(Senior) Director, Project Delivery

About Emerald Clinical Trials

Emerald Clinical Trials is an international, full-service CRO with strong roots in the Asia-Pacific region. The organisation supports biopharmaceutical, medical device, and diagnostic clients across the entire trial journey, from registration studies through to post-marketing work. Its therapeutic focus includes renal, cardiometabolic, and oncology research, with an emphasis on combining global capability with local insight to improve recruitment, data quality, and study timelines.

About the Role

The (Senior) Director of Project Delivery is a senior leadership position accountable for leading, developing, and overseeing the Project Management function, including Project Directors, Project Managers, and Project Specialists. The role blends people leadership, resource planning, project governance, client management, and continuous improvement to ensure clinical studies are delivered effectively.

The role also supports business growth through input into proposals, bid defences, and client-facing presentations. In periods of high demand, constrained resourcing, or strategically important projects, the Director may also step into a billable Project Director capacity and carry full accountability for those studies.

Key Responsibilities

• Build and guide a high-performing Early Phase project management team.
• Hire, onboard, coach, and retain experienced project management professionals.
• Manage performance, development reviews, feedback cycles, and career progression plans.
• Keep development and training plans current for all direct reports.
• Foster a team culture that is collaborative, supportive, and aligned with company values.
• Allocate people and resources based on study needs, business priorities, and growth objectives.
• Track and report on team workload, performance, and development outcomes.
• Oversee delivery across the Early Phase portfolio, making sure quality, budget, schedule, and compliance targets are met.
• Support handover from award to delivery and ensure smooth transition into operations.
• Help project teams resolve delivery issues and remove blockers.
• Optimise use of internal and external resources to strengthen delivery outcomes.
• Act as escalation lead for complex, sensitive, or high-risk projects.
• When needed, take on full Project Director duties for assigned studies, including sponsor management, financial control, cross-functional coordination, and delivery accountability.
• Lead the operational execution of assigned projects across the full study lifecycle.
• Serve as the primary client contact and escalation point.
• Manage timelines, operations, and financial performance for assigned studies.
• Coordinate cross-functional teams and maintain sponsor communication.
• Identify project risks and implement mitigation actions.
• Ensure work is aligned with SOPs, GCP, and regulatory obligations.
• Act as a senior relationship owner for Early Phase clients.
• Handle escalations promptly and work toward strong client satisfaction.
• Contribute to governance meetings, operational reviews, and executive steering committees as needed.
• Develop trusted client relationships that support long-term collaboration and repeat work.
• Partner with Business Development to support RFPs, estimates, proposals, and bid defences.
• Help shape delivery strategy, resourcing, and planning for new business opportunities.
• Represent the company as a delivery subject matter expert in meetings with prospective clients.
• Lead or join cross-functional initiatives that improve operational performance and efficiency.
• Help standardise and implement best practices, SOPs, templates, and tools.
• Encourage a culture of innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Promote consistent use of project management methods across the Early Phase portfolio.
• Maintain team compliance with ICH-GCP, regulatory requirements, internal SOPs, and client procedures.
• Work with Clinical Operations and Quality teams to close out audit findings.
• Support proactive risk management and strong quality practices.
• Keep project delivery activities audit-ready.
• Assist with department-level financial planning and budgeting.
• Partner with Project Directors and Managers to monitor financials, scope changes, and profitability.
• Review forecasts, revenue, margins, and utilisation on a regular basis.
• Escalate financial risks or deviations quickly and ensure reporting accuracy.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in life sciences, healthcare, or a related discipline.
• At least 10 years of experience in clinical research, with substantial exposure to clinical trials.
• Direct experience in Renal or Oncology studies, with the ability to demonstrate relevant therapeutic knowledge.
• Minimum 5 years in a senior project management or line management position within a CRO or sponsor environment.
• Proven capability to lead, coach, and develop cross-functional teams.
• Strong financial understanding, including budgeting and forecasting.
• Excellent communication, problem-solving, and stakeholder management skills.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office and clinical trial management systems (CTMS).

What the Employer Offers

• A competitive compensation package tailored to experience and capability.
• Flexibility to work remotely or in a hybrid setup depending on location and role.
• Access to learning opportunities and a global network of scientific leaders.
• Employee wellbeing initiatives that support balance, health, recognition, and team connection.
• Exposure to international projects and clients across a global organisation.

Additional Information

This opportunity is designed for professionals who want to contribute to clinical trials that improve patient outcomes, particularly in renal, cardiometabolic, and oncology therapeutic areas. The company values collaboration, local community engagement, innovation, and a people-first approach. The employer is an equal-opportunity organisation and welcomes applications from all qualified candidates.