Vice President, Strategy & Business Development

Cardinal Health is seeking a senior leader to shape and advance strategy and growth initiatives across its upstream and downstream Specialty businesses. Reporting to the Senior Vice President for the Pharmaceutical Segment, this role identifies, prioritizes, and leads high-impact opportunities while guiding a dedicated strategy team to deliver actionable recommendations.

This position partners closely with leaders across Specialty to connect business strategy where appropriate, develop best-in-class strategic content, and stay ahead of industry changes. The role also supports portfolio and capability decisions, builds business cases to launch new initiatives, and drives growth through both proactive opportunity development and business unit M&A activity.

What you’ll do

• Lead strategy development for Specialty businesses serving pharmaceutical manufacturers and specialty community-based provider offices, and create linkages across business strategies where appropriate
• Develop and prepare best-in-class content to support strategic recommendations
• Anticipate industry landscape evolution and build alignment around key changes
• Determine strategic direction by identifying portfolio gaps and capabilities to scale, including opportunities to increase those capabilities
• Lead or support creation of business cases for new initiatives, including market analysis, value proposition, strategic fit, economic models, and launch
• Proactively prospect for, develop, and maintain a pipeline of strategic opportunities
• Drive business unit merger and acquisition processes from the business unit perspective, in conjunction with Corporate Development
• Stay involved in acquisitions post-integration with a vested interest in ensuring sustainability after integration
• Act as a trusted advisor to leaders across the Specialty businesses, collaborating on strategic direction and objectives
• Serve as a senior people leader for the Strategy and Business Development team, including hiring, coaching, developing, and managing team members, and fostering accountability, growth, and high performance

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business; Master’s degree in business or related area strongly preferred
• 10+ years of experience in strategy roles preferred
• Experience in Biopharma Services (such as patient access HUB services, real-world data/evidence, 3PL, or related biopharma service offerings) or related functions within pharmaceutical manufacturers
• Strong understanding of how purchasing decisions are made for HUB services, RWE, 3PL, and related biopharma service offerings
• Prior healthcare provider side experience preferred
• Prior consulting experience within healthcare, life sciences, or pharmaceutical manufacturers preferred
• Strong understanding of strategic thinking, business acumen, and analytical methods
• Demonstrated familiarity with the strategic landscape and competitive environment for specialty pharmaceuticals and related healthcare services
• Mergers and acquisitions and/or partnership development experience preferred
• Ability to develop actionable, high-value strategies and collaborate across teams
• Influential leadership and trusted-advisor mindset with the highest integrity
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills with the ability to tailor to varying audiences
• Innovative with an entrepreneurial spirit
• Strong financial acumen and business savvy
• Individually motivated
• Travel expectation: 10%

Compensation and benefits

• Anticipated salary range: $166,300 - $281,270 per year
• Bonus eligible: Yes
• Medical, dental and vision coverage
• Paid time off plan
• Health savings account (HSA)
• 401k savings plan
• Access to wages before pay day with myFlexPay
• Flexible spending accounts (FSAs)
• Short- and long-term disability coverage
• Work-Life resources
• Paid parental leave
• Healthy lifestyle programs

Location and application details

This is an onsite role in the United States. Cardinal Health Headquarters in Dublin, OH is highly preferred, and relocation support is available as appropriate.

Application window anticipated to close: 10/9/2026. If interested, submit your application as soon as possible.