ED, Strategic Site Collaboration

Thermo Fisher Scientific GmbH; Deutschland; On-site; EUR 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Thermo Fisher is seeking an Executive Director, Global Site Strategic Network, to define and lead the global strategy for site engagement and partnerships within Global Clinical Operations. This role shapes how the business identifies and activates relationships with investigators, health systems, and research networks to accelerate clinical development and improve patient access.

You will lead the Site Strategy & Collaborations organization, partner with regional leads and country operations,

Qualifications

• 15+ years of global clinical operations leadership.
• Experience leading director-level, global cross-functional teams.
• Proven ability to translate portfolio strategy into site-network priorities.

Responsibilities

• Define and own the global Site Strategy & Collaborations vision and multi-year roadmap.
• Translate portfolio priorities into a differentiated global site-network strategy.
• Lead governance, engagement principles, and performance standards for site partnerships.
• Advise senior leadership on site ecosystem trends and investment decisions.
• Represent Thermo Fisher externally in executive engagements and strategic discussions.

Skills

Executive leadership

Global clinical operations

Site strategy

Partnership governance

Data-driven decision making

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor's degree

MBA

MS

PharmD

Job description

Work Schedule

Standard (Mon-Fri)

Environmental Conditions

Office

Job Description

Position: Executive Director, Global Site Strategic Network

Location: EMEA, remote

Type: Full Time

The Executive Director, Global Site Strategic Network is accountable for defining and leading the global strategy for strategic site engagement and partnerships within Global Clinical Operations. The role establishes the strategic architecture, operating principles, governance, portfolio priorities, and performance framework that connect Therapeutic Business Unit (TBU) strategy and Global Clinical Operations priorities with regional and country activation and local site engagement.

The Executive Director shapes how the business identifies, prioritizes, develops, and activates relationships with investigators, health systems, strategic sites, and research networks to improve access to patients, accelerate clinical development, strengthen study delivery, and create differentiated value for customers and TBUs. The role leads the global Site Strategy & Collaborations organization, provides strategic direction through regional Site Network leadership and matrix partners, serves as an executive sponsor for priority partnerships, and advises senior leadership on network strategy, partnership investment, external ecosystem trends, and future capability needs.

Essential Functions and Other Job Information

• Define and own the global Site Strategy & Collaborations vision, multi-year strategic roadmap, and priorities aligned with Global Clinical Operations objectives and TBU portfolio strategy.
• Translate TBU therapeutic and portfolio priorities into a differentiated global site-network strategy, defining where, with whom, and how Thermo Fisher should build strategic site relationships to support current and future clinical development needs.
• Establish the global strategic framework for site partnerships, including partnership segmentation, value propositions, engagement principles, governance, decision rights, escalation pathways, and standards for relationship development and activation.
• Lead the global operating model that connects enterprise and TBU strategy with regional Site Network Leads, Feasibility & Site Selection (FSS), Country Operations, and local site teams, enabling one connected strategy with clear ownership and accountability.
• Create a closed-loop mechanism through which regional and local site intelligence informs global and TBU strategy, while global portfolio priorities are translated into practical country and site engagement plans.
• Own global prioritization of strategic sites, health systems, investigators, and research networks using portfolio needs, patient access, performance data, market intelligence, customer strategy, and emerging capability requirements.
• Partner with TBU leaders, Clinical Operations, Medical, Commercial, Business Development, FSS, and Country Operations to embed site strategy early in portfolio planning, customer strategy, proposals, bid defenses, and strategic account discussions.
• Define and govern a global performance framework and differentiated KPIs that demonstrate the operational, strategic, customer, and business value of site partnerships, including proof points that inform investment and prioritization decisions.
• Use data, analytics, external market intelligence, and network insights to identify strategic opportunities, anticipate risks, inform network design, and recommend changes to partnership strategy and operating model.
• Champion innovative partnership models, digital capabilities, data-sharing approaches, and collaboration mechanisms that strengthen site engagement and differentiate Thermo Fisher in the clinical research ecosystem.
• Lead organizational transformation and change initiatives that position Site Strategy & Collaborations as a strategic enterprise capability rather than a transactional or support function.
• Advise senior and executive leadership on site ecosystem trends, strategic partnership opportunities, competitive dynamics, investment choices, and organizational capabilities required to support future growth.
• Represent Thermo Fisher externally at executive customer engagements, strategic partnership discussions, investigator forums, industry events, and other high-level engagements that advance the company's position as a preferred clinical research partner.
• Perform other duties as assigned based on business needs.

Job Knowledge

Applies expert knowledge of global clinical operations, strategic site engagement, feasibility, portfolio strategy, investigator and institutional partnerships, clinical trial delivery, and external ecosystem dynamics to shape global strategy and investment priorities. Recognized as an enterprise thought leader who integrates TBU strategy, customer needs, market intelligence, and site-network capabilities to influence organizational design, partnership models, and future business direction.

Job Complexity

Leads a global capability at the intersection of TBUs, Global Clinical Operations, regions, countries, and the external site ecosystem. Resolves ambiguity and competing priorities across therapeutic areas, geographies, customers, and functions while making strategic choices that influence network design, partnership investment, organizational capability, and measurable business outcomes.

Leads highly complex initiatives requiring strategic thinking, executive influence, and cross-functional leadership.

Supervision Received / Freedom to act

Operates with broad strategic autonomy and significant independent judgment in establishing regional priorities, developing strategic partnerships, and executing organizational objectives. Regularly advises executive leadership on site engagement strategy, organizational capabilities, and market trends.

Interactions / Business Relationships

Builds and maintains executive relationships with TBU Leaders, Global Clinical Operations leadership, Regional Site Network Leads, FSS leadership, Country Operations, Commercial, Medical, Business Development, Finance, and other cross-functional partners. Externally, engages senior investigators and leaders of strategic research institutions, health systems, and site networks, representing Thermo Fisher as an executive strategic partner.

Qualifications

Education and Experience

Bachelor's degree or equivalent and relevant formal academic/vocational qualification. Advanced degree (MBA, MS, MPH, PharmD, or equivalent) preferred.

Previous experience that provides the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the job (typically comparable to 15+ years), including significant leadership experience in global clinical operations, site strategy, feasibility, strategic partnerships, project delivery or related areas.

Demonstrated experience leading director-level and global cross-functional organizations, translating portfolio strategy into operating priorities, establishing strategic external partnerships, and influencing enterprise-level decisions is strongly preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Global strategy development and enterprise-level strategic thinking
• Therapeutic expertise and portfolio strategy translation into site-network priorities
• Strategic site partnership architecture, segmentation, and governance
• Deep understanding of global clinical operations, feasibility, and the investigator/site ecosystem
• Executive influencing, decision framing, and stakeholder management
• Ability to lead leaders and high-performing teams across complex global and matrix organizations.
• Data-driven decision making, performance analytics, and value demonstration
• Operating model design, governance, and organizational transformation
• Commercial acumen, customer strategy, and business development engagement
• Strong business, financial, and resource-allocation acumen
• Ability to drive talent strategy, succession planning, and high-performing team development
• Excellent executive communication, storytelling, and presentation skillsExecutive leadership and organizational transformation
• Ability to travel globally as required.

Policy & Strategy

Defines and leads the Global Site Strategic Network aligned with Global Clinical Operations and TBU priorities. Establishes the strategic partnership framework, operating model, governance, decision rights, performance standards, and investment principles that guide global, regional, country, and site-level engagement. Translates TBU portfolio strategy into site-network direction and uses local and regional intelligence to inform enterprise decisions. Recommends and leads strategic changes that influence clinical operations capabilities, external partnersh(...)