Executive Director, Global Site Payment Strategy & Services

Parexel; United States; Hybrid; USD 260,000 - 380,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work arrangements

Professional growth opportunities

Meaningful global impact

Job summary

Parexel is seeking an Executive Director, Global Site Payment Strategy & Services to lead a global function delivering investigator payments across regions and portfolios. You will shape strategy, drive automation, analytics, and AI-enabled solutions while guiding a high-performing team to improve efficiency, accuracy, and site satisfaction.

The role reports to Parexel senior leaders and partners across Operations, Finance, Technology, and Commercial to create a scalable investigator financial

Qualifications

• 10+ years leading global pharmaceutical, CRO, or healthcare services operations.
• Experience leading global teams and complex business functions.
• Deep knowledge of investigator financial operations in clinical trials.
• Proven track record of large-scale transformation and process improvement.
• Strong executive presence and stakeholder influence.
• Cross-geography collaboration across regions.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute the long-term vision for Site Payment Services.
• Evolve operating models, org structures, and service delivery.
• Partner with executives to boost performance and client value.
• Lead global Site Payment Services operations, budgets, reconciliation, and reports.
• Drive automation, analytics, and AI-enabled capabilities.
• Develop and coach a diverse global leadership team.
• Foster a culture of accountability and continuous learning.

Skills

Executive leadership

Strategic thinking

Stakeholder management

Operational excellence

Process improvement

Automation

AI/analytics

Change management

Global collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Investigator payment platforms

Job description

Parexel is looking for changemakers who are driven by curiosity, passion, and optimism. Come join us in keeping the Patient at the Heart of Everything We do.

Job Introduction

At Parexel, we are united by one purpose: putting patients at the heart of everything we do. Every day, our teams help bring life-changing therapies to patients around the world, and clinical research sites play a critical role in making that possible.

As Executive Director, Global Site Payment Strategy & Services, you will lead a global organization responsible for delivering investigator payment services across multiple regions, therapeutic areas, and client portfolios. You will oversee a critical function that directly impacts site satisfaction, operational efficiency, and study execution, ensuring sites are paid accurately, transparently, and on time.

This is a highly visible leadership opportunity for an experienced executive who is passionate about operational excellence, organizational transformation, and innovation. You will help shape the future of Site Payment Services through process improvement, automation, technology enablement, and AI-driven solutions while leading a global team through its next phase of growth and evolution.

Reporting to senior leadership within Parexel's Site Activation Center of Excellence, you will partner across Operations, Finance, Technology, Project Leadership, and Commercial teams to create a more connected and scalable investigator financial ecosystem.

Why This Role Matters

Investigator payments are essential to the success of clinical trials. Sites rely on timely and accurate payments to continue conducting research and caring for patients.

As Executive Director, Global Site Payment Strategy & Services, you will have the opportunity to:

• Lead a global function with enterprise-wide impact
• Influence strategy and decision making across multiple business areas
• Drive digital transformation through automation, analytics, and AI
• Improve the experience of clinical research sites around the world
• Build and develop high-performing global teams
• Position Site Payment Services as a strategic differentiator for Parexel

Who We Are Looking For

We are seeking a collaborative and results-oriented leader with deep expertise in investigator financial operations and a proven ability to lead large-scale operational organizations.

The ideal candidate combines strategic vision with operational discipline and thrives in fast-paced, evolving, and complex global environments. They are skilled at influencing senior stakeholders, navigating organizational change, developing talent, and delivering measurable business outcomes. Success will require resilience, adaptability, and a willingness to lead transformation at scale.

You bring a passion for continuous improvement and a demonstrated track record of leveraging technology, automation, and innovative operating models to drive efficiency, quality, and scalability.

What You’ll Do

Strategic Leadership

• Define and execute the long-term vision and strategy for Site Payment Services
• Evaluate and evolve operating models, organizational structures, and service delivery approaches
• Partner with executive leadership to identify opportunities that enhance operational performance and client value
• Serve as a key leader within the Site Activation Center of Excellence
• Anticipate industry trends and evolving site needs to inform future service strategy

Operational Excellence

• Lead a global Site Payment Services organization responsible for investigator payment operations, budget setup, reconciliation, reporting, and site-facing support
• Establish performance metrics and accountability measures to drive operational excellence
• Ensure timely, accurate, compliant, and efficient delivery of site payment services
• Identify opportunities to simplify processes and improve scalability across the organization

Transformation and Innovation

• Lead the modernization of Site Payment Services through automation, digital solutions, analytics, and AI-enabled capabilities
• Drive continuous improvement efforts that improve efficiency, quality, and stakeholder experience
• Champion innovation and foster a culture that embraces change and new ways of working
• Partner closely with Technology teams to modernise systems, processes, and data capabilities

Stakeholder Engagement

• Collaborate with Finance, Project Leadership, Commercial, Contracts, Site Activation, and Technology teams to optimize the investigator financial lifecycle
• Build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders
• Influence decision making through data-driven insights and strategic recommendations
• Serve as an executive escalation point for complex operational and stakeholder challenges

Talent Development

• Lead, coach, and develop a diverse global leadership team
• Foster a culture of accountability, inclusion, collaboration, and continuous learning
• Guide teams through organizational growth and transformation initiatives

Required

Experience and Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive leadership experience within the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, CRO, or healthcare services industry
• Significant experience leading global operational teams and complex business functions
• Deep understanding of investigator financial operations and the broader clinical trial ecosystem
• Demonstrated experience driving large-scale transformation, process improvement, or organizational change initiatives
• Strong executive presence with proven stakeholder management and influencing skills
• Experience managing cross-functional initiatives that span multiple geographic regions and business functions
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience

Preferred

• Experience with investigator payment technologies, financial systems, or site-facing operational platforms
• Track record of implementing automation, digital transformation, analytics, or AI-enabled solutions
• Advanced degree in business, healthcare, finance, or related field
• Lean, Six Sigma, or continuous improvement experience

Why Join Parexel

At Parexel, your work has real impact. Every improvement we make helps accelerate clinical research and ultimately supports patients waiting for new therapies.

When You Join Parexel, You’ll Find

• Meaningful work that contributes to better patient outcomes
• Opportunities to lead high-impact global initiatives
• A culture that values collaboration, innovation, and continuous learning
• Flexible work arrangements that support work-life balance
• Access to professional growth and career development opportunities
• The ability to help shape the future of clinical trial operations

At Parexel, we take our work personally. We act with empathy, lead with purpose, and strive to make a difference every day.