We are delighted to be looking for an interim Clinical Programme Director to work at our client's site in London.
The Programme Director will be responsible for the strategic oversight, delivery and governance of multiple clinical programmes across the company. The role requires hands‑on leadership, strong client engagement and the ability to balance operational delivery with strategic planning. Key duties include defining programme scope, setting goals/milestones, managing budgets, leading teams, coordinating resources, mitigating risks and reporting progress to leadership. Our client is a relatively small team so this role is hands on managing studies, as well as leading strategy. A great and varied role!
Key Responsibilities
Strategy & Portfolio Leadership
- Provide strategic oversight of multiple clinical programmes, defining and owning the end-to-end programme vision aligned with business strategy
- Translate strategic objectives into actionable, cross-functional delivery plans
- Ensure programmes meet sponsor objectives for timelines, budgets, quality and compliance
- Monitor risks, dependencies and milestones, acting as the senior escalation point for complex issues
Client & Stakeholder Management
- Serve as the primary senior contact for assigned sponsors and partners
- Build and maintain strong, long-term client relationships based on trust, transparency and performance
- Lead or support sponsor meetings, steering committees and programme reviews
- Contribute to business development activities including bid defence meetings, proposals and scope development
Operational Oversight
- Provide leadership and guidance to Project Leads, Project Managers and cross-functional teams
- Ensure consistent application of SOPs, processes and best practices across all programmes
- Support resourcing strategies, including capacity planning and prioritisation across studies
Quality, Compliance & Risk Management
- Ensure all programmes are conducted in compliance with ICH-GCP, regulatory requirements and internal quality standards
- Proactively identify quality and compliance risks and drive corrective and preventive actions
- Support audits and inspections, including sponsor and regulatory authority interactions
People Leadership & Development
- Mentor and develop both junior and senior clinical operations staff
- Foster a collaborative, accountable and high-performance culture
- Support performance management, succession planning and talent development initiatives
Budget and Resource Management
- Plan programme budgets, monitor expenditure, and ensure financial resources are utilized within agreed limits
- Ensure all programmes are appropriately resourced, with staff, equipment and vendors available and used efficiently
Required Qualifications & Experience
- Bachelor's degree in Life Sciences or a related discipline (advanced degree preferred)
- Significant experience in clinical research within a CRO or pharmaceutical/biotech environment
- Proven experience leading multiple clinical programmes or large, complex clinical projects
- Strong understanding of clinical trial operations, regulatory requirements and quality systems
- Demonstrated success in senior sponsor-facing roles
- Strong strategic thinking combined with hands-on operational capability
- Excellent leadership, communication and influencing skills
- Commercial awareness, including budgeting, forecasting and change management
- Ability to manage complexity, competing priorities and ambiguity
- Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills
- Collaborative mindset with the confidence to challenge and elevate when necessary
- Appropriate working knowledge of GPP, GCP and the regulatory framework for clinical research
Candidates must be experts in clinical research and be able to work at our client's London office 3 days/ week.
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