Sr Dir/Director, Strategy & Planning - Real World Late Phase/Real World Evidence

Syneos Health Careers • $150K — $180K *
US-AnywhereRemote in Canada
Pharmaceuticals & Biotech
8 - 10 years of experience
Today
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Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in life sciences or related field, or equivalent RWLP and operational experience required
  • Advanced or professional degree preferred (e.g., MS, MPH, PhD, MD, MBA)
  • 10-12 years of relevant experience, including 6-8 years of direct RWLP/RWE experience
  • Experience in real world late phase research within a CRO and/or pharmaceutical environment
  • Demonstrated experience supporting complex client portfolios with vendor engagement
  • Strong understanding of peri- and post-approval study strategy and design
  • Experience with hybrid, decentralized, or virtual study models preferred

Responsibilities

  • Own pre-award strategy and commercial leadership for RWLP accounts, including budgeting and vendor strategy
  • Lead transition from pre-award to delivery, ensuring clear handoff of strategy and expectations
  • Serve as strategic account leader post-award, maintaining oversight of portfolio performance
  • Lead strategic conversations with clients regarding RWLP standards and evidence strategy
  • Provide ongoing strategic guidance during study conduct to support complex problem solving
  • Align and influence matrixed teams across functions for integrated account strategies
  • Identify and pursue opportunities for account growth and partnership expansion

Benefits

  • Travel up to 25%
  • Opportunity for professional development and training
  • Engagement with senior stakeholders in strategic settings
  • Exposure to diverse projects across the RWLP/RWE landscape
  • Potential line management responsibilities for career advancement
Full Job Description
Sr Dir/Director, Strategy & Planning - Real World Late Phase/Real World Evidence

Job Responsibilities

  • Own pre-award strategy and commercial leadership for assigned RWLP managed accounts, including RFP/RFI strategy, service model definition, functional scope, budget structures, and vendor strategy; lead bid defense meetings and capabilities presentations.
  • Lead the transition from pre-award to delivery by partnering with project delivery teams to ensure a clear handoff of strategy, assumptions, risks, scope, timelines, and budget expectations.
  • Serve as the strategic account leader post-award, maintaining strategic oversight of portfolio performance and governance while partnering with delivery leadership to ensure alignment with approved strategy and commercial intent.
  • Lead client-facing strategic conversations related to RWLP standards, evidence strategy, and evolving operational approaches; sustain senior-level sponsor relationships through routine governance and strategic planning discussions.
  • Provide ongoing strategic guidance during study conduct, acting as a consultant to project teams to support complex problem-solving, risk assessment, and development of integrated solution options across functions, vendors, and partners.
  • Maintain strategic awareness of account performance, including participation in BU or departmental reviews as needed, to proactively identify risks or opportunities, support issue resolution from a strategy perspective, and position accounts for growth.
  • Align and influence matrixed teams across functions and business units to support integrated commercial and account strategies; share insights, lessons learned, and best practices to inform future pursuits and portfolio expansion.
  • Set and reinforce strategic quality expectations for assigned accounts; maintain awareness of quality risks, CAPAs, and QIs to ensure issues are understood and appropriately escalated.
  • Maintain awareness of vendor and partner integration, including strategic risk considerations related to third-party services and cross-BU delivery models.
  • Support account growth and partnership expansion by identifying opportunities for extensions, hybrid clinical-RWLP approaches, repeat work, and preferred partnership models.
  • May have line management responsibilities.
  • Travel up to 25%.


QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

Education
  • Bachelor's degree in life sciences or related field OR a four-year degree combined with relevant RWLP and operational experience required
  • Advanced or professional degree preferred (e.g., MS, MPH, PhD, MD, MBA)


Experience
  • 10-12 years of total relevant experience, which may include RWLP and/or full-service study or portfolio experience, with a minimum of 6-8 years of direct RWLP/RWE experience included within that total. RWLP/RWE experience may overlap with full-service or operational experience and is not required to be additive.
  • Experience in real world late phase research within a CRO and/or pharmaceutical environment
  • Strong experience with proposal development, budget development, and bid defense activities
  • Demonstrated experience supporting complex client portfolios, including vendor and partner engagement
  • Strong understanding of peri- and post-approval study strategy, design, and operational considerations across interventional, observational, and hybrid study types, with the ability to design and budget appropriate solutions
  • Experience presenting to senior-level stakeholders, delivering training or enablement, and communicating complex concepts to diverse audiences
  • Experience with hybrid, decentralized, or virtual study models preferred
  • Experience partnering with stakeholders to define and evolve operational processes and procedures as RWLP/RWE requirements and delivery models change
  • Experience evaluating and selecting vendors and partners that complement and enhance service offerings
  • Ability to identify process gaps and emerging needs for updated procedures; familiarity with leveraging emerging technologies and digital tools (e.g., generative AI) to drive efficiency and scalability
  • Demonstrated experience serving as a subject matter expert (SME) internally and externally, providing strategic guidance on RWLP/RWE approaches, evidence planning, and integrated solutions to sponsors and internal stakeholders.
  • Experience representing the organization externally through participation in industry conferences, panels, webinars, podcasts, or similar forums, including delivering presentations and contributing to thought leadership discussions related to RWLP/RWE.


Knowledge & Skills
  • Strong understanding of the end-to-end product lifecycle and the role of real-world evidence across peri- and post-approval phases
  • Solid knowledge of RWLP operational and regulatory requirements
  • Proven business, financial, and contractual acumen, including experience supporting or leading contract negotiations
  • Demonstrated ability to drive strategic operational decisions in multi-stakeholder, matrixed environments
  • Experience working across interventional, observational, and hybrid study designs; RWE strategy experience a plus
  • Strong people leadership skills in global, diverse, matrixed organizations, including line management experience
  • Excellent interpersonal, communication, and stakeholder management skills
  • Ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver high-quality work in a fast-paced, evolving environment
  • Proficiency with virtual collaboration tools and Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
  • Excellent written and spoken English


Additional Information

Tasks, duties, and responsibilities as listed in this job description are not exhaustive. The Company, at its sole discretion and with no prior notice, may assign other tasks, duties, and job responsibilities. Equivalent experience, skills, and/or education will also be considered so qualifications of incumbents may differ from those listed in the Job Description. The Company, at its sole discretion, will determine what constitutes as equivalent to the qualifications described above. Further, nothing contained herein should be construed to create an employment contract. Occasionally, required skills/experiences for jobs are expressed in brief terms.

About Syneos Health Careers

Syneos Health Careers

Joining Syneos Health presents an unparalleled opportunity to become part of a global team of professionals dedicated to biopharmaceutical solutions. At Syneos Health, job opportunities abound, offering a gateway to enhancing career paths in a company celebrated for its commitment to therapeutic and operational excellence.

Work That Matters

Syneos Health is at the forefront of healthcare innovation, collaborating on projects that integrate smart technology and human ingenuity to improve patient outcomes. This dynamic company is actively seeking professionals who are eager to drive progress in the biopharmaceutical field through diverse job opportunities ranging from scientific roles to operational positions.

Innovative Employment Opportunities

Syneos Health offers a variety of positions that cater to a range of skills and experiences, from entry-level to senior leadership roles. Employment at Syneos Health means contributing to a culture that values diversity and inclusion, ensuring every team member’s voice is heard and valued.

Internship Programs and Professional Growth

For those starting their career, Syneos Health provides robust internship programs designed to foster professional growth and build essential industry skills. Interns at Syneos Health gain hands-on experience, beneficial for future employment opportunities within the company or the broader healthcare industry.

Cultivating Leadership and Professional Development

Syneos Health is committed to the professional development of its employees, offering leadership training and career growth opportunities that encourage innovation and leadership skills. Employees are supported through comprehensive benefits, diversity training, and initiatives that promote personal and professional growth.

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* Ladders Estimates

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