The Senior Director - Early Clinical Development (Europe) is the regional leader for Novotech’s ECD business in Europe, with accountability for portfolio oversight, commercial pipeline development, operational strategy, and growth of the ECD offering. The role provides senior leadership across ECD projects delivered in Europe, ensuring portfolio health, delivery quality, client satisfaction, and alignment between commercial commitments and operational execution. This role also acts as the European product and market specialist for Novotech’s ANZ ECD offering, supporting European clients who wish to access Novotech’s core ECD capabilities in ANZ while developing the site, vendor, and investigator relationships required to win and deliver ECD projects in Europe
Minimum Qualifications & Experience:
Required
12+ years of clinical research experience within CRO, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, or related clinical development environments, with significant experience in Early Clinical Development, Phase I, First-in-Human, Healthy Volunteer, translational, early patient, or proof-of-concept programs.
Demonstrated experience leading complex clinical project portfolios, including oversight of delivery performance, timelines, risks, governance, client satisfaction, and financial outcomes.
Strong commercial and operational strategy experience, including supporting opportunity qualification, proposal strategy, bid defense preparation, operational solutioning, and risk assessment.
Proven ability to partner with Business Development, Delivery, Medical, Regulatory, Finance, Feasibility, and senior leadership to align client expectations with executable delivery models.
Experience developing, managing, and leveraging strategic relationships with clinical sites, investigators, Phase I units, hospitals, specialist vendors, and preferred partners required to support ECD delivery.
Strong understanding of the European clinical research environment and the site/vendor ecosystem needed to competitively position and deliver Early Clinical Development studies.
Excellent executive communication, stakeholder management, influencing, and leadership skills, with the ability to operate effectively across regions and functions.
Preferred
Established network within the European ECD, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, investigator, Phase I unit, or specialist vendor community.
Experience positioning ANZ-based Early Clinical Development solutions for European sponsors, including familiarity with ANZ regulatory, operational, and site delivery models.
Experience building or expanding regional service offerings, market presence, preferred site/vendor networks, or strategic delivery partnerships.
Experience leading senior client engagements, governance forums, strategic accounts, or regional growth initiatives.
Responsibilities:
ECD Portfolio Leadership & Oversight
Provide senior oversight of all ECD projects delivered in Europe ensuring portfolio health, delivery quality, client satisfaction, and financial performance.
Partner with Project Managers, Clinical Operations, Medical, and functional leaders to ensure studies are appropriately governed and delivery risks are proactively managed.
Serve as an escalation point for critical project issues and ensure appropriate recovery plans, client communication, and cross-functional actions are implemented.
Drive consistency in project governance, operational standards, risk management, and delivery expectations across the European ECD portfolio.
Commercial Pipeline Leadership
Own visibility and strategic oversight of the European ECD opportunity pipeline from early qualification through award and project handover.
Partner with Business Development and Sales Operations to evaluate opportunities, shape win strategy, and ensure proposed solutions are competitive, differentiated, and deliverable.
Provide senior input into operational strategy, study design assumptions, delivery models, timelines, site/vendor strategy, and risk mitigation for ECD opportunities.
Support sponsor meetings, capability discussions, governance forums, and bid defenses as a senior ECD leader and subject matter expert.
Product Strategy & Market Development
Act as the European product champion for Novotech’s Early Clinical Development offering.
Identify gaps, opportunities, and enhancements required to strengthen Novotech’s ECD value proposition in Europe and for European clients.
Provide market intelligence on sponsor needs, competitor activity, emerging ECD trends, and regional opportunities to inform global ECD strategy.
Strategic Site & Vendor Network Development
Develop and maintain strategic relationships with clinical sites, Phase I units, hospitals, investigators, and specialist vendors across Europe to support the growth and delivery of ECD programs.
Identify, evaluate, and qualify sites and vendors required to competitively position and successfully deliver European ECD studies.
Establish and expand preferred provider relationships that strengthen Novotech’s ability to support First-in-Human, Healthy Volunteer, patient, translational, and early proof-of-concept studies.
Maintain site and vendor intelligence that can be leveraged to improve proposal competitiveness, operational planning, delivery timelines, and risk mitigation.
Client Relationship Leadership
Build and maintain senior relationships with biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and investor-backed clients across Europe.
Act as a senior ECD representative in strategic client discussions, governance reviews, pipeline meetings, and escalation forums.
Support sponsor discussions related to ECD development strategy, feasibility, site/vendor strategy, operational execution, and delivery risk.
Promote long-term partnerships, repeat business, and expanded adoption of Novotech’s ECD capabilities among European clients.
Represent Novotech professionally in external meetings, conferences, networking forums, and industry discussions relevant to ECD growth.
We are committed to a transparent recruitment process. Where a salary range is not included in this job advertisement, shortlisted candidates will receive the applicable salary range before their first interview, in accordance with applicable local legislation
Novotech is proud to offer a great workplace. We are committed to being an employer of choice for gender equality and providing an inclusive work environment where everyone is treated fairly and with respect. Our team members are passionate about what we do, but we understand work is only one of the things that is important to them. We support our team members with flexible working options, paid parental leave for both parents, flexible leave entitlements, wellness programs and ongoing development programs. We are looking for people who are passionate about working clinical research and biotech, including people who identify as LGBTIQ+, have a disability or have caring responsibilities. We are a Circle Back Initiative Employer and commit to respond to every application. We look forward to talking to you about working at Novotech.About the Team
At Novotech we have advanced therapeutic and regulatory expertise, the ability to execute across markets and a client-centric service model, so that our clients get a trusted, long-term partner and an accelerated path to bring their life-changing advances to market. This gives our employees the opportunity to develop their careers by joining a diverse and supportive global organization with a collaborative culture, whilst working with clients on the cutting-edge of life sciences.
At Novotech you will work alongside empowered teams with a shared commitment to success.Strategic vs transactional mindset.
Ability to gain insights and make proactive decisions quickly.
Culture that fosters partnership and collaboration, where every voice is heard and valued.
Ongoing support from senior stakeholders and leadership team.
Novotech is a global full-service clinical Contract Research Organization (CRO).
At Novotech, ambition meets opportunity. As a globally recognized leader in clinical research and scientific advisory services, we are proud to combine our position at the forefront of the industry with an award-winning workplace culture that values ambition, innovation, and growth. Named Employer of Choice, Great Place to Work and Employer of Choice for Gender Equality (EOCGE), we are committed to fostering an environment that reflects the life-changing work we do.
Since 1997, we have expanded our global footprint, now with 30+ offices across Asia-Pacific, the United States, and Europe. This growing network unites professionals from diverse backgrounds and disciplines to advance therapies that improve patient outcomes worldwide.
At Novotech, our employees are at the heart of our success. By offering trust, flexibility, and autonomy through programs like NovoLife, our flexible benefits framework, we empower team members to create an effective work-life balance that delivers professional satisfaction and maximum results for clients.
With access to mentorship opportunities, professional development programs, and a dynamic community, Novotech offers a platform for driven individuals to achieve personal growth while shaping the future of healthcare. Join us to be a part of a team that values your contributions and supports your ambition to make a global impact.
