Senior Director, FSA Project Management
ICON plc
Summary
The Senior Director, FSA Project Management provides strategic and operational leadership across a portfolio of global clinical development programs, with accountability for the successful delivery of site startup activities, including regulatory, contracting, and site activation.
Job description
In this role, you will lead and develop FSA Project Management leaders and their teams, driving consistent portfolio performance, client satisfaction, financial delivery, and operational excellence. You will serve as a senior escalation point for startup risks and operational challenges, partnering closely with sponsors, project leadership, and cross-functional stakeholders to develop effective startup strategies and deliver predictable, high-quality outcomes that support study timelines and broader business objectives. The role has portfolio accountability across a mix of large pharmaceutical and biotechnology clients and provides leadership across a broad FSA Project Management organization.
What You Will Do
- Provide strategic leadership and oversight across a portfolio of global clinical development programs, ensuring successful delivery of site startup, regulatory, contracting, and activation activities while driving timelines, quality, financial performance, and client experience.
- Lead, coach, and develop FSA Project Management leaders and their teams, fostering a high-performance culture, building a strong talent pipeline, and ensuring effective resource planning.
- Partner with sponsors, project leadership, and cross-functional stakeholders to develop and execute startup strategies, proactively manage risks, and resolve complex operational escalations.
- Drive operational excellence and continuous improvement by optimizing processes, ways of working, and adoption of innovative technologies to improve efficiency and predictability of delivery.
- Provide effective portfolio governance and strategic oversight, supporting strong customer relationships, financial health, achievement of business objectives, and sustainable portfolio growth.
What You Need
- Significant leadership experience within clinical research, clinical development, or a related life sciences environment, with responsibility for complex global programs or portfolios.
- Strong knowledge of clinical trial startup activities, including site activation, regulatory processes, contracting, and associated operational dependencies.
- Demonstrated experience leading and developing people leaders and building high-performing teams within a complex, matrixed organization.
- Proven ability to manage portfolio performance across operational delivery, quality, financial performance, resource planning, and client experience.
- Strong client and stakeholder management capabilities, with experience partnering with pharmaceutical and/or biotechnology sponsors and senior cross-functional leaders.
- Proven ability to anticipate and manage operational risks, resolve complex escalations, and drive effective decision-making in a fast-paced global environment.
- Strategic and continuous-improvement mindset, with demonstrated success optimizing processes, ways of working, and adoption of innovative technologies.
- Live in the US
- Able to travel up to 25%
Requirements
- Significant leadership experience within clinical research, clinical development, or a related life sciences environment, with responsibility for complex global programs or portfolios.
- Strong knowledge of clinical trial startup activities, including site activation, regulatory processes, contracting, and associated operational dependencies.
- Demonstrated experience leading and developing people leaders and building high-performing teams within a complex, matrixed organization.
- Proven ability to manage portfolio performance across operational delivery, quality, financial performance, resource planning, and client experience.
- Strong client and stakeholder management capabilities, with experience partnering with pharmaceutical and/or biotechnology sponsors and senior cross-functional leaders.
- Proven ability to anticipate and manage operational risks, resolve complex escalations, and drive effective decision-making in a fast-paced global environment.
- Strategic and continuous-improvement mindset, with demonstrated success optimizing processes, ways of working, and adoption of innovative technologies.
- Live in the US
- Able to travel up to 25%
Benefits
- Competitive base salary
- Performance related incentives
- Medical, Dental & Vision
- Retirement and pension plans
- Life assurance and 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.