Senior Director, Project Delivery (Respiratory)

RHO; Durham (NC); On-site; USD 150,000 - 220,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Vision insurance

Dental insurance

HSA

FSA

EAP

Life & disability insurance

401(k)

Paid time off

Parental leave

Bereavement leave

Work-life balance

Job summary

Rho is seeking a Director/Senior Director, Project Delivery with strong Respiratory focus to provide strategic oversight of clinical research programs from proposal through study execution in Durham, NC.

You will partner with Business Development and Operations to drive delivery strategies, lead bid defenses, and manage portfolios while ensuring client satisfaction, financial performance, and regulatory compliance. This role also entails mentoring project teams and shaping organizational growth.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Life Science or related field with 10+ years in clinical research project management, including program oversight.
• Strong knowledge of financial management, budgeting, forecasting, invoicing, and contracts.
• Deep understanding of regulatory/compliance standards (ICH-GCP) and CRO operations.
• Proven leadership, strategic thinking, and ability to mentor staff.

Responsibilities

• Provide executive oversight for a portfolio of projects, ensuring on-time, on-scope, on-budget delivery.
• Lead bid defenses, develop delivery strategies, and manage client expectations at senior levels.
• Monitor risk, resources, and portfolio performance; drive continuous improvement and governance.
• Collaborate with Business Development on proposals, pricing, and long-term client relationships.
• Mentor Project Management staff and promote organizational change and excellence.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Executive communication

Budgeting & forecasting

Project management

Client relationship management

Negotiation

Presentation skills

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Life Science

Job description

At Rho, we are redefining what it means to work for a CRO. Our teams are driven by a shared passion for improving healthcare and advancing clinical research. We offer the stability of a well-established organization alongside the opportunity to innovate, grow, and make a meaningful impact.

We are seeking a Director / Senior Director, Project Delivery with strong expertise in Respiratory to provide strategic oversight across clinical research programs from proposal development through study execution. This role serves as a key partner to Business Development and Operations, shaping delivery strategies, leading bid defenses, overseeing project portfolios, and ensuring exceptional client experiences. The successful candidate will drive operational excellence, financial performance, risk management, and long-term client partnerships while mentoring project management teams and contributing to organizational growth.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide executive oversight for a portfolio of projects, ensuring delivery on time, within scope, budget, and quality expectations.
• Serve as the senior operational escalation point for clients and internal teams.
• Anticipate portfolio risks, resource needs, and delivery challenges, implementing proactive solutions.
• Partner with Business Development to develop operational strategies, delivery models, and win strategies for new opportunities.
• Lead bid defenses and facilitate seamless transitions from proposal development to project execution.

Financial & Contract Management

• Oversee financial performance across assigned portfolios, including forecasting, invoicing, change orders, and contract management.
• Ensure timely identification and management of out-of-scope work and contract modifications.
• Partner with Business Development, Proposals, and Contracts teams to develop pricing strategies and support long-term client relationships.

Client Partnership & Business Development

• Build and maintain strong executive-level client relationships.
• Lead governance meetings and portfolio reviews to monitor performance, address risks, and identify growth opportunities.
• Support repeat business through proactive client engagement and successful project delivery.
• Collaborate on proposal development, budget strategy, and operational planning for new business opportunities.

Leadership & Talent Development

• Mentor and develop Project Management staff, fostering leadership capabilities and operational excellence.
• Promote best practices, knowledge sharing, and continuous improvement across teams.
• Partner with leadership to strengthen organizational capabilities and talent pipelines.

Operational Excellence & Change Leadership

• Drive consistency, quality, and efficiency across project portfolios.
• Lead process improvement initiatives and support organizational change efforts.
• Ensure compliance with applicable SOPs, regulatory requirements, ICH-GCP guidelines, and client expectations.

Communication & Collaboration

• Establish effective governance, communication, and escalation pathways for complex engagements.
• Facilitate portfolio-level discussions with sponsors and internal stakeholders.
• Partner cross-functionally to optimize delivery, profitability, quality, and client satisfaction.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree, preferably in Life Science (or related field) along with at least 10 years of experience in clinical research project management (or equivalent leadership role), of which at least 4 years has included program and/or portfolio-level oversight; minimum of 4 years experience working at or managing CROs
• Comprehensive understanding of project management principles, methodologies, and best practices with strong knowledge of financial management processes, including budgeting, forecasting, invoicing, and contract administration; advanced strategic planning and prioritization skills to align resources and achieve deliverables
• Solid understanding of regulatory/compliance standards relevant to the industry
• Understands business development processes, proposal strategies, and organizational change management
• Exceptional leadership and team management skills, with the ability to drive operational excellence and continuous improvement across projects and mentor / coach project staff
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and presentation skills for client and internal stakeholder engagement; relationship-building skills to maintain senior-level client and cross-functional partnerships; capacity to influence strategies and secure repeat business through proactive engagement
• Effective problem-solving and decision-making skills under pressure and adaptability to manage evolving priorities and support organizational change initiatives
• Commitment to client satisfaction through proactive communication and quality delivery

Benefits

Benefits: Rho provides a comprehensive benefits package for all benefit-eligible employees, which includes medical, vision, dental, HSA, FSA, EAP, life & disability insurance and 401(k). All employees are eligible for paid time off, holidays, parental leave and bereavement leave.

Flexibility: We encourage a work-life balance that allows employees to bring their best selves to work while being passionate about their lives outside work.

As required by pay transparency laws in some states, Rho provides the range of starting compensation (annual salary or hourly rate) it reasonably expects to pay for a given role. Actual compensation is influenced by a wide array of factors including but not limited to role responsibilities and location as well as candidate skill set and level of experience. The range of starting pay for this role is $150,000-$220,000 per year.

EOE. Veterans/Disabled