Therapeutic Strategy Director - Early Clinical Development

IQVIA; Durham (NC); Remote; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

IQVIA's Early Clinical Development team seeks a Therapeutic Strategy Leader to design differentiated development strategies for FIH through Phase IIa, integrating therapeutic expertise with operational strategy. The role leads cross-functional teams, drives early client engagement, and shapes proposals that differentiate IQVIA in a competitive market.

The ideal candidate will guide pre-award strategy, collaborate with business development, and ensure delivery readiness while maintaining client

Qualifications

• Broad protocol and therapeutic knowledge.
• Global biopharma lifecycle and trial delivery familiarity.
• Leadership in virtual, cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead cross-functional teams from proposal through award.
• Develop client-centric development strategies.
• Champion IQVIA Connected Intelligence solutions in sales processes.
• Support sales with client meetings and bid defenses.
• Translate strategy to delivery teams post-award and monitor outcomes.
• Identify site, country, and patient recruitment strategies for early studies.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Clinical development

Proposal development

Client engagement

Cross-functional leadership

Job description

Job Level: Therapeutic Strategy Director - Early Clinical Development

Location: Home-based in USA

JOB OVERVIEW

Early Clinical Development is a core, complex focus at IQVIA, requiring deep expertise and integrated data-driven strategies. The Therapeutic Strategy Leader (TSL) serves as the scientific and strategic lead responsible for designing differentiated development strategies for sponsors from First-in-Human (FIH), dose-finding, biomarker development, through Phase IIa studies. The role combines therapeutic expertise, clinical development knowledge, operational strategy, and business development support.

The ideal candidate is an experienced, consultative leader responsible for driving early engagement and proposals aligned with client needs in collaboration with the business development and other stakeholders. TSL will serve as a therapeutic and operational strategy expert throughout the new business and program/project delivery lifecycle to increase IQVIAs therapeutic market share with early engagement and innovative strategic responses to proposals.

This pivotal role represents and demonstrates IQVIA's credibility with clients, furthering the R&D business by designing market-leading solutions to secure new projects. Drawing on dedicated proposal development, technical and scientific support, the TSL will be expected to lead cross-functional teams in designing such solutions and ensuring projects are set up to be successful from proposal development through to award. The TSL will take ownership of high-level client relationships for the specified engagements in close collaboration with the sales and account team, with ultimate responsibility for securing business, client satisfaction, project margin, and differentiating IQVIA.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Business Growth and Client Engagement:

Leverage IQVIA medical, scientific, operational and data science experts to determine the optimal solution, project design and lead a cross‑functional team in proposal development through to award.

Assigned to take ownership of developing client‑centric solutions, designing both strategic and methodological approaches to ensure that IQVIA secures client projects.

Champion and advocate the IQVIA Connected Intelligence solutions and include existing and new innovative solutions as applicable and appropriate through the sales process. This may include, but is not limited to, stand‑alone programs and projects, requests for information (RFI), capabilities, and early engagement.

Strategy Development:

As a leader of the pre‑award strategy team, TSL is accountable and responsible for creation of innovative, effective, and compelling therapeutic and operational strategies that client differentiates IQVIA from its competitors.

Work with key internal stakeholders and pre/post‑award teams to analyze information and data that enables development of efficient and feasible delivery solutions. This may include, but is not limited to, protocol feasibility and risk management, assessment and management of the competitive landscape, optimal country and site distributions, site and patient recruitment strategies, monitoring and vendor strategies.

Actively support Sales in the preparation and conduct of client and bid defense meetings e.g. training and preparation of the assigned project team; provide specific content; ensure presentation focus and content effectively conveys project strategy and critical win themes. Attend and present at client meetings, or bid defense meetings, as required, (based on the strategy for selling the opportunity).

Recommend site, country, and patient recruitment strategies appropriate for early‑phase studies.

Leverage ECD networks, Phase I units, specialist investigators, and therapeutic expertise to improve execution.

Strategy Translation and Post Award Support

Translate the sold strategy to the delivery team and be an available resource for the delivery team when changes to strategy are required.

Provide post award strategy guidance and support to delivery teams if in‑flight studies require changes to strategy.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Remain up to date with knowledge and information that supports effectiveness as a Therapeutic Strategy Lead e.g. understanding IQVIA' services, tools and product offerings, status and trends in early clinical development, innovations and advances in clinical trial methodology, and business intelligence.

Broad protocol and therapeutic knowledge.

Comprehensive global knowledge, awareness, and practical understanding of the biopharma industry, drug development lifecycle and operational clinical trial delivery.

Robust and current knowledge of scientific, clinical, regulatory, commercial and competitive landscape in applicable therapeutic areas.

Strong leadership skills, critical thinking, ability to work with minimal supervision, and lead a virtual team in a matrix organization.

Flexible and able to work in situations where specifications may or may not be we