Cryoport Systems is a comprehensive supply chain partner for the life sciences industry, delivering specialized solutions to meet the challenges of the biopharmaceutical, cell and gene therapy, reproductive medicine, and animal health markets. Our offerings span logistics, BioServices and biostorage, cryopreservation, and consulting, ensuring the highest standards of quality and reliability for sensitive materials. With our expansive platform of management solutions and decades of temperature-controlled supply chain expertise, Cryoport Systems helps Enable the Outcome™ by supporting certainty and precision in the supply chain, whether advancing groundbreaking therapies, supporting families on their reproductive journeys, or enhancing animal health programs.
POSITION SUMMARY:
The Director-Consulting Services leads Cryoport’s Consulting Services organization, including Program Management, Validation Engineering, and testing laboratory operations. Reporting to the Senior Vice President & Chief Product Development Officer, this role is responsible for achieving revenue, profitability, financial control, and client satisfaction objectives while ensuring consulting projects are scoped, managed, and delivered successfully.
The Director oversees team development, operational excellence, proposal and project execution, client engagement, and implementation of scalable consulting processes, tools, templates, and service offerings. This role also leads the setup, operation, and certification of Cryoport’s testing laboratory, including applicable certifications such as ISO 17025 and ISTA. Working closely with Consulting SMEs, Sales, Operations, Quality, Finance, and other cross-functional partners, the Director ensures consulting capabilities, resources, and customer needs are aligned while continuously improving consulting solutions and organizational performance.
The Consulting Services team works as an extension of our clients to assist in validations, qualifications, risk assessments, lane qualifications, packaging testing, packaging optimization, custom commercialization workflow is important as much of our work supports IND, BLA and other regulatory accessory/packaging development, custom projects, across all of our business segments - Cell and Gene Therapy, Reproductive Medicine and Animal Health. Understanding the clinical study to filings and is focused on identifying, quantifying and mitigating risks.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES (include, but are not limited to):
Leadership & Talent Development
- Lead, mentor, and develop Program Management and Validation Engineering teams to ensure consistent delivery, accountability, and client focus.
- Support workforce planning, recruiting, onboarding, continuing education, and competency development for Consulting Services team members.
- Establish and reinforce consistent use of Consulting Services SOPs, tools, templates, KPIs, and project management best practices.
- Lead performance management activities, including goal setting, MIP targets, development planning, promotion recommendations, performance improvement plans, and staffing decisions.
- Promote effective collaboration across Cryoport teams to support communication, execution, and delivery of business objectives.
Consulting Operations & Project Delivery
- Oversee consulting proposal development, RFP/RFI responses, statements of work, project estimates, pricing assumptions, and final client-ready proposal packages in collaboration with Sales and Consulting SMEs.
- Lead project scoping and discovery discussions to define deliverables, budgets, timelines, resources, and implementation requirements.
- Maintain project plans from proposal through execution, ensuring projects are delivered consistently, on time, within budget, and in accordance with client expectations.
- Coordinate cross-functional resources to support consulting engagements, including product development, shipping lane validation, shipping risk assessment, technology, accessory development, packaging design/testing, training, and custom SOP projects
- Oversee client meetings, kickoff discussions, project planning sessions, report reviews, closeout meetings, and collection of lessons learned or continuous improvement opportunities.
- Ensure project documentation, client acceptance, phase completion, change orders, purchase orders, sales orders, invoicing, and related records are maintained in accordance with Consulting Services SOPs and Cryoport finance/accounting policies.
- Support accurate and timely invoicing, billing, budget tracking, pipeline management, and resource planning for Consulting Services projects.
Strategic Growth & Solution Development
- Develop scalable consulting offerings, methodologies, SOPs, work instructions, templates, checklists, project plans, proposal templates, and CRM/project management system assets.
- Maintain and enhance consulting solution offerings to meet market needs, improve delivery efficiency, and support consistent quality across similar project types.
- Partner with the SVP of Consulting Services, Marketing, Sales, and Consulting SMEs to support sales enablement materials, marketing plans, presentations, training assets, department pages, blog content, and client-facing messaging.
- Lead the development, implementation, operation, and performance management of the internal testing laboratory, including required certifications, operational controls, and quality metrics. Evaluate and implement tools that improve project management, performance management, time tracking, reporting, and team efficiency, including appropriate use of AI-enabled tools.
Reporting & Key Performance Indicators
- Define, capture, consolidate, and report Consulting Services KPIs, including project performance, timelines, budgets, resource utilization, revenue, pipeline, client satisfaction, and portfolio performance.
- Track and report testing laboratory financial, operational, and quality metrics.
- Prepare performance updates for resource planning, budget forecasting, business reviews, and leadership decision-making, including retrospective analysis of completed projects.
COMPETENCIES:
- Demonstrated leadership experience managing diverse teams, developing talent, and driving accountability for client and internal commitments.
- Strong business acumen, analytical ability, attention to detail, and comfort managing complex internal and external workstreams.
- Strong ability to collaborate to understand client problems/challenges and craft practical clientfocused consulting solutions and communicate clearly with clients about the solution and its components and how it addresses their needs.Ability to understand client challenges, risks, and needs and translate them into practical, clientfocused solutions.
- Excellent communication, listening, negotiation, presentation, and stakeholder management skills.
- Ability to work effectively in a dynamic environment with competing priorities, deadlines, and multiple customer engagements.
- Strong process orientation, including ability to map business processes, clarify roles/responsibilities, and apply tools such as RACI as appropriate.
- Strong Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Excel, PowerPoint, and Project; experience with CRM, ERP, and project management systems preferred
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:
- Bachelor’s degree in Life Sciences, Biopharma, Engineering, Supply Chain, Business, Healthcare, Scientific, or related field preferred; prefer advanced degree/MBA; science/engineering graduate degree a plus.
- 10+ years of progressively responsible program/project management, client-facing, consulting, operations, or equivalent leadership experience.
- Experience leading cross-functional teams and managing complex customer engagements, budgets, resources, timelines, and deliverables.
- Strong Project management training, PMP certification, or equivalent practical project management expertise preferred
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Experience in biopharmaceuticals, Cell & Gene Therapy, pharmaceutical logistics, cold-chain operations, supply chain validation, or biologic material handling strongly preferred.
- Experience with package/shipping system testing, qualification, validation, packaging design, thermal or physical performance testing, or testing laboratory operations preferred.
- Familiarity with relevant standards and requirements, such as ISO, IATA, ASTM, ISTA, and quality management methodologies.
- Experience with pharmaceutical development environments such as CRO, CDMO, pharmaceutical company, healthcare, or technical project management settings preferred.
- Familiarity with AI tools and willingness to apply technology to improve team efficiency, processes, tools, and consulting solutions.
PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES
- Passion and alignment with Cryoport’s mission, vision, values & operating principles.
- Passion for working in a values-based company in alignment with a learning organization.
- A change agent and strong collaborator who is not afraid of challenging status quo.
- An individual who brings strong core values, quality, ethics, and integrity.
- A collaborative team player who embraces and champions the culture.
- Strong work ethic and ability to deliver results and meet commitments in a dynamic environment.
- Exceptional and dynamic communications skills with the ability to inspire and influence people at all levels, build consensus and commitment, and effectively drive change throughout the organization at a rate that fits the corporate culture.
- Exceptional organizational and planning skills, strong analytical abilities, and process orientation.
- Desire to make decisions and take responsibility for outcomes.
- Willingness to travel when required.
- A willingness to continually embrace personal and professional development.
Compensation: Up to $180,000 + Bonus + Stock, depending on experience.
