Associate Director, Clinical Operations – FSP (m/w/d)

Work Schedule Standard (Mon-Fri) Environmental Conditions Office Job Description Role Purpose The Associate Director, Clinical Operations – FSP provides operational leadership for Clinical Operations within an assigned client-aligned portfolio. The role is accountable for ensuring effective operational execution of clinical deliverables, with a strong focus on client expectations, project delivery, quality, performance and proactive risk management. Working closely with client stakeholders, Project Delivery and functional leadership, the Associate Director translates client and portfolio priorities into clear operational plans and ensures Clinical Operations teams are positioned to deliver against current and future project requirements. The role requires a strong FSP and client-focused mindset, combining operational leadership with strategic thinking, proactive planning and effective people leadership. The Associate Director is expected to anticipate challenges, identify opportunities to improve delivery and ensure teams remain closely connected to client priorities and project outcomes. What You’ll Do Client-Aligned Operational & Delivery Leadership Provide operational leadership across the assigned client-aligned portfolio, ensuring Clinical Operations activities support client priorities, project objectives and delivery commitments. Develop a strong understanding of the client's portfolio, strategy, expectations and ways of working and translate these into clear operational priorities for Clinical Operations teams. Partner closely with client stakeholders, Project Delivery and functional leadership to ensure alignment between client expectations and operational execution. Maintain oversight of clinical delivery performance across the portfolio, including study start-up, monitoring, site management and other applicable clinical deliverables. Develop and drive operational strategies that support successful project and portfolio delivery within agreed quality, timeline and financial expectations. Take a forward-looking view of the portfolio, anticipating changes in client demand, project activity, operational complexity and capability requirements. Proactively identify trends, dependencies, risks and potential barriers to delivery and ensure appropriate mitigation plans are established before they impact client outcomes. Use operational data, project intelligence and leading indicators to inform priorities and support effective decision-making. Ensure emerging delivery risks and potential solutions are communicated through appropriate client and internal governance and escalation pathways. Identify recurring operational challenges and work across functions to address root causes and implement sustainable solutions. Build strong, trusted relationships with client and internal stakeholders and provide clear, transparent communication regarding operational performance, risks and priorities. Participate in client governance and operational meetings as appropriate, representing Clinical Operations and ensuring actions and commitments are effectively followed through. Seek and respond to client feedback, identifying opportunities to continuously improve operational delivery and strengthen the client partnership. Promote collaboration across Clinical Operations, Project Delivery and other functions to ensure an integrated approach to client delivery. Balance immediate project needs with longer-term portfolio priorities, ensuring operational decisions support both current delivery and future client requirements. Challenge existing approaches where appropriate and identify opportunities to improve quality, efficiency, consistency and the overall client experience. People Leadership & Organizational Capability Lead, coach and develop Clinical Operations managers and teams, establishing clear expectations for performance, accountability, quality and client delivery. Create an environment in which managers and teams understand client priorities and how their work contributes to successful project and portfolio outcomes. Promote a proactive rather than reactive culture, encouraging teams to anticipate risks, identify solutions and take ownership before issues require escalation. Develop managers to make effective decisions, lead through complexity and operate successfully within a matrix and client-aligned environment. Ensure appropriate performance management, development planning, succession planning and talent development across the assigned organization. Identify current and future capability needs and ensure teams have the appropriate skills, experience and leadership capability to support the client portfolio. Foster collaboration, knowledge sharing and consistency across teams and actively address siloed ways of working. Create an environment where employees are encouraged to raise risks early, challenge constructively and contribute ideas to improve client delivery. Resource & Capacity Management Ensure appropriate resource capacity and capability are available to support client and project delivery requirements. Maintain a forward-looking view of resource demand based on the client portfolio, project forecasts, timelines and anticipated changes in workload. Partner with Project Delivery and functional leadership to align resource deployment with project priorities and delivery needs. Identify potential capacity or capability gaps early and implement appropriate mitigation plans. Support recruitment, deployment and talent decisions based on both current requirements and anticipated portfolio demand. Monitor utilization, capacity and productivity and take appropriate action to maintain effective and sustainable delivery. Quality, Risk & Operational Excellence Ensure clinical deliverables are executed in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements, client expectations, quality standards, policies and procedures. Maintain oversight of key operational and quality indicators and ensure appropriate action is taken where performance is below expectation. Promote early identification, communication and management of operational and quality risks. Ensure appropriate corrective and preventive actions are implemented and monitored where required. Drive continuous improvement by identifying opportunities to simplify processes, improve ways of working and strengthen delivery performance. Support and participate in audits, inspections and quality initiatives as appropriate. Contribute to regional, global and cross-functional initiatives and process improvement activities. Financial & Business Management Maintain appropriate oversight of financial performance associated with the assigned operational organization. Manage budgeting and forecasting activities within the assigned scope. Understand the financial implications of operational, resource and delivery decisions and incorporate these considerations into decision-making. Partner with relevant stakeholders to identify and address financial risks associated with client and project delivery. Support efficient use of resources while maintaining quality and delivery expectations. Education and Experience Requirements: • Bachelor's Degree in a life science related field. • Significant clinical research experience (comparable to 10+ years) including remote and clinical monitoring and experience in all phases of study life cycle, including start up, interim and close out. • Line management experience appropriate to the size and complexity of the clinical management group in the designated country/region. • Proven leadership skills. • Valid Driver's License. • Valid Passport. In some cases an equivalency, consisting of a combination of appropriate education, training and/or directly related experience, will be considered sufficient for an individual to meet the requirements of the role. Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Strong client orientation, with the ability to understand client priorities and translate them into operational actions and outcomes. Demonstrated ability to lead clinical operations within a complex, client-aligned or matrix environment. Strong understanding of the FSP operating model and the importance of integration, responsiveness and long-term client partnership. Strong strategic and operational thinking, with the ability to connect client needs, portfolio priorities and operational execution. Demonstrated ability to anticipate risks and opportunities and move teams from reactive problem-solving toward proactive planning. Strong clinical operations and project delivery knowledge across the clinical trial lifecycle. Excellent leadership, coaching and people-development skills. Ability to lead and influence through others, including stakeholders outside of direct reporting lines. Strong judgment and decision-making skills, including the ability to make effective decisions with incomplete information and competing priorities. Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to identify root causes and develop sustainable solutions. Knowledge of resource planning, capacity management, budgeting, forecasting and financial management. Excellent stakeholder management, negotiation, communication and presentation skills. Ability to build trusted relationships with client and internal stakeholders. Strong understanding of applicable clinical development regulations, guidelines and quality requirements. Ability to work effectively across functions, geographies and organizational boundaries. Severely disabled applicants with the same aptitude will be given preferential treatment. Schwerbehinderte Bewerberinnen und Bewerber werden bei gleicher Eignung bevorzugt berücksichtigt.