Director, Biotech Strategy Lead, Immunology/ Vaccine/ Ophthalmology/ Government

ICON plc • Blue Bell, SD

4d • Remote

About The Position

The Director, Biotech Strategy Lead is an influential individual contributor who shapes clinical development strategies and solutions for biotechnology clients, with a focus on immunology, vaccines, ophthalmology, and government. The role serves as a strategic advisor, therapeutic area expert, and thought leader, drawing on knowledge of drug development, clinical operations, and the biotech environment to create differentiated solutions that meet client needs and support business growth.

The position partners with Business Development, Operations, Medical, Scientific, Finance, and senior leadership teams to develop opportunity strategies, engage clients, support proposals and bid defenses, and translate clinical development strategies into operational delivery. The role also helps strengthen ICON’s capabilities and market positioning through collaboration, continuous improvement, knowledge sharing, and thought leadership activities. The position is US-based and remote, with approximately 25% travel based on business and client needs.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Life Sciences, Business Administration, or a related discipline; a scientific or biological sciences background is highly valued.
• Approximately 9 or more years of experience in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, CRO, clinical research, or drug development environment, with significant exposure to clinical development and trial operations.
• Therapeutic-area expertise in immunology, vaccines, ophthalmology, or government, including understanding of drug development, clinical development strategies, study design considerations, and operational challenges in the biotech environment.
• Experience supporting business development, including proposal strategy, opportunity assessment, client presentations, bid defenses, and development of differentiated client solutions.
• Ability to translate scientific, clinical, operational, and commercial considerations into strategically sound, operationally feasible solutions for biotech clients.
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex cross-functional initiatives and influence stakeholders in a global, matrixed organization without direct reporting-line authority.
• Executive-level communication, presentation, negotiation, and relationship-management skills; ability to engage senior client and internal stakeholders and represent strategies and recommendations confidently.
• Strong business acumen, analytical thinking, sound judgment, and ability to assess development challenges, business risks, financial considerations, and operational performance.
• Must live in the US and be able to travel approximately 25% based on business and client needs.
• Must have the legal right to work in the country where the role is based.

Responsibilities

• Develop differentiated clinical development and operational strategies for biotechnology opportunities, translating client objectives, development plans, and scientific requirements into practical, commercially competitive solutions.
• Serve as a strategic advisor and therapeutic area expert in client engagements, opportunity assessments, capability presentations, proposal strategy discussions, and bid defenses.
• Lead strategic proposal and solution development with Business Development, Operations, Finance, Medical, Scientific, and therapeutic-area teams; develop responses to RFIs, RFPs, budgets, and other client requirements.
• Build trusted relationships with biotech clients, understand their pipelines, priorities, and business objectives, and identify opportunities to expand strategic partnerships and portfolios.
• Provide strategic oversight from solution development through execution, evaluating operational feasibility, financial assumptions, risks, KPIs, KRIs, quality indicators, and performance data.
• Apply drug development expertise and market insight to business strategy, including evolving development approaches, scientific and clinical trends, operational challenges, competitive dynamics, and changing client needs.
• Strengthen ICON’s therapeutic-area positioning and capabilities through cross-functional collaboration, continuous improvement, and knowledge sharing.
• Participate in client meetings, conferences, webinars, scientific forums, and other thought leadership activities.

Benefits

• Competitive base salary and performance-related incentives.
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage where applicable.
• Retirement and pension plans.
• Life assurance and disability coverage.
• Employee assistance programmes and wellbeing resources.
• Learning and development opportunities through structured training and career pathways.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director