Vice President, AI Enablement

Parexel•Southport, NC

About The Position

Vice President, AI Enablement When our values align, there's no limit to what we can achieve. At Parexel, we all share the same goal - to improve the world's health. From clinical trials to regulatory, consulting, and market access, every clinical development solution we provide is underpinned by something special - a deep conviction in what we do. Each of us, no matter what we do at Parexel, contributes to the development of a therapy that ultimately will benefit a patient. We take our work personally, we do it with empathy and we're committed to making a difference. Parexel is looking for changemakers who are driven by curiosity, passion, and optimism. Come join us in keeping the Patient at the Heart of Everything We do. Job Title: Vice President, AI Enablement Job Introduction: The Vice President, AI Enablement leads Parexel’s enterprise‑wide Artificial Intelligence strategy and implementation agenda within the Data & Technology organization. This role is responsible for accelerating AI adoption across clinical, operational, and corporate functions; operationalizing safe and compliant AI systems; co-leading governance frameworks; and scaling platforms, capabilities, and talent that enable Parexel to leverage AI for efficiency, quality, and innovation. The VP partners extensively with senior executives, including Clinical, Safety, Corporate Functions, D&T, Quality & Compliance, and operational delivery units, ensuring that AI capabilities align with business priorities and comply with regulatory expectations for the life sciences sector. Who we are looking for: Dynamic, strategic professionals who pair sharp commercial acumen with a deep understanding of how technology fuels business success. You excel at transforming complex technical concepts into clear, compelling stories that resonate with internal stakeholders and inspire confidence in external clients. Our ideal candidate has a proven record of designing, implementing, and scaling AI‑driven strategies that generate measurable impact. You bring exceptional analytical and problem‑solving skills, backed by outstanding communication abilities that elevate every conversation and presentation. What you’ll do: AI Strategy & Roadmap Leadership Define and evolve Parexel’s enterprise AI strategy, roadmap, and investment portfolio Identify priority use cases aligned to business value, feasibility, and regulatory constraints. Conduct AI maturity assessments and establish long‑term capability-building plans. AI Governance, Risk & Compliance Co-chair AI governance Define standards for model lifecycle management, validation, auditability, and transparency. Ensure compliance with GxP, global regulatory guidance, and responsible AI principles. Partner with Quality, Legal, and Compliance to operationalize risk management for AI systems. AI Platform & Infrastructure Enablement Oversee enterprise AI platforms, tooling, and data pipelines. Drive scalable architecture for GenAI, ML operations, retrieval‑augmented generation, and secure model hosting. Evaluate and integrate vendor platforms while ensuring data privacy and clinical-grade security. AI Use Case Delivery & Adoption Lead AI product teams delivering enterprise and function‑specific solutions. Establish repeatable implementation frameworks, delivery methodologies, and KPIs. Identify value-add vendor partners and co-develop and deploy AI based capabilities Drive user adoption programs, training pathways, and change management across global teams. Cross‑Functional Leadership & Stakeholder Management Serve as executive AI advisor to senior leadership including Clinical Development, Commercial, Regulatory, Legal, Quality, and Operations. Align AI programs with broader Data & Technology strategy and transformation goals. Represent Parexel externally with partners, clients, and industry bodies. Team Leadership & Talent Development Build and lead a global organization of AI product managers, engineers, data scientists, and AI governance specialists. Develop talent pathways and partnerships to ensure cutting‑edge expertise. Skills: Excellent written and verbal communication skills to effectively engage with sites and internal stakeholders. Exceptional ability to communicate complex AI concepts to both technical and non‑technical stakeholders. Strong executive leadership, collaboration, influence, and stakeholder‑management skills. Demonstrated ability to build and scale enterprise AI programs in regulated environments. Strong understanding of AI assurance frameworks, including risk assessment, validation, and monitoring. Ability to lead cross‑functional teams and deliver measurable business outcomes. Knowledge and Experience: 15+ years in data science, AI/ML, or technology leadership roles; at least 7 years in executive or senior leadership. Deep knowledge of clinical research processes, clinical data lifecycle, and pharmaceutical/life sciences regulatory expectations. Experience implementing enterprise AI platforms (GenAI, MLOps, data pipelines, automation). Proven success operationalizing large-scale AI programs in GxP or other highly regulated industries. Familiarity with emerging AI regulations (EU AI Act, FDA, EMA expectations). Experience with cloud-based AI ecosystems (Azure preferred). Education: Master’s degree or PhD in Computer Science, Data Science, Engineering, Bioinformatics, or related field preferred. Advanced business qualifications (MBA or equivalent) desirable. Why join us: Opportunity to work on innovative projects at the forefront of the industry. Collaborative and inclusive work environment that values your expertise. Professional advancement and development opportunities. Work life balance and flexible working hours. Parexel US Benefits: Health, Vision & Dental Insurance Tuition Reimbursement Vacation/Holiday/Sick Time Flexible Spending & Health Savings Accounts Work/Life Balance 401(k) with Company match Pet Insurance Full list of benefits available here: https://www.parexel.com/us-benefits About Parexel International: At Parexel we embrace flexibility and understand that in today’s fast-paced world, employees need to balance their careers with their personal lives. Come join us where learning is constant, you are exposed to a world of experiences and open doors. Each of us, no matter what we do at Parexel, contributes to the development of a therapy that ultimately will benefit a patient. We take our work personally, we do it with empathy, and we are committed to making a difference. If this job does not sound like the next step in your career, but perhaps you know of someone who’d be a perfect fit, please share the job posting link to apply! EEO Disclaimer Parexel is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to legally protected status, which in the US includes race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. Parexel is a leading global clinical research organization (CRO) providing insights-driven Clinical and Consulting solutions to the world’s life sciences industry. Leveraging deep local knowledge and a global breadth of clinical, regulatory and therapeutic expertise, our professionals worldwide work in partnership with biopharmaceutical leaders, emerging innovators and sites to design and deliver clinical trials with patients in mind — broadening access and making clinical research a care option for anyone, anywhere. Our proven track record spans 40+ years and drives us forward, advancing clinical research in healthcare’s most complex areas while harnessing innovation to drive efficiencies across every phase of the clinical development process. Our insights-driven approach, proven delivery and trusted execution are accelerating the delivery of life-changing treatments to patients — With Heart.™

Requirements

Excellent written and verbal communication skills to effectively engage with sites and internal stakeholders.
Exceptional ability to communicate complex AI concepts to both technical and non‑technical stakeholders.
Strong executive leadership, collaboration, influence, and stakeholder‑management skills.
Demonstrated ability to build and scale enterprise AI programs in regulated environments.
Strong understanding of AI assurance frameworks, including risk assessment, validation, and monitoring.
Ability to lead cross‑functional teams and deliver measurable business outcomes.
15+ years in data science, AI/ML, or technology leadership roles; at least 7 years in executive or senior leadership.
Deep knowledge of clinical research processes, clinical data lifecycle, and pharmaceutical/life sciences regulatory expectations.
Experience implementing enterprise AI platforms (GenAI, MLOps, data pipelines, automation).
Proven success operationalizing large-scale AI programs in GxP or other highly regulated industries.
Familiarity with emerging AI regulations (EU AI Act, FDA, EMA expectations).
Experience with cloud-based AI ecosystems (Azure preferred).

Nice To Haves

Advanced business qualifications (MBA or equivalent) desirable.

Responsibilities

Define and evolve Parexel’s enterprise AI strategy, roadmap, and investment portfolio
Identify priority use cases aligned to business value, feasibility, and regulatory constraints.
Conduct AI maturity assessments and establish long‑term capability-building plans.
Co-chair AI governance
Define standards for model lifecycle management, validation, auditability, and transparency.
Ensure compliance with GxP, global regulatory guidance, and responsible AI principles.
Partner with Quality, Legal, and Compliance to operationalize risk management for AI systems.
Oversee enterprise AI platforms, tooling, and data pipelines.
Drive scalable architecture for GenAI, ML operations, retrieval‑augmented generation, and secure model hosting.
Evaluate and integrate vendor platforms while ensuring data privacy and clinical-grade security.
Lead AI product teams delivering enterprise and function‑specific solutions.
Establish repeatable implementation frameworks, delivery methodologies, and KPIs.
Identify value-add vendor partners and co-develop and deploy AI based capabilities
Drive user adoption programs, training pathways, and change management across global teams.
Serve as executive AI advisor to senior leadership including Clinical Development, Commercial, Regulatory, Legal, Quality, and Operations.
Align AI programs with broader Data & Technology strategy and transformation goals.
Represent Parexel externally with partners, clients, and industry bodies.
Build and lead a global organization of AI product managers, engineers, data scientists, and AI governance specialists.
Develop talent pathways and partnerships to ensure cutting‑edge expertise.