Senior Director, Strategy & Planning – Real World Late Phase, Real World Evidence

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in United States.

📋 Description

• Take charge of the pre-award strategy and commercial leadership for designated RWLP managed accounts, which entails developing RFP/RFI strategies, defining service models, outlining functional scopes, establishing budget structures, and crafting vendor strategies; lead bid defense meetings and present capabilities.

• Facilitate the transition from pre-award to delivery by collaborating with project delivery teams to ensure a seamless transfer of strategy, assumptions, risks, scope, timelines, and budget expectations.

• Act as the strategic account leader after the award, overseeing the portfolio's performance and governance while collaborating with delivery leadership to ensure alignment with the approved strategy and commercial objectives.

• Steer client-facing strategic discussions concerning RWLP standards, evidence strategy, and evolving operational methodologies; maintain relationships with senior-level sponsors through regular governance and strategic planning dialogues.

• Offer continuous strategic advice during study execution, serving as a consultant to project teams to facilitate complex problem-solving, risk evaluation, and the development of integrated solution options across functions, vendors, and partners.

• Keep a strategic eye on account performance, participating in BU or departmental reviews as required, to proactively identify risks or opportunities, assist in issue resolution from a strategic standpoint, and position accounts for growth.

• Align and influence matrixed teams across various functions and business units to endorse integrated commercial and account strategies; share insights, lessons learned, and best practices to guide future pursuits and portfolio expansion.

• Establish and reinforce strategic quality standards for assigned accounts; stay informed on quality risks, CAPAs, and QIs to ensure that issues are recognized and escalated appropriately.

• Stay aware of vendor and partner integration, including strategic risk considerations associated with third-party services and cross-BU delivery models.

• Assist in account growth and partnership expansion by identifying opportunities for extensions, hybrid clinical–RWLP strategies, repeat work, and preferred partnership models.

• May involve line management responsibilities.

• Travel may be required up to 25%.

⛳️ Requirements

• A Bachelor’s degree in life sciences or a related field, or a four-year degree combined with relevant RWLP and operational experience is mandatory.

• An advanced or professional degree is preferred (e.g., MS, MPH, PhD, MD, MBA).

• A total of 10–12 years of relevant experience is required, which may encompass RWLP and/or full-service study or portfolio experience, with at least 6–8 years specifically in RWLP/RWE experience included in that total.

• RWLP/RWE experience can overlap with full-service or operational experience and is not required to be strictly additive.

• Extensive experience in proposal development, budget creation, and bid defense activities.

• Proven experience in managing complex client portfolios, including vendor and partner engagement.

• Strong comprehension of peri- and post-approval study strategies, designs, and operational considerations across interventional, observational, and hybrid study types, with the capability to design and budget suitable solutions.

• Experience in presenting to senior-level stakeholders, conducting training or enablement sessions, and effectively communicating complex ideas to diverse audiences.

• Familiarity with hybrid, decentralized, or virtual study models is preferred.

• Experienced in collaborating with stakeholders to define and refine operational processes and procedures as RWLP/RWE requirements and delivery models evolve.

• Proven experience in evaluating and selecting vendors and partners that complement and enhance service offerings.

• Ability to identify process gaps and emerging needs for updated procedures; knowledge of leveraging emerging technologies and digital tools (e.g., generative AI) to enhance efficiency and scalability.

• Demonstrated experience serving as a subject matter expert (SME) both internally and externally, providing strategic guidance on RWLP/RWE strategies, evidence planning, and integrated solutions to sponsors and internal stakeholders.

• Experience representing the organization externally through participation in industry conferences, panels, webinars, podcasts, or similar forums, including delivering presentations and contributing to thought leadership discussions related to RWLP/RWE.

🏝️ Benefits

• We are dedicated to the growth of our team members through career development and advancement opportunities; supportive and engaged line management; technical and therapeutic area training; peer recognition, and comprehensive rewards programs.

• We are committed to fostering an inclusive culture where you can truly be yourself.

• Our core purpose, Driven to Deliver, embodies the enthusiasm of our colleagues as they show up each day to create solutions that can significantly impact someone's life.