Associate Director - Program Management

Cognizant; Brussel; Hybrid; EUR 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Life cover

Mobility budget

Work-from-home allowance

32 vacation days

Pension scheme

Luncheon vouchers

Travel insurance

Laptop and mobile phone

Job summary

Cognizant is seeking an (Associate) Director – Program Management to lead complex, large-scale transformation programs in Life Sciences from pursuit to benefits realization. You will collaborate with executives, CROs, platform vendors and delivery teams across Belgium and Europe.

The role requires deep life sciences domain expertise, executive presence, and fluency in English, with French and/or Dutch advantageous.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of technology-enabled transformation experience leading large, complex programs in Life Sciences or regulated industries.
• Proven leadership across pursuit, bid, mobilization, execution and benefits realization.
• Strong executive sponsorship, stakeholder engagement, and governance skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex life sciences transformation programs end-to-end.
• Own client stakeholder relationships from pursuit through delivery.
• Drive bid and pursuit inputs, including strategy, governance, risk, and planning.

Skills

Life sciences domain knowledge

Program management leadership

Executive stakeholder management

Fluent English

French/Dutch (Belgian context)

Education

PMP

PRINCE2

MSP

SAFe

MBA

Tools

None

Job description

(Associate) Director – Program Management

Life Sciences | Brussels, Belgium | Hybrid | Full-time

About The Role

As a (Associate) Director – Program Management, you will make an impact by leading and delivering complex, large-scale transformation programs within the Life Sciences sector owning the full journey from pursuit and bid through mobilization, execution, and benefits realization. You will be a valued member of Cognizant's Life Sciences delivery leadership team and work collaboratively with account executives, solution architects, client stakeholders, and global delivery teams across Belgium and Europe.

In This Role, You Will

• Own client stakeholder leadership — build and maintain trusted advisory relationships with executive sponsors, business, regulatory, clinical, commercial, and technology leaders throughout the entire pursuit and delivery lifecycle.
• Lead bid and pursuit efforts — drive program-management inputs into proposals including delivery strategy, governance, mobilization planning, risk frameworks, and dependency models that strengthen client confidence and support deal conversion.
• Deliver complex transformation programs end-to-end — assume full accountability from contract signature through execution, transition, and outcome realization across multi-workstream, multi-vendor life sciences programs.
• Apply life sciences domain expertise — bring deep knowledge of pharma, biotech, or MedTech operations including clinical, regulatory, quality, commercial, and supply chain — ensuring programs meet GxP, EMA, and applicable Belgian regulatory standards.
• Orchestrate multi-party ecosystems — establish a one-team operating model across the client, Cognizant, CROs, platform vendors, and specialist partners, with clear governance, integrated planning, and shared accountability for outcomes.

Work Model

We believe hybrid work is the way forward as we strive to provide flexibility wherever possible. Based on this role's business requirements, this is a hybrid position requiring regular presence at client and Cognizant locations in Brussels, Belgium. Regardless of your working arrangement, we are here to support a healthy work-life balance through our various wellbeing programs.

The working arrangements for this role are accurate as of the date of posting. This may change based on the project you're engaged in, as well as business and client requirements. Rest assured; we will always be clear about role expectations.

What You Must Have To Be Considered

• 15+ years of experience in technology-enabled business transformation with proven leadership of large, complex programs in Life Sciences, pharma, biotech, MedTech, or adjacent regulated industries.
• Demonstrable life sciences domain expertise — including end-to-end understanding of clinical, regulatory, quality, commercial, or supply chain operations in a European or Belgian context.
• Strong track record in client-facing pursuit leadership — including proposal development, solution shaping, stakeholder engagement, and account growth.
• Executive presence with the ability to influence C-suite and senior stakeholders across business and technology without relying on formal authority.
• Fluent professional English and French and/or Dutch, with strong facilitation, negotiation, and communication skills.
• Legal authorization to work in Belgium and willingness to travel to client and Cognizant locations as required.

These Will Help You Stand Out

• Certification in PMP, PRINCE2, MSP, SAFe, or equivalent program management framework.
• Experience with life sciences platform transformation — including clinical data systems (CDMS/EDC), regulatory information management (RIM), ERP in pharma or manufacturing, or digital patient engagement.
• Experience leading GxP-regulated change involving validation (CSV/CSA), pharmacovigilance, audit remediation, or data privacy in a clinical context.
• Commercial experience with outcome-based, managed-service, or multi-party contracting models.
• Master's degree, MBA, or equivalent advanced qualification.

We're excited to meet people who share our mission and can make an impact in a variety of ways.

What We Offer

• Comprehensive health insurance and life cover
• Car or mobility budget to suit your lifestyle
• Work-from-home allowance
• 32 vacation days per year
• Solid pension scheme
• Luncheon vouchers and EcoCheques
• Travel insurance and travel & entertainment expense coverage
• Laptop and mobile phone with subscription