Senior Director, Clinical Operations
ICON plc
Summary
At ICON Strategic Solutions, you will work in a sponsor-dedicated model, supported by ICON's global expertise. As the world's largest FSP organisation, with over 90 sponsor partnerships, we offer stability, career development and a collaborative environment where your work contributes to the development of treatments that benefit patients worldwide.
Job description
As a Senior Director, Clinical Operations at ICON, you will provide strategic and operational leadership across clinical programs while building strong client partnerships and helping drive account growth. This highly visible, client-facing role is ideal for an experienced Clinical Operations Director ready to broaden their impact across global clients, new business opportunities and existing accounts.
What You Will Do
Your focus will be on leading clinical operations delivery, strengthening client relationships, influencing stakeholders and proactively identifying solutions and opportunities to grow our partnerships.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide strategic and operational leadership across assigned clinical programs and accounts.
- Build trusted relationships with clients and senior internal stakeholders.
- Proactively influence and educate clients on operational processes, solutions and best practices.
- Identify opportunities to strengthen client partnerships and support account growth.
- Lead with confidence, constructively challenging or pushing back on stakeholders when needed to drive the right outcomes.
- Support new and existing business opportunities, including RFPs, proposals, bid defenses and client negotiations.
- Partner across global teams to ensure effective delivery and alignment with client expectations.
- Anticipate challenges, identify solutions and take ownership of driving issues through resolution.
- Work flexibly across global accounts and time zones based on client and business needs.
Required Qualifications and Experience
- Bachelor's degree in a life sciences, healthcare, or related field, or equivalent relevant experience.
- Advanced degree preferred but not required.
- Significant experience in Clinical Operations within a CRO, pharmaceutical, biotechnology or related clinical research environment.
- Current or recent experience operating at the Director level or equivalent.
- Demonstrated success managing senior client and stakeholder relationships.
- Strong influencing, communication, negotiation and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to operate effectively in a highly client-facing environment.
- Demonstrated ability to take ownership, work proactively and drive results.
- Ability to constructively challenge stakeholders and navigate complex situations.
- Experience working effectively within global and cross-functional teams.
- Flexibility to support global clients across different time zones.
Preferred Qualifications and Experience
- Experience with RFPs and proposal development.
- Experience participating in or leading bid defenses.
- Client negotiation experience.
- Experience supporting business development, account expansion or new business opportunities.
- Demonstrated ability to influence clients and build relationships that support long-term partnerships and growth.
- Strong learning agility and willingness to develop new commercial and business development capabilities.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in a life sciences, healthcare, or related field, or equivalent relevant experience
- Significant experience in Clinical Operations within a CRO, pharmaceutical, biotechnology or related clinical research environment
- Current or recent experience operating at the Director level or equivalent
- Demonstrated success managing senior client and stakeholder relationships
- Strong influencing, communication, negotiation and problem-solving skills
- Ability to operate effectively in a highly client-facing environment
- Demonstrated ability to take ownership, work proactively and drive results
- Ability to constructively challenge stakeholders and navigate complex situations
- Experience working effectively within global and cross-functional teams
- Flexibility to support global clients across different time zones
- Experience with RFPs and proposal development
- Experience participating in or leading bid defenses
- Client negotiation experience
- Experience supporting business development, account expansion or new business opportunities
- Strong learning agility and willingness to develop new commercial and business development capabilities
Benefits
- Competitive base salary
- Performance related incentives
- Medical, Dental & Vision
- Retirement and pension plans
- Life assurance
- Disability coverage
- Employee assistance programmes
- Wellbeing resources
- Learning and development opportunities
Company overview
ICON plc is a global leader in clinical research and healthcare intelligence, founded in Dublin, Ireland in 1990. As one of the world's largest contract research organizations (CROs), ICON provides comprehensive outsourced development services to pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device companies worldwide. The company operates in 55 countries with approximately 41,900 employees, offering end-to-end solutions that span the entire product development lifecycle. ICON's service portfolio includes clinical research services, adaptive trials, biosimilars, commercialization and outcomes consulting, medical imaging, laboratory services, and strategic support for traditional and digital health technologies. The company specializes in therapeutic areas such as oncology, cardiovascular diseases, central nervous system disorders, rare diseases, and women's health. With its 2021 acquisition of PRA Health Sciences, ICON significantly expanded its capabilities and market position, becoming a dominant force in the global CRO industry. The company is publicly traded on NASDAQ under the ticker ICLR and reported $8.28 billion in revenue for 2024.