Senior Director, FSA Project Management

ICON plc • Blue Bell, SD

4d • Remote

About The Position

The Senior Director, FSA Project Management provides strategic and operational leadership across a portfolio of global clinical development programs, accountable for successful site startup delivery, including regulatory, contracting, and site activation. The role leads and develops FSA Project Management leaders and teams, driving portfolio performance, client satisfaction, financial delivery, and operational excellence.

Serving as a senior escalation point for startup risks and operational challenges, the Senior Director partners with sponsors, project leadership, and cross-functional stakeholders to develop effective startup strategies and deliver predictable, high-quality outcomes in support of study timelines and business objectives. The position has portfolio accountability across large pharmaceutical and biotechnology clients and leads a broad FSA Project Management organization.

Requirements

• Significant leadership experience in 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 related operational dependencies.
• Demonstrated experience leading and developing people leaders and building high-performing teams in 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, including 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 and ways of working and adopting innovative technologies.
• Must live in the US.
• Able to travel up to 25%.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and oversight across global clinical development programs, ensuring 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; foster a high-performance culture, build a talent pipeline, and ensure effective resource planning.
• Partner with sponsors, project leadership, and cross-functional stakeholders to develop and execute startup strategies, manage risks, and resolve complex operational escalations.
• Drive operational excellence and continuous improvement by optimizing processes and ways of working and encouraging adoption of innovative technologies.
• Provide portfolio governance and strategic oversight to support customer relationships, financial health, business objectives, and sustainable portfolio growth.

Benefits

• Competitive base salary and performance-related incentives.
• Health and wellbeing programmes, including 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: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed