Sr Director, Drug Development Lead

Job Overview

Responsible for Drug Development Program Leadership services. Provides leadership and oversight for the successful delivery of complex pharmaceutical and biotechnology development programs across all stages of development. Leads integrated cross-functional teams and serves as a senior strategic advisor to customers on drug development strategy, portfolio governance, program execution, indication prioritization, asset development planning, and development decision-making.

Responsible for the leadership, development, and performance of Program Leaders, Project Managers, Clinical Scientists, and Drug Development Leaders. Drives operational excellence, customer satisfaction, business growth, and delivery excellence while ensuring consistent execution of high-quality strategic drug development and program leadership.

This role has direct line management responsibility for Project Managers, Clinical Scientists, and Drug Development Leaders and is accountable for the overall performance and delivery excellence of DDRS (Drug Development and Regulatory solutions) projects and programs. The role is responsible for establishing and advancing program leadership and project management capabilities across DDRS, ensuring consistent standards of execution, governance, and customer delivery across the portfolio.

Participates in all aspects of Drug Development Program Leadership and leads the implementation of mission, goals and objectives, development of policies, procedures and standards for the department. Provides thought leadership in pharmaceutical product development and program leadership through publications, white papers, blogs, industry conferences, webinars, and customer forums, as appropriate.

Essential Functions

• Lead and oversee the successful delivery of complex drug development programs and portfolios for biotechnology and pharmaceutical customers, ensuring alignment of scope, timelines, budgets, quality expectations, risks, and stakeholder requirements.

• Provide strategic leadership to integrated cross-functional drug development teams spanning clinical development, translational medicine, biometrics, medical affairs, regulatory affairs and other key drug development functions

• Evaluate and develop integrated drug development strategies for pharmaceutical products, biologics, and advanced therapies, including Target Product Profiles (TPPs), Clinical Development Plans (CDPs), indication prioritization, asset lifecycle planning, and portfolio decision-making.

• Lead program governance activities including executive steering committees, portfolio reviews, risk management, issue resolution, milestone planning, and strategic decision-making forums.

• Support the innovative development of compounds to maximize scientific, technical, operational, and commercial success throughout the development lifecycle.

• Ensure high-quality, well-reasoned, objective deliverables that meet the highest standards of scientific integrity, operational excellence, and customer expectation.

• Provide drug development expertise to support clients strategic business activities, due diligence opportunities, portfolio assessments, and investment decisions.

• Lead and develop a high-performing organization of Program Leaders, Project Managers, Clinical Scientists, and Drug Development Leaders through recruitment, coaching, mentoring, performance management, career development, and succession planning.

• Establish and maintain program leadership frameworks, methodologies, best practices, governance models, performance metrics, and continuous improvement initiatives that improve delivery consistency and customer outcomes.

• Drive the development and advancement of program leadership and project management capabilities across DDRS through competency frameworks, training programs, mentoring initiatives, and operational excellence activities.

• Ensure Customer Satisfaction by working closely with Senior Management, Therapeutic Units, Functional Leadership, and Operations Heads to ensure optimum strategic guidance and successful execution of customer development programs.

• Serve as a key resource and participate in strategic business development activities including proposal development, solution design, bid defense presentations, strategic account planning, and customer relationship management.

• Assist in the development of programs that maximize organizational growth, profitability, customer retention, and service excellence.

• Provide internal and external educational services related to drug development strategy, program leadership, governance, portfolio management, and operational excellence.

• Contribute to the continued growth of IQVIA's Drug Development Program Leadership capabilities.

• Ensure compliance with all business office requirements for tracking time, effort, quality, and performance metrics.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree (MS, PhD, PharmD, MD, MBA, or equivalent) or the equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.

• Typically requires 15-20+ years of pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or CRO drug development experience with a global or multi-regional focus, including significant experience in senior strategic and operational leadership roles.

• Demonstrated experience leading complex drug development programs and portfolios across multiple therapeutic areas and stages of development.

• Significant experience leading integrated cross-functional development teams responsible for drug development strategy and execution.

• Proven experience in managing the development and implementing Target Product Profiles (TPPs), Clinical Development Plans (CDPs), indication selection strategies, development roadmaps, governance models, and portfolio plans.

• Demonstrated experience providing strategic leadership and guidance to biotechnology and pharmaceutical customers.

• Proven people leadership experience managing multidisciplinary teams, including key drug development functions .

• Experience within a Contract Research Organisation (CRO) or biopharmaceutical company.

• Requires broad management and leadership knowledge to lead multiple functional areas, influence senior stakeholders, and drive strategic organizational initiatives.

• Strong strategic thinking, analytical, organizational, communication, and leadership skills with the ability to thrive in a culture of achievement.

• Client-focused and consultative approach that combines strategic vision, operational excellence, and customer-centric delivery.

• Demonstrated ability to build trusted relationships with senior customer stakeholders and act as a strategic advisor on complex drug development challenges.

• Demonstrates a strong command of program leadership methodologies, portfolio management principles, governance frameworks, risk management practices, and organizational leadership techniques.

• Grasps key issues quickly, understand the broader drug development landscape, and links scientific and operational insights to larger business and development objectives.

• Demonstrates excellent written and verbal communication skills and is effective in executive presentations, governance boards, customer meetings, and strategic decision-making forums.

• Has a strong commitment to quality, delivery excellence, operational effectiveness, and customer success.

• Has a proven track record of meeting or exceeding business, customer, organizational, and operational goals.

• Expertise in Excel, PowerPoint, program/ project management tools, and portfolio management practices.

• Early development experience, including translational medicine, clinical pharmacology, biomarker strategy, CMC, or related disciplines is highly desirable.

• Recognized as a strategic thought leader in drug development and program leadership, with the ability to influence internal and external stakeholders and drive successful development outcomes.

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IQVIA is a leading global provider of clinical research services, commercial insights and healthcare intelligence to the life sciences and healthcare industries. We create intelligent connections to accelerate the development and commercialization of innovative medical treatments to help improve patient outcomes and population health worldwide. Learn more at

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