Senior Strategic Project Manager, Patient & Site Centric Solutions

IQVIA; Centurion; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Job summary

IQVIA, a global leader in clinical research services, is seeking a Strategic Project Manager in Centurion to guide large, cross-functional initiatives within PSCS and related site businesses. You will shape scope, objectives and delivery plans while coordinating diverse teams and senior stakeholders across geographies.

The role emphasizes governance, risk management, and the ability to translate strategy into actionable projects with measurable outcomes.

Qualifications

• Significant project, program or PMO experience within a CRO, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, clinical research or closely related life sciences organization.
• Strong understanding of the clinical research/life sciences environment and ability to understand business challenges.
• Proven experience leading complex, cross-functional strategic projects.
• Strong planning, governance, risk management and execution capabilities.
• Experience working with senior stakeholders across functions and geographies.

Responsibilities

• Define and validate project scope, objectives, deliverables, timelines and measures of success.
• Support PSCS AI strategy development and prioritization.
• Build clear project plans and governance structures.
• Drive cross-functional projects from planning to delivery with momentum and accountability.
• Manage scope, timelines, resources and costs amid changing priorities.

Skills

PMO experience

Stakeholder management

Cross-functional leadership

Project governance

Risk management

Strategic initiatives

English communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Bloemfontein, South Africa
Centurion, South Africa
Full time
R

Make an impact where strategy meets execution

At IQVIA, Patient & Site Centric Solutions (PSCS) brings together capabilities focused on improving the experience and outcomes of patients, sites and customers across clinical development.

We are looking for an experienced Strategic Project Manager who combines strong project management expertise with a solid understanding of the clinical research and life sciences industry.

In this highly visible role, you will lead and support complex AI and strategic initiatives across PSCS and our broader site businesses. You will work with stakeholders across functions and geographies, bringing structure to complex priorities and helping translate strategy into clear plans, coordinated execution and measurable outcomes. The scope will include projects across the wider PSCS organization and site businesses.

What you'll do

Lead complex strategic initiatives

• Define and validate project scope, objectives, deliverables, timelines and measures of success.
• Support the development and management of the PSCS AI strategy and how that translates in to key projects and priorities.
• Build clear project plans and governance structures to support successful execution.
• Drive complex, cross-functional projects from planning through delivery, maintaining momentum, visibility and accountability.
• Manage project scope, timelines, resources and costs while navigating changing business priorities.

Connect people, priorities and outcomes

• Establish strong relationships with stakeholders across functions and business areas.
• Create alignment around project objectives, responsibilities, dependencies and expected outcomes.
• Coordinate multiple workstreams and stakeholders, ensuring teams remain connected and focused on agreed priorities.
• Communicate progress, risks, decisions and dependencies clearly to senior stakeholders.

Manage complexity and risk

• Proactively identify risks and potential barriers to delivery and develop effective mitigation plans.
• Manage competing priorities and interdependencies across complex initiatives.
• Apply structured project management methodologies and operational-effectiveness principles to business challenges.
• Help teams establish practical ways of working that support successful project delivery.

Support change and continuous improvement

• Assess how strategic initiatives will affect teams, processes and ways of working.
• Build awareness and support for change across the organization.
• Contribute to training, communication and adoption activities where appropriate.
• Evaluate project outcomes against agreed success measures.
• Identify opportunities to improve or redesign processes to increase efficiency and effectiveness.

What we're looking for

You are an experienced project or program management professional who understands the complexity of working within the clinical research and life sciences environment.

You combine disciplined project management with strong business judgment, and you are comfortable working across functions and influencing stakeholders in a complex matrix organization.

You will bring:

• Significant project, program or PMO experience within a CRO, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, clinical research or closely related life sciences organization.
• Strong understanding of the clinical research/life sciences environment and the ability to quickly understand business and operational challenges within this space.
• Proven experience leading complex, cross-functional strategic projects.
• Strong project planning, governance, risk management and execution capabilities.
• Experience working with senior stakeholders across multiple functions and geographies.
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate multiple priorities, workstreams and dependencies.
• Strong stakeholder-management and influencing skills, including the ability to drive progress without direct authority.
• Experience supporting organizational change, operational effectiveness or process improvement.
• Strong analytical, organizational and problem-solving capabilities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
• Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of relevant education and professional experience.

Particularly valuable:

• Experience working within a PMO, strategic transformation or operational effectiveness function.
• Knowledge of Lean or other continuous-improvement methodologies.
• Advanced project management education, training or certification.
• Experience delivering strategic initiatives across complex, matrixed organizations.

Why join us?

This is an opportunity to work on strategic initiatives that reach across PSCS and our broader site businesses rather than focusing on one narrow project area. The role offers exposure to a wide range of stakeholders, business challenges and strategic priorities. That breadth of scope was specifically highlighted during the intake as one of the attractive elements of the opportunity.

You’ll have the opportunity to use your clinical research industry knowledge alongside your project management expertise to help turn important business priorities into structured, measurable delivery.

IQVIA is a leading global provider of clinical research services, commercial insights and healthcare intelligence to the life sciences and healthcare industries. We create intelligent connections to accelerate the development and commercialization of innovative medical treatments to help improve patient outcomes and population health worldwide. Learn more at is committed to integrity in our hiring process and maintains a zero tolerance policy for candidate fraud. Any false statements, misrepresentations, or material omissions during the recruitment process will result in immediate disqualification of your application, or termination of employment if discovered later, in accordance with applicable law. We appreciate your honesty and professionalism.

IQVIA is a leading global provider of clinical research services, commercial insights and healthcare intelligence to the life sciences and healthcare industries. We create connections that accelerate the development and commercialization of innovative medical treatments. Everything we do is part of a journey to improve patient outcomes and population health worldwide.

To get there, we seek out diverse talent with curious minds and a relentless commitment to innovation and impact. No matter your role, everyone at IQVIA contributes to our shared goal of helping customers improve the lives of patients everywhere. Thank you for your interest in growing your career with us.

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