Lost in Transformation - Clinical Operations Lead Genentech Employee Review

3.0
Aug 19, 2024
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Benefits are great and the campus is top notch Work-Life balance was the best I ever had. Independent Contributor is actually really independent.

Cons

Genentech is unfortunately in decline. I had 6 managers in 10 years...crazy turnover and upheavals/confusion constantly. The C-suite caliber is very underwhelming. Product Development leadership has been especially chaotic. Most PD leaders put in 1-2 years and then leave for other companies, selling their "transformation" efforts as successes. We see what you are doing and we are not amused by your scorched earth approach. Genentech leadership, even if they wanted to, have no power over their Swiss overlords. In the meantime, US Business Consulting companies are making bank to generate the Pharma Visions and roadmaps of impractical agile organizational transformations. The rolling layoffs are being sold as strategic decisions but they have been completely outsourced, of course they are, and were pretty random. Not only has Genentech suffered braindrain for years due to the Transformation chaos, with these numerous, apparentely random? layoffs they let a bunch of experts go without anyone at Genentech reviewing the Consulting company's list of selected individuals. I hate conspiracies but is Roche trying to kill Genentech by a thousand little cuts until nobody wants to work there and they can shut the whole place down? What a clown car.

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Genentech Response
1y
Thank you for your candid review. Glad to hear that you appreciated the benefits, campus, and work-life balance at Genentech. We acknowledge your concerns regarding leadership turnover, organizational transformations, and strategic decisions, and understand how these issues can affect your experience and sense of stability within the company. In the context of an evolving healthcare landscape, we are evaluating our operations to ensure we remain well-positioned to meet the needs of patients today and deliver on our pipeline of new medicines in the future. While adjustments in processes are sometimes necessary to maintain agility, we deeply value our employees and regret if you did not feel supported during your time here. We strive to be a company where every employee feels valued and heard. Your insights will be shared with the leadership team to help us improve.

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5.0
Jun 6, 2026
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Pros

Great salary and team! The interview process was smooth and effective.

Cons

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3.0
May 7, 2026
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Pros

Genentech's origin story and mission are genuinely inspiring — few companies can point to such a meaningful historical arc in medicine. Patient engagement is taken seriously and feels authentic, not performative. The campus is beautiful and the culture has real warmth.

Cons

DDA is operating with significant gaps. First, the foundational data infrastructure is not mature enough to support the ambitions being set for the team. Second, the measurement culture has gotten ahead of the methodology, and no one in a position of authority seems to be asking hard questions about whether the numbers actually mean what they're being presented as meaning. Third, some management feel disconnected from the work itself, lacking the knowledge, hands-on experience, or relevant credentials. Individually any one of these would be manageable. Together these create an environment where it's hard to do rigorous work, rather work is performative, and be recognized for it.

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