Brief Description:

The Senior Director, Head of Global Study Management is a key leadership role within Clinical Operations at Jazz Pharmaceuticals. Reporting directly to the Executive Director, Head of Clinical Operations, the successful candidate will sit on the Clinical Operations Leadership Team and play an integral role in shaping strategic vision, operational execution, and organizational capability across Global Study Management and Clinical Operations more broadly at Jazz. 

This role requires a Clinical Operations expert with a strong track record in clinical trial delivery, strategic functional leadership, and robust financial acumen. The ideal candidate will combine deep technical expertise in clinical study execution with a broad enterprise perspective, leading global teams to deliver clinical development programs efficiently, with high quality, compliance and innovation. 

Essential Functions/Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership & Organizational Vision 

• Define and articulate the strategic vision and long-term direction for the Global Study Management function, aligned with GCDO and broader R&D strategic goals. 

• Serve as an active and impactful member of the Clinical Operations Leadership Team, contributing to overall department governance, resource planning, and operational excellence. 

• Foster a high-performance, inclusive culture across the Global Study Management organization, embedding accountability, continuous learning, and operational agility. 

Study Delivery & Operational Oversight 

• Partner with Program Leadership and Strategic Trial Optimization in the operational planning and  execution  of the Jazz Pharmaceuticals’ clinical trial portfolio. 
• Ensure  robust operational oversight of trial execution against established key performance indicators (KPIs), timelines, quality standards, and budget targets. 

• Provide direction and escalation resolution for complex operational challenges, ensuring portfolio delivery aligns with overarching clinical development plans.

Line Management & Capability Building 

• Provide direct leadership, mentoring, and professional development to Global Study Management leaders, enabling succession planning and top-talent retention. 

• Build and scale functional capabilities, ensuring Global Study Management teams have the competencies, tools, and resources required to plan and execute complex trials. 

• Promote global team alignment and flexible resourcing models capable of operating seamlessly across international time zones and geographic regions. 

Enterprise Partnering & Cross-Functional Alignment 

• Build effective, collaborative partnerships across Global Clinical Development Operations and R&D stakeholders (including Clinical Development, Regulatory Affairs, Biostatistics, Quality Assurance, and Global Supply Chain). 

• Maintain a strong enterprise perspective, balancing functional excellence with broader strategic and business objectives. 

Financial Oversight & Budgetary Control 

• Drive financial stewardship and budgetary control across the Global Study Management function. 

• Oversee financial planning, trial forecasting, resource allocation, and contribute to cost optimization initiatives across all global clinical trials. 

Quality, Compliance & Inspection Readiness 

• Ensure all global study management activities adhere strictly to ICH GCP guidelines, applicable global regulatory requirements and company SOPs. 
• Drive a culture of continuous audit and inspection readiness across all trial management activities.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Proven Track Record in Clinical Trial Delivery: Demonstrated track record of leading complex, global Phase I–IV clinical study execution across multiple therapeutic areas (Required).
• Deep experience of Oncology, Rare Disease or Neuroscience (preferred). 

• Functional Leadership Experience: Extensive leadership experience within a global study management or clinical operations organization in the biopharmaceutical industry or Clinical Research Organization (CRO). 

• Strategic Capability: A demonstrated track record of strategic functional leadership, organizational design, and departmental vision setting (Desirable). 

• Technical & Enterprise Balance: Demonstrated ability to manage complex technical details within the function while consistently maintaining a strategic enterprise perspective. 

• Strategic Partnering: Skilled at collaborating with Clinical Development and medical experts to translate scientific concepts into operationally viable study designs and execution plans. 

• Financial Acumen: Adept at constructing, analyzing, and optimizing functional workforce budgets in support of short- and mid-term planning activities 

• Self-Starter & Results-Driven: A highly motivated, resilient self-starter with a proactive approach to solving complex operational challenges. 

• Global Mindset & Flexibility: Proven capability to operate effectively across a matrixed global environment, requiring time zone flexibility to support multi-regional teams and study sites. 

• High-Performance Culture Builder: Demonstrated ability to inspire, motivate, and embed high-performance practices within a growing study management organization. 

• Communication & Influencing: Superior communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills, capable of influencing decisions at executive leadership levels. 

Required/Preferred Education and Licenses

• Bachelor’s degree in Life Sciences, Allied Health, or related field required; advanced degree (MS, PharmD, PhD, or MBA) strongly preferred. 

• Significant biopharmaceutical industry experience in clinical trial operations, with significant senior leadership responsibility in Global Study management. 

• Direct line management (required), including leadership of people managers (preferred) 

Closing date for applications is November 6