About the job

This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Director, Project Management - EDS based in Germany.

This senior leadership role oversees a team of Clinical Research Project Managers responsible for delivering clinical studies and observational research programs.

You will shape team performance, resource strategy, operational excellence, and talent development across a diverse project portfolio.

Your leadership will directly influence delivery against scope, timelines, budgets, quality standards, client expectations, and business objectives.

The role combines people leadership with portfolio oversight, capacity planning, risk management, and continuous process improvement.

You will work across clinical, data, statistical, regulatory, financial, and operational functions within a complex global matrix.

Success will be measured through project outcomes, client satisfaction, utilization, financial performance, quality, and the development and retention of high-performing talent.

This is an opportunity for an experienced clinical research leader to build a strong team while driving consistent, scalable delivery across a growing portfolio.

Accountabilities

• Lead and directly manage a team of approximately 10–15 Clinical Project Managers, including hiring, onboarding, coaching, performance management, career development, compensation recommendations, and succession planning.
• Establish clear performance expectations and hold team members accountable to KPIs covering milestone delivery, budget adherence, quality, client satisfaction, revenue, utilization, and retention.
• Build a high-performing culture based on ownership, accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement, and consistent delivery standards.
• Manage performance improvement plans and disciplinary processes in partnership with HR when required.
• Develop and continuously refine resource allocation strategies to align project demand with team capacity, skills, and experience.
• Maintain healthy utilization levels while ensuring sufficient capacity for training, mentoring, business development, and other strategic activities.
• Own contingency planning for planned leave, unexpected attrition, portfolio surges, and other capacity risks, ensuring appropriate backup coverage and minimizing concentration risk.
• Use data such as utilization, candidate evaluations, capacity, and skill fit to substantiate resource decisions and address supply challenges.
• Drive adoption of SOPs, RACI frameworks, governance processes, and quality-management requirements across the project management organization.
• Participate actively in project review processes to identify risks, coach project managers, reinforce standards, and implement corrective actions.
• Ensure accurate and timely maintenance of project milestones, baselines, financial forecasts, and portfolio information within enterprise systems.
• Champion inspection readiness, portfolio health monitoring, and consistent operational reporting.
• Partner with Quality Assurance on CAPA execution, audit responses, inspection preparation, and continuous improvement of SOPs.
• Represent the project management function in governance meetings, business reviews, escalations, and other senior client or internal forums as required.
• Ensure project managers provide clear, accurate, and executive-ready status reporting and communications.
• Collaborate with leaders across Data Management, Clinical Operations, Biostatistics, Medical Writing, Regulatory, and Site Management to resolve resource, quality, and delivery challenges.
• Partner with HR, Finance, and business leadership on organizational design, compensation planning, workforce capacity, and resource forecasting.
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Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in life sciences, health sciences, or a related discipline; an advanced degree such as an MS, PharmD, PhD, or MBA is preferred.
• At least 10 years of clinical project management experience within a CRO, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or related environment.
• Minimum 5 years of direct people-management experience, with a demonstrated ability to build, develop, motivate, and retain high-performing teams.
• Proven experience leading teams responsible for full-service clinical trials and/or post-authorization safety studies, registries, and real-world evidence programs.
• Demonstrated ability to oversee teams accountable for revenue delivery, margin management, financial performance, and change-order execution across a portfolio.
• Deep knowledge of clinical project management methodologies, resource planning, risk management, contingency planning, and operational governance.
• Strong experience with enterprise delivery and productivity systems such as Planisware, CTMS, financial forecasting tools, SharePoint, Teams, Excel, and Copilot.
• Experience supporting regulatory inspection readiness and a strong understanding of FDA, EMA, Health Canada, GCP, and ICH requirements.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to synthesize complex operational issues into clear decisions, recommendations, and executive-level communications.
• Proven ability to balance strong KPI accountability with effective coaching, talent development, employee engagement, and team culture.
• Comfortable operating within a matrixed, international organization and collaborating effectively across European and US-based teams.
• Strong strategic and analytical thinking, with the ability to use operational and financial data to guide decisions.
• Highly organized, decisive, and pragmatic, with a strong focus on quality, client outcomes, and continuous improvement.
• PMP or equivalent project management certification is preferred.
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Benefits

• Senior leadership opportunity with significant responsibility for team performance, portfolio delivery, and organizational development.
• Opportunity to lead and develop a sizeable team of experienced clinical project management professionals.
• Remote working opportunity within Europe, offering flexibility and autonomy.
• Exposure to international clinical research programs and collaboration across global teams.
• Opportunity to influence operational strategy, resource planning, quality, and continuous improvement at organizational level.
• Professional development and career growth opportunities within a global clinical research environment.
• Collaborative, cross-functional working environment involving clinical, data, regulatory, statistical, financial, and operational specialists.
• Meaningful opportunity to contribute to high-impact clinical research and evidence-generation programs.
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How Jobgether Works

We use an AI-powered matching process to ensure your application is reviewed quickly, objectively, and fairly against the role's core requirements. Our system identifies the top-fitting candidates, and this shortlist is then shared directly with the hiring company. The final decision and next steps (interviews, assessments) are managed by their internal team.

We appreciate your interest and wish you the best!

Why Apply Through Jobgether?

Data Privacy Notice: By submitting your application, you acknowledge that Jobgether will process your personal data to evaluate your candidacy and share relevant information with the hiring employer. This processing is based on legitimate interest and pre-contractual measures under applicable data protection laws (including GDPR). You may exercise your rights (access, rectification, erasure, objection) at any time.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.

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