of audiences.
• Must be able to participate in multiple departmental or interdepartmental strategic initiatives under limited supervision.
• Proven ability to build credibility, establish rapport, and maintain positive relationships with senior management, peers, and direct reports.
• Ability to quickly and consistently mobilize cross-functional stakeholders and drive to decisions without relying solely on formal authority.
• Strong leadership skills; communicates and demonstrates vision and commitment.
• Willingness to work productively in dynamic fast-paced, deadline-oriented environment.
• Demonstrated ability to use data and performance insights to measure impact.
• Excellent strategic planning, problem solving, and analytical skills, with a proven ability to lead and manage multiple enterprise priorities projects.
• Ability to advocate for efficiency and simplicity in process and fit-for-purpose training solutions.
• Willing to travel domestically and internationally.

Benefits

• Generous vacation time and public holidays observed by the company.
• Volunteer days.
• Long term incentive and Employee stock purchase plans or equivalent offerings.
• Employee wellbeing benefits.
• Fitness reimbursement.
• Tuition sponsoring.
• Professional development plans.
• Benefits vary by region and country.