Job Description
Brief Description of Position
Reporting directly to the Head of their assigned functional area and acting as a member of their Leadership Team, the Executive Director, Functional Area Geography Lead leads global geographic strategy and performance across assigned region / geography. They are responsible for translating functional area and GDMS strategic imperatives into region-specific priorities and plans. The role partners with GDMS and GCTO leaders to drive global alignment, standardization, and transformation of data-management practices, represent their function and geography network in GDMS LT forums, and ensure resource excellence, capability growth, and operational readiness worldwide.
Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership & Geographic Strategy:
- Lead global geography strategy and oversee multiple regions/countries to ensure excellence in functional management and regulatory compliance, while embodying ELS (Enterprise Leadership Skills) values.
- Report to the functional area head; serve on the respective functional area leadership team; represent geographic and functional perspectives in GDMS (Global Data Management & Standards) Leadership Team, enterprise forums, and audits for assigned regions.
- Collaborate with cross-functional (non-GDMS) leadership and enterprise support functions within assigned geographies to achieve strategic and operational goals and objectives.
- Embed process-excellence and governance frameworks across regions.
- Shape and implement digitally enabled operating models; drive global alignment, standardization, and transformation.
- Champion a culture of collaboration, innovation, and accountability across the network; ensure ongoing improvement and operational excellence.
- Partner with leaders across GDMS, GCTO, and Global Clinical Development (GCD) to drive consistent rollout / adoption of capabilities, including alignment of cross-regional ways of working with partners.
- Oversee performance governance, financial discipline, and global talent planning; sponsor leadership development and succession
- As assigned, serve as the GDMS Site Head for the relevant country or region
- Partner with Country and Regional business support functions (e.g., HR, Finance) to enable local business priorities.
Operational Governance, Execution, & Cross-Functional Alignment:
- Ensure consistent operational execution, quality, and compliance across assigned geographies.
- Jointly accountable with Portfolio & Resource Operations and non-GDMS leaders for planning, resourcing, and operational governance across regions; set priorities for resource allocation, capability development, and continuous improvement or process innovation to achieve strategic and operational goals.
- Serve as escalation point for country/regional issues; and oversee region-specific risk, escalation, and capacity-management processes; ensure local regulatory, business, and labor compliance.
- Drive adoption of leading-edge technology deployment principles across relevant GCTO organizations and functions.
- Lead complex cross-functional workstreams driving automation, data integrity, and operational excellence from idea/design through implementation and value realization.
- Run geography scenario planning and resilience playbooks for demand shocks, surges, and reprioritization; protect critical work and service levels.
- Champion a culture of collaboration, innovation, and accountability across the GDMS network.
Capability leadership:
- Accountable for defining the strategic objectives and roadmap for capability development initiatives aligned to business needs and industry best practices.
- Establish and oversee capability governance with GDMS / GCTO policies and enterprise digital / data initiatives.
- Own development of critical capabilities (tools, processes, skills) aligned to industry best practices.
- Drive consistent global rollout via playbooks, guidance, and implementation support; align cross-regional ways of working with partners.
- Provide strategic input and feedback to Capability Leads on capability development initiatives, including capability roadmaps and strategic objectives.
People Management & Talent Development:
- Align teams around a clear direction; set clear objectives aligned to organizational goals; assign work and set priorities accounting for work-life balance sustainability.
- Conduct regular check-ins and annual reviews; coach for performance; provide recognition.
- Develop career plans; create growth opportunities and promotion cases; ensure appropriate training and mentoring.
- Lead recruiting and hiring and oversee performance management activities, including management of sensitive employee-relations matters in partnership with HR.
- Coordinate on-shore/off-shore and contingent resources; ensure role clarity and effective handoffs.
- Manage an operating budget and optimize spend against priorities.
- Inspires and ensures that team leaders are effectively supporting and empowering their individual leaders.
to be successful in this role you will have the following skills and experience:
- Minimum of bachelor's degree with 10+ years of leadership experience
- Enterprise-level expertise in GDMS data operations, governance, and digital enablement strategy.
- Strong understanding of end-to-end data management processes and systems used for data collection, application of data standards, cleaning/review, reporting, governance, and use of operational and quality metrics to monitor performance.
- Proven experience implementing risk-based and digital data practices across multiple regions; ability to integrate regional business intelligence into enterprise-level strategy.
- Deep understanding of inspection/audit processes and ability to contribute to audit readiness.
- Deep knowledge of ICH/GCP (International Council of Harmonization - Good Clinical Practices) guidelines and how they apply to clinical or safety data management activities.
- Deep understanding of quality standards and frameworks across GDMS/ GCTO; experience with data standards, data flow, and study start-up systems; ability to define and implement standards for integration, reuse, and scalability of data, tools, and solutions across regions.
- Advanced knowledge of data management industry best practices, innovation levers, and regulatory evolution shaping data management globally.
- Deep expertise in data-product governance (definitions, lineage, quality controls, lifecycle) to maintain a global single source of truth; deep understanding of clinical trial lifecycle.
- Advanced knowledge of regional risk, escalation, and capacity-management processes.
- Advanced ability to use analytical and forecasting tools (dashboards, capacity models) to inform resourcing, planning, and operational decisions.
- Ability to implement and execute inspection-readiness practices in collaboration with Process & Quality partners.
- Demonstrated ability to drive high-quality clinical data collection design, validation and delivery in alignment with protocol requirements.
Required Skills:
Budget Management, Budget Management, Clinical Data Management, Clinical Study Protocols, Clinical Trial Management, Clinical Trials, Cross-Functional Collaboration, Data Integrity, Data Processing, Data Validation, Escalation Management, Ethical Standards, Functional Management, Good Clinical Practice (GCP), Key Client Relationships, Mentoring Staff, Motivation Management, Operational Decisions, People Leadership, People Management, Performance Monitoring, Resource Allocation, Service Provider Management, Strategic Direction, System Performance Monitoring {+ 1 more}
Preferred Skills:
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Employee Status:
Regular
Relocation:
VISA Sponsorship:
Travel Requirements:
Flexible Work Arrangements:
Hybrid
Shift:
Valid Driving License:
Hazardous Material(s):
Job Posting End Date:
06/1/2026
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