JOB SUMMARY

The Executive Director, Project Management is a senior leadership role responsible for driving global project delivery excellence, client partnership strategy, portfolio oversight, resource planning, and organizational performance across the clinical development lifecycle.

This position provides strategic leadership for global project management teams, ensuring the successful execution of clinical programs while maintaining the highest standards of quality, operational performance, financial stewardship, and customer satisfaction. The Executive Director serves as a trusted partner to sponsors and executive leadership, aligning business objectives with delivery strategies to support organizational growth, long-term client relationships, and scalable operational excellence.

The role provides direct line management and leadership to Project Managers and other project leadership personnel, ensuring projects are delivered in accordance with contractual commitments, regulatory requirements, timelines, budgets, and quality expectations.

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REQUIRED EDUCATION, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Education

• Master's degree in Life Sciences, Clinical Research, Business, or a related field required.
• Advanced degree (PhD, PharmD, MBA, or equivalent) preferred.

Experience

• Minimum 12 years of progressive experience in clinical research, with significant leadership experience in project/program management, client services, and operational delivery.
• Demonstrated experience within CNS clinical development preferred.
• Proven success managing large, complex global clinical programs and portfolios.
• Experience leading global, cross-functional teams in a matrixed environment.
• Strong track record of client relationship management and strategic business growth.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Exceptional leadership, coaching, and talent development capabilities.
• Strong business and financial acumen, including forecasting, budgeting, and profitability management.
• Advanced strategic planning and organizational leadership skills.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management abilities.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Ability to influence and collaborate effectively across all organizational levels.
• Demonstrated change management and organizational transformation experience.
• Working knowledge of GCP, applicable regulatory requirements, and clinical development processes.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Leadership & Business Growth

• Serve as a senior strategic leader and trusted advisor to sponsors, providing consultation on clinical development programs and operational strategy.
• Support business development activities, including proposal strategy, bid defenses, RFP responses, and growth opportunities.
• Partner with executive leadership to establish strategic priorities and ensure organizational objectives are achieved.
• Contribute to long-range business planning and operational scalability initiatives.
• Evaluate emerging market trends and customer needs and translate them into operational strategies that support organizational growth.

Client Relationship Management

• Lead global client management efforts and serve as executive sponsor for key strategic accounts.
• Develop and maintain strong customer relationships to ensure high levels of satisfaction, retention, and partnership growth.
• Escalate and resolve complex client concerns while proactively identifying opportunities to enhance service delivery.
• Partner with Business Development to identify opportunities for repeat business and expansion of services.

Portfolio & Project Delivery Oversight

• Provide executive oversight of project execution across a portfolio of global clinical studies and programs.
• Ensure projects are delivered in accordance with scope, timeline, budget, quality, and contractual commitments.
• Drive operational excellence through standardization, risk management, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Ensure appropriate governance, escalation pathways, and decision-making frameworks are established and consistently applied.
• Oversee project portfolio health and proactively address operational risks that may impact delivery.

Resource Planning & Operational Excellence

• Lead demand forecasting and resource planning processes to optimize organizational capacity and utilization.
• Partner with functional leadership to ensure alignment between business demand, staffing requirements, and operational capabilities.
• Monitor portfolio performance and support proactive workforce planning to address current and future business needs.
• Implement process improvements that enhance efficiency, scalability, collaboration, and study execution.

Financial Management

• Collaborate with Finance Business Partners on budgeting, forecasting, revenue recognition, and financial performance management.
• Ensure financial accountability across project portfolios through proactive management of scope, budgets, and profitability.
• Support accurate forecasting and financial reporting for assigned business areas.
• Identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency and overall financial performance.

Leadership & Talent Development

• Provide direct line management, coaching, mentorship, and professional development for Project Managers and project leadership personnel.
• Conduct performance reviews, goal setting, succession planning, and career development activities.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Lead employee engagement, communication, and learning initiatives that strengthen organizational capability and retention.
• Promote leadership development and build a sustainable pipeline of talent within the Project Management organization.

Quality & Compliance

• Partner with Quality Assurance and operational leadership to ensure compliance with applicable regulations, SOPs, and quality standards.
• Promote a culture of quality and inspection readiness across all assigned programs and teams.
• Drive risk identification, mitigation strategies, root-cause analysis, and lessons-learned activities to improve organizational performance.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives that enhance quality, consistency, and customer satisfaction.

Business Unit Leadership

• Serve as a member of the Global Clinical Operations leadership team.
• Contribute to strategic planning, operational decision-making, and achievement of business unit objectives.
• Collaborate with cross-functional leaders to drive organizational priorities and support company growth initiatives.
• Represent the Project Management function in executive-level discussions and decision-making forums.

Other Duties

• Perform additional responsibilities as assigned to support organizational objectives and business needs.

Performance Expectations

Success in this role will be demonstrated through:

• Effective leadership of global project management teams, resulting in the successful delivery of clinical programs that meet customer expectations for quality, timelines, budget, and compliance.
• Development and maintenance of strong sponsor relationships that promote client satisfaction, retention, and business growth.
• Strategic oversight of resource planning and organizational capacity to support current and future business needs.
• Collaboration with cross-functional leaders to ensure operational excellence, financial stewardship, and continuous improvement.
• Successful development, coaching, and retention of high-performing project management staff.
• Contribution to business unit objectives through sound decision-making, effective risk management, and execution of strategic initiatives.
• Promotion of a culture of quality, accountability, innovation, and customer focus across the organization.
• Visible leadership within the Global Clinical Operations organization and contribution to achieving company growth and performance objectives.

Salary range between $185,000 - $200,000.  Final compensation is based on skills, experience, location, and overall expertise.    

TRAVELING

Domestic and international travel required as needed to support client engagements, business development activities, industry meetings, and organizational initiatives. Travel is expected to be approximately 25% to 35%, depending on business needs.

REQUIRED EDUCATION, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Education

• Master's degree in Life Sciences, Clinical Research, Business, or a related field required.
• Advanced degree (PhD, PharmD, MBA, or equivalent) preferred.

Experience

• Minimum 12 years of progressive experience in clinical research, with significant leadership experience in project/program management, client services, and operational delivery.
• Demonstrated experience within CNS clinical development preferred.
• Proven success managing large, complex global clinical programs and portfolios.
• Experience leading global, cross-functional teams in a matrixed environment.
• Strong track record of client relationship management and strategic business growth.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Exceptional leadership, coaching, and talent development capabilities.
• Strong business and financial acumen, including forecasting, budgeting, and profitability management.
• Advanced strategic planning and organizational leadership skills.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management abilities.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Ability to influence and collaborate effectively across all organizational levels.
• Demonstrated change management and organizational transformation experience.
• Working knowledge of GCP, applicable regulatory requirements, and clinical development processes.