Director, Strategic Operations - Americas CRO

At Argenta, we’re more than a company — we’re a global team, dedicated to healthier animals. We believe that when their lives are made better, we're all the better for it.

Founded in 2006, we support companies big and small to develop and manufacture health products for pets and livestock. Our trusted, innovative solutions and services cover every stage of the process, from molecule to market.

We’re in a unique position. We are the world’s only combined contract research and contract development and manufacturing organization (CRO/CDMO) dedicated to animal health.

Argenta is currently looking to fill the role of Director - Strategic Operations - Americas CRO. This is an onsite position at our Shawnee, KS facility.  

About the role
This is an execution-first role embedded at the center of Americas CRO operations. As a member of the Americas CRO Leadership Team and the Global SLT, you will have the access, relationships, and standing to drive execution at every level of the organization. You will work hand-in-hand with the Head of Americas CRO to translate priorities into action, hold the organization to its commitments, and ensure the business runs with the discipline and pace it needs to deliver. This is not a traditional Chief of Staff or PMO role — it is a force-multiplier position for someone who wants real accountability, proximity to senior leadership, and a platform to grow into a larger leadership role. If you are energized by getting things done through others, comfortable operating without positional authority, and hungry for stretch, this role is designed for you.

Key Accountabilities 

• Serves as the execution partner to the Head of Americas CRO — driving organizational priorities forward with discipline, pace, and clear accountability across CRO functions, as a member of the Americas CRO Leadership Team and Global SLT, operating with the access and credibility that seat provides
• Owns the connection between the Head of Americas CRO's intent and day-to-day execution — ensuring priorities are understood, communicated, and acted on across operational teams
• Brings structured analytical thinking to key decisions — synthesizes information, surfaces options, and prepares the Head of Americas CRO to act with clarity and confidence
• Leads complex cross-functional programs and initiatives with clear scope, ownership, and delivery accountability — not just coordination
• Ensures CRO leadership has a consistent, proactive internal communication cadence — keeping functional teams, the Head of Americas CRO, and the ELT aligned on priorities and progress
• Identifies, tracks, and escalates delivery, resourcing, and operational risks within Americas CRO — resolving what can be resolved and escalating early enough to matter
• Drives strategic CRO initiatives from initiation through to delivery — maintaining active milestone tracking and holding owners to commitments at every stage
• Holds task owners accountable for quality and timeliness — intervening early when execution is at risk rather than reporting after the fact
• Identifies resource constraints across concurrent CRO initiatives and works with functional leaders to resolve trade-offs, escalating to the Head of Americas CRO where required
• Establishes a reliable cadence of updates to CRO and ELT leadership — ensuring the right information reaches the right people without the Head of Americas CRO having to chase it
  
• Models and instils a culture of accountability, follow-through, and directness — promoting a positive work environment and reinforcing Argenta values across the teams supported

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business, science, or a related field required, advanced degree a plus
• Animal Health experience preferred, life sciences preferred
• Background in management consulting, high-growth or startup environments, or similarly fast-paced, execution-oriented roles is strongly preferred
• Formal project management certification (PMP) or Lean/Six Sigma training is a plus, but not required — we care more about how you execute than what credentials you hold
• You are likely 3–7 years into your career with a track record that already punches above your tenure — you have led cross-functional work, held senior stakeholders to commitments, and delivered in environments where you had responsibility without full authority. You are not looking for a steady role; you are looking for the one that accelerates you.
• Drives toward outcomes with discipline — sets clear priorities, tracks progress, and follows through without being managed
• Manages up and across with clarity — keeps the right people informed at the right level of detail, and knows when to escalate versus handle
• Adapts quickly to shifting priorities without losing execution discipline or dropping commitments
• Leads and influences people at all levels and across all functions without relying on positional authority — builds trust through reliability and directness
• Strong analytical thinking and problem-solving skills
• Actively listens to ensure understanding
• Holds senior leaders accountable to commitments through influence rather than authority — comfortable having direct conversations about missed delivery and course correction

Argenta has strongly embedded company values which is key to who we are and how we deliver. We offer an opportunity to work for a successful and rapidly expanding global business where your input will be valued.  At Argenta we are a hard-working group who really enjoy the people we work with each day. That is why we support our people through strong culture, great benefits, and opportunity for growth.

This role is subject to a DEA background check as well as a pre-employment drug screen and/or physical.

Argenta is an equal opportunity employer

To find out more about Argenta, click here: www.argentaglobal.com