Clinical Innovation Executive Director - US

Worldwide Clinical Trials; North Carolina; Remote; USD 167,000 - 332,000; Full time

Job summary

Worldwide Clinical Trials is seeking a Clinical Innovation Executive Director to lead the enterprise vision for automation, AI, analytics, and workflow transformation across clinical development. You will partner with IT, governance, and senior leaders to define investments, build PoCs/PoVs, and drive value realization.

This remote US role emphasizes adoption, governance, and measurable outcomes. The ideal candidate has 15+ years in clinical innovation with 10+ years leading strategy, strong

Qualifications

• Progressive experience in clinical innovation strategy and execution.
• Led automation/AI initiatives in clinical development with measurable impact.
• Strong ability to translate clinical needs into practical solutions and roadmaps.
• Proven experience designing and executing experiments, pilots, PoCs, or PoVs.

Responsibilities

• Define enterprise clinical innovation vision, strategy, and ROI-focused roadmaps.
• Build and prioritize an innovation portfolio aligned with ops, finance, and customers.
• Lead PoC/PoV experiments with clear objectives and success metrics.
• Shape business cases, implementation plans, and value-realization frameworks.
• Drive adoption, governance, and change-management across global teams.

Skills

Automation

AI innovations

Stakeholder management

ROI modeling

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Advanced degree preferred

Job description

Who we areWe’re a global, midsize CRO that pushes boundaries, innovates and invents because the path to a cure for the world’s most persistent diseases is not paved by those who play it safe. It is built by those who take pioneering, creative approaches and implement them with quality and excellence.We are Worldwide Clinical Trials, and we are a global team of over 3,500+ experts, bright thinkers, dreamers and doers and, together, we are changing the way the world experiences CROs – in the best possible way.Our mission is to work with passion and purpose every day to improve lives and we are looking for others who value this same pursuit.Why WorldwideWe believe everyone plays an important role in making a world of difference for patients and their caregivers. From our hands-on, accessible leaders, to our cohesive and supportive teams, we are committed to enabling professionals from all backgrounds and experiences to succeed. We prioritize cultivating a diverse and inclusive environment that continues to promote collaboration and creativity. We are proud to be a workplace where people thrive by being themselves and are inspired to do their best work every day. Join us!Make an Impact as a Clinical Innovation Executive Director at WorldwideShape how clinical development uses automation, artificial intelligence (AI), and digital solutions to deliver measurable improvements in quality, efficiency, employee experience, customer value, and financial performance.As Clinical Innovation Executive Director, you’ll set the enterprise vision and roadmap for clinical innovation, turning strategic opportunities into scalable solutions. You’ll lead initiatives from opportunity definition through proof of concept (PoC), proof of value (PoV), and business-case development, while supporting implementation, adoption, and value realization.Working with senior operational leaders, subject matter experts, IT, EPMO, and governance stakeholders, you’ll help Worldwide make evidence-based investment decisions and build responsible, repeatable approaches to innovation across clinical development.Where You'll WorkThis is a remote role open to candidates based in the US. You will collaborate with global teams across multiple time zones.What You'll DoDefine the enterprise clinical innovation vision, strategy, roadmap, and investment priorities across automation, AI, analytics, and workflow transformation.Build and prioritize an innovation portfolio aligned with strategic, operational, financial, and customer objectives.Lead structured experimentation through PoCs and PoVs, establishing clear objectives, success measures, risks, decision criteria, and recommendations for scaling, refinement, or termination.Translate clinical and operational needs into practical solution, workflow, data, integration, control, and support requirements in partnership with IT and EPMO.Shape business cases, ROI models, implementation plans, and value-realization frameworks that connect innovation investments to measurable outcomes.Drive operational readiness and adoption, including ownership, training, communications, human oversight, exception handling, feedback, and transition to business-as-usual operations.Establish governance for responsible AI, automation, and clinical innovation, partnering with Quality, Compliance, Legal, Information Security, Privacy, and Regulatory stakeholders.Measure operational and financial impact across productivity, capacity, quality, throughput, service improvement, user experience, and control effectiveness.Build reusable methods, playbooks, and organizational capability that improve the speed, consistency, and effectiveness of clinical innovation.What You'll BringBachelor’s degree or equivalent education and relevant experience required; an advanced degree in a clinical, scientific, business, technology, engineering, or related discipline is preferred.15+ years of progressive industry experience, including 10+ years leading clinical innovation strategy for organizations.Hands-on operational experience within a clinical development organization, with strong knowledge of clinical delivery workflows, roles, controls, quality, and compliance expectations.Demonstrated experience designing and implementing automation and AI innovations in clinical development, from problem definition and solution design through implementation, adoption, and measurable operational impact.Experience leading structured experiments, pilots, PoCs, or PoVs, including baselines, success measures, evidence capture, decision criteria, and implementation recommendations.Experience developing business requirements, business cases, implementation plans, change and adoption approaches, and measurable benefits-realization frameworks.Working knowledge of AI, intelligent automation, workflow technologies, data-driven decision support, and responsible-AI principles, with the ability to lead across complex global, matrixed stakeholder groups.Strong business acumen, analytical judgment, facilitation, stakeholder management, written communication, change-leadership skills, and proficiency in English.At Worldwide Clinical Trials, we are committed to fostering an inclusive and equitable workplace by providing transparent compensation.The salary range for this position is annually (For hourly paid positions, the stated salary range reflects hourly rates):United States of America - $167,000.00 - $332,000.00The salary range provided is intended to give candidates an understanding of potential earnings. Compensation will fall within the provided range, and it not a guarantee of exact salary. The final salary will be determined based on relevant experience, performance, education, and internal equity. In addition to base salary, we offer a competitive benefits package depending on location. We ensure pay equity and transparency and comply with all applicable labor laws. Salary information will be discussed during the interview process, and we encourage candidates to inquire about compensation at any stage.We love knowing that someone is going to have a better life because of the work we do.To view our other roles, check out our careers page at Discover a world of difference at Worldwide ! For more information on Worldwide, visit www.Worldwide.com or connect with us on LinkedIn .