(Senior) Director, Project Delivery

About Emerald Clinical Trials

Emerald Clinical Trials is an international CRO with end-to-end capabilities and a long-standing presence in the Asia-Pacific region. The organization supports biopharmaceutical, medical device, and diagnostic clients across the full study lifecycle, from registration activities through post-marketing work.

Its core therapeutic focus areas include renal, cardiometabolic, and oncology programs. The company combines global reach with local insight, working closely with communities to build trust, improve patient participation, and generate stronger data and faster study outcomes.

Role Overview

The (Senior) Director of Project Delivery is a senior leadership position accountable for leading, developing, and performance-managing the Project Management function at Emerald Clinical. The role has oversight of Project Directors, Project Managers, and Project Specialists, with responsibility for team leadership, capacity planning, project governance, continuous improvement, and client-facing partnership.

This leader is expected to drive successful clinical project execution through strong people management, operational discipline, and improvements to delivery processes. The role also includes coaching and mentoring team members, ensuring compliance with relevant regulations and standards, and contributing to business development activities such as proposals, bid defenses, and client presentations.

When business demand, staffing pressure, or strategic priorities require it, the (Senior) Director may also step into a billable Project Director capacity. In that situation, the role carries full accountability for project delivery, financial performance, sponsor communication, and leadership of the assigned study team.

Team Leadership and Line Management

• Build and guide a high-performing Early Phase Project Management team.
• Hire, onboard, coach, and retain capable project management professionals.
• Support performance and career growth through regular feedback, reviews, and clear development paths.
• Keep training and development plans current for all direct reports.
• Foster a collaborative and supportive team environment that reflects Emerald Clinical values.
• Allocate people and resources effectively based on delivery needs, development priorities, and business goals.
• Track and report on team performance, workload, and development progress.

Project Oversight and Resource Planning

• Oversee delivery of Early Phase projects and ensure quality, budget, timeline, and compliance expectations are consistently met.
• Support the move from contract award into delivery, including effective initiation and handover to operational teams.
• Help project teams identify delivery obstacles and work through solutions.
• Make sure internal and external resources are assigned in a way that improves efficiency and delivery outcomes.
• Provide strategic supervision and serve as the escalation contact for complex or high-risk projects.
• Where needed, temporarily act as Project Director on assigned Early Phase studies, with full responsibility for project delivery, sponsor relationships, financial control, and cross-functional coordination.

Project Director Duties

• Manage the operational delivery of assigned projects from start to finish.
• Act as the primary point of contact and escalation route for clients.
• Oversee financial, operational, and timeline performance across assigned studies.
• Coordinate cross-functional teams and sponsor communications.
• Identify risks and implement mitigation actions.
• Ensure work is aligned with SOPs, GCP requirements, and all applicable regulatory obligations.

Client Engagement and Escalation Handling

• Serve as a senior client contact across the Early Phase portfolio.
• Handle escalations promptly and work toward fast, effective issue resolution and client satisfaction.
• Take part in governance meetings, operational reviews, and executive steering committees when required.
• Develop trusted client relationships that support long-term collaboration and repeat business.

Business Development Support

• Partner with the Business Development team on RFPs, budget estimates, proposals, and bid defense preparations.
• Contribute to strategic planning for new studies, staffing, and delivery approaches.
• Represent Emerald Clinical in meetings with prospective clients as a project delivery subject matter expert.

Process Improvement and Operational Excellence

• Lead or join cross-functional initiatives aimed at improving operational efficiency.
• Help create, standardize, and implement best practices, SOPs, templates, and tools.
• Encourage a team culture centered on continuous improvement, innovation, and accountability.
• Promote consistent use of project management methodology across the Early Phase portfolio.

Compliance and Quality

• Ensure the team follows ICH-GCP, regulatory standards, Emerald Clinical SOPs, and client-specific processes.
• Work with Clinical Operations and Quality teams to address audit findings and close issues.
• Support risk management practices and maintain a proactive approach to quality and compliance.
• Keep project delivery activities audit-ready at all times.

Financial Oversight and Reporting

• Support department-level financial planning and budgeting.
• Work with Project Directors and Managers to manage financial performance, track scope changes, and protect profitability.
• Review forecasts, revenue, margins, and utilization on a regular basis.
• Ensure financial reporting is accurate and that risks or deviations are escalated promptly.

About You

To be successful in this role, you should have a bachelor’s degree or higher in life sciences, healthcare, or a related discipline. You will need at least 10 years of clinical research experience with substantial exposure to clinical trials, plus direct experience in Renal or Oncology studies and the ability to demonstrate relevant therapeutic knowledge.

The role also requires a minimum of 5 years in a senior project management or line management position within a CRO or sponsor organization. Strong leadership, coaching, and cross-functional team development capability is essential, along with sound financial understanding and hands-on experience in budgeting and forecasting.

You should also bring excellent communication, problem-solving, and stakeholder engagement skills, as well as strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office and clinical trial management systems (CTMS).

Why Join Emerald Clinical Trials

Emerald Clinical Trials focuses on improving clinical research by putting people first, including patients and employees. Joining the team means becoming part of a global network of professionals working together to improve research quality and health outcomes.

• Purpose-led work: contribute to clinical trials that can improve lives, especially in renal, cardiometabolic, and oncology.
• Global scale with local understanding: collaborate with communities to strengthen trust and trial participation.
• Collaboration and innovation: work in an environment that values varied perspectives and creative problem-solving.
• Competitive pay: receive a salary and benefits package tailored to your experience and capabilities.
• Flexible working: remote or hybrid arrangements may be available depending on location and role needs.
• Career development: access learning opportunities and a global network of scientific leaders.
• Wellbeing support: benefit from initiatives that encourage work-life balance, health, recognition, engagement, and team connection.
• International exposure: work on diverse projects with clients across global markets.

Additional Information

Emerald Clinical Trials is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from all qualified candidates.