Senior Director, Development Training & Enablement

About the role

Leaders set direction and build the conditions for their teams to succeed. They hire, coach, and hold people accountable. Leadership work spans strategy, communication, and decision making. Effective leaders give clear context and remove obstacles for the people who report to them. Leadership roles are measured by team outcomes, retention, and delivery. Most organizations expect leaders to be visible, predictable, and generous with context.

Key facts

Requirements

At least 10+ years of Biotech/Pharma experience with at least 5+ years of developing and executing enterprise or global training strategies. 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 is strongly preferred. A Master's degree in a clinical field is required. Instructional Design and/or Training Professional Certification is preferred. Change Management certification is preferred. Experience with instructional design principles, training delivery methods, and adopting new learning technologies including AI or digitally enabled learning approaches is required. Experience designing and developing high-quality training solutions including capability models, curricula, learning pathways, and certification programs is required. Demonstrate proven excellence in verbal and written communication to diverse audiences. Must participate in multiple departmental or interdepartmental strategic initiatives under limited supervision. Build credibility, establish rapport, and maintain positive relationships with senior management, peers, and direct reports. Mobilize cross-functional stakeholders and drive decisions without relying solely on formal authority. Demonstrate strong leadership and communicate and model vision and commitment. Work productively in a dynamic, fast-paced, deadline-oriented environment. Use data and performance insights to measure training impact. Apply strategic planning, problem solving, and analytical skills to lead and manage multiple enterprise priorities and projects. Advocate for efficiency and simplicity in processes and fit-for-purpose training solutions. Willingness to travel domestically and internationally is required.

Practical notes

Benefits include generous vacation, public holidays, volunteer days, long-term incentives, employee stock purchase plans, wellbeing benefits, fitness reimbursement, tuition sponsoring, and professional development plans, varying by region and country. Ultragenyx is an equal opportunity employer and provides reasonable accommodation for protected statuses. Typical interview steps

Leadership hiring usually includes a strategy case, a people scenario, and a values conversation. Candidates may be asked to turn around a struggling team or plan for growth. Past results are examined closely, especially how decisions were made. Interviewers dig into specific decisions you made and their consequences. Preparing two or three decision stories with numbers and lessons is the best use of time.

Good to know

The role focuses on medical and scientific training strategy and enablement in a rare disease biopharma environment. It uses instructional design, adult learning principles, and digital learning technologies. The position requires executive partnership, change management, and data-driven decision making. Travel is occasional and role-specific.

Questions to ask

Good questions to ask the employer in the interview: what does success look like in the first six months, how is the team structured, what is the current biggest challenge, and how are decisions made. Asking about growth paths and the review process is also well received. Employers expect questions, and good ones show preparation.

Career growth

Leadership careers move from manager to senior manager, director, and executive roles. Each step adds more scope and more responsibility for outcomes. The best leaders keep learning how to delegate, communicate, and decide. Leadership careers reward a record of building and developing people. The higher you go, the more your communication shapes the whole organization.