Deals Strategy & Operations, Pharmaceutical Strategy & Value Creation Director

About Us

With offices in 152 countries and nearly 328,000 professionals, we are one of the world’s leading professional services networks, helping organizations and individuals create lasting value through Assurance, Tax and Advisory services. For over 40 years, we have contributed to the Middle East’s transformation journey, partnering with governments and businesses to deliver sustainable solutions. Today, more than 12,000 of us across Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE are shaping the region’s future.

Line of Service Overview

Our Deals practice helps organizations navigate complex transactions, from mergers and acquisitions to restructuring and strategic investments. We deliver insights and solutions that enable clients to create, protect, and realize value throughout the deal lifecycle.

Business Unit Overview

Our Deals Strategy & Operations (DSO) team helps clients navigate complex transactions and strategic decisions. We provide deep insights and practical solutions to support mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, and growth strategies, ensuring sustainable outcomes for businesses across sectors. The Healthcare Strategy team delivers strategic advice to healthcare operators, pharmaceuticals and life sciences organizations, private equity houses, family offices, and major financial institutions. We focus on rigorous commercial and operational analysis to help clients make informed investment and transformation decisions. 

How You’ll Contribute

As a Deals Strategy Director in Healthcare, you’ll work as part of a team of problem solvers, helping to solve complex business issues from strategy to execution. We are seeking a pharmaceutical strategy leader with deep Saudi/GCC market expertise, combining portfolio strategy, financial modeling, pharmaceutical manufacturing, licensing and commercialization. Responsibilities include but are not limited to: 

Pharmaceutical strategy and portfolio development

• Lead market studies, growth strategies, commercial due diligence and portfolio assessments.
• Evaluate therapeutic areas, molecules, generics, biosimilars, pricing, competition, patents and market access.
• Develop product longlists, shortlists, launch pipelines and commercialization strategies.

Financial modeling and business planning

• Build molecule/SKU-level forecasts covering volumes, market shares, pricing, COGS and EBITDA.
• Develop business plans, investment cases, CAPEX, working capital, cash flow and scenario analyses.

Pharmaceutical manufacturing and localization

• Assess OSD, sterile injectables, vials, ampoules, PFS, auto-injectors, lyophilization, packaging and HPAPI manufacturing.
• Understand formulation, API sourcing, aseptic processing, capacity utilization, GMP, scale-up and technology transfer.
• Lead manufacturing feasibility, greenfield/brownfield investments, localization and CMO/CDMO assessments.

Advanced therapies and emerging modalities

• Assess opportunities across oncology, hematology, immunology, diabetes/obesity, cardiovascular, neurology and rare diseases.
• Understand biologics, biosimilars, mAbs, ADCs, GLP-1s, peptides, targeted therapies and immuno-oncology.
• Evaluate cell and gene therapies, CAR-T, CRISPR, RNA therapeutics and radiopharmaceuticals, including commercial and manufacturing feasibility.

Regulations, licensing and partnerships

• Understand SFDA approvals, drug registration, GMP/GxP, bioequivalence, pricing, NUPCO tenders and localization policies.
• Lead partner identification, screening and negotiations for in-licensing, JVs, manufacturing, distribution and technology transfer.

Operating models and consulting leadership

• Design pharmaceutical target operating models covering R&D, portfolio planning, manufacturing, QA/QC, regulatory, supply chain and commercial functions.
• Lead implementation, operationalization and value creation engagements.
• Manage senior clients, multidisciplinary teams, proposals and business development.

What You’ll Bring

• 10 to 15+ years of experience in pharmaceutical strategy, manufacturing, portfolio development or advisory.
• Extensive Saudi/GCC pharmaceutical market, regulatory and manufacturing experience.
• Strong hands-on financial modeling, forecasting, market assessment and business planning capabilities.
• Demonstrated experience in pharmaceutical licensing, partner negotiations and manufacturing strategy.
• Familiarity with oncology, biologics, specialty injectables and emerging therapies.
• Proven consulting or project-based delivery experience with senior client stakeholders.
• Degree in Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Biotechnology, Chemical Engineering, Business or related field; MBA advantageous.
• Preferred background: Strategy consulting, advisory or strategy/BD functions at pharmaceutical manufacturers.
• Ideal candidate: A hands-on pharma strategy leader who can independently assess a molecule portfolio, build a financial model, evaluate manufacturing feasibility, negotiate licensing partnerships and translate strategy into operational execution.
• Proficiency in English; Arabic is a strong advantage 
• Your flexibility to travel regularly across the region. This means we may require you to work away from your base office location on a regular basis and frequent overnight stays may be required. Where possible, we will take your preferences into account and strike a balance between meeting your career development/personal needs and those of the business and our clients 

How You’ll Make a Difference

At PwC Middle East, we expect all our people to embody the skills and behaviours of The PwC Professional framework, helping us deliver on our strategy while growing and developing as leaders at every level.

Why You’ll Love Working at PwC

At PwC Middle East, you’ll find more than just a job – you’ll build a meaningful career, supported by rewards and benefits that help you thrive. We offer competitive pay, comprehensive benefits, and programs that promote well-being, balance, and personal growth. You’ll have access to continuous learning, digital upskilling, and a collaborative environment that values innovation, mentorship, and diversity. Discover more about Life at PwC Middle East.