Leadership role: Director, Site Activation in Chennai. Scale centralized FSA operations, lead study start-up & drive global delivery. 10+ yrs exp in CRO/pharma & transformation required.
Lead the Transformation of Global Site Activation from India
ICON plc is a world-leading healthcare intelligence and clinical research organization. Our mission is to accelerate the development of drugs and devices that save lives and improve quality of life.
We are seeking a visionary and operationally rigorous Director of Site Activation (Feasibility, Study Start-Up, and Activation - FSA) to be based in our Chennai, India hub. This is a senior leadership position with a flexible office model, designed for a leader who excels at building, scaling, and optimizing centralized global operations. You will shape the strategy and execution of our FSA delivery model, driving efficiency, predictability, and quality to accelerate clinical trial timelines worldwide. This role is central to ICON's operational transformation, offering the chance to lead a high-impact function from a strategic global location.
Your Mission: Architect and Scale a World-Class FSA Engine
You will be accountable for developing and leading a centralized, scalable FSA operation that delivers consistent, high-quality study start-up and activation services across ICON's global portfolio. Your leadership will directly impact our ability to bring new therapies to patients faster.
Key Responsibilities
1. Strategic Leadership & Operational Scaling
- Develop and execute the strategic vision for centralized Feasibility, Study Start-Up, and Activation (FSA) operations to support global delivery.
- Build, scale, and lead high-performing teams in India, ensuring alignment with global business objectives and operational excellence standards.
- Establish effective operating models, business processes, and performance metrics that drive consistency and accelerate site activation timelines.
2. Drive Transformation & Continuous Improvement
- Lead large-scale process improvement and change management initiatives to enhance service quality, efficiency, and scalability.
- Identify and drive opportunities for process automation and technology adoption to increase productivity and operational visibility.
- Foster a culture of innovation, accountability, and continuous learning within the FSA team and across the matrix.
3. Global Stakeholder Partnership & Delivery Excellence
- Act as the senior counterpart and trusted advisor to internal and external partners, representing the FSA function at a global level.
- Partner with regional and global stakeholders in Clinical Operations, Project Leadership, and Business Development to ensure predictable outcomes and effective risk management.
- Ensure seamless project execution and contribute to organizational transformation goals by integrating FSA processes with broader clinical trial delivery.
Who You Are: The Ideal Leader
You are a seasoned operational leader with a proven track record of building and scaling centralized services in a complex, global environment. You are a strategic thinker, an influential partner, and a developer of talent who thrives on transformation and delivering measurable business impact.
Your Required Profile:
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Life Sciences, Business Administration, or a related discipline.
- Extensive experience (typically 10+ years) in a senior leadership role within a large global CRO or pharmaceutical organization, with direct responsibility for complex operational programs.
- Demonstrated success in establishing, scaling, and managing centralized operations (e.g., Study Start-Up, Site Activation, Feasibility) to support global delivery.
- Strong background in managing global programs and initiatives within a large, matrixed environment.
- Proven track record in driving operational transformation, process excellence, and change management.
- Exceptional stakeholder management and influence skills, with the ability to collaborate at senior executive levels.
- Strategic, solutions-oriented mindset with strong analytical and decision-making capabilities.
Good to Have:
- Direct experience implementing automation or technology solutions (e.g., workflow tools, AI) to enhance operational productivity.
- Deep expertise in study start-up processes, regulatory submissions, and site activation workflows.
Why Lead the FSA Function at ICON in Chennai?
1. Enterprise-Wide Impact
- Define the future operating model for a critical function that sits at the very beginning of every clinical trial.
- Have a direct, measurable impact on cycle times, cost efficiency, and study delivery success.
2. Leadership at Scale
- Build and lead a significant team within one of ICON's key global hubs, with visibility to the highest levels of the organization.
- Career pathway into Vice President and other senior operational leadership roles.
3. Office-Flex Model & Executive Benefits
- Work from our strategic Chennai hub with a flexible hybrid model.
- Highly competitive executive compensation package, including performance-based bonus and long-term incentives.
- Premium health insurance and comprehensive benefits for you and your family.
- Global Employee Assistance Programme and dedicated leadership development support.
Join Our Inclusive Leadership Mission
At ICON, we believe diverse leadership drives superior outcomes. We are committed to creating an accessible, inclusive environment and encourage all qualified leaders to apply.
Ready to architect the site activation engine of the future?
If you are a transformative leader passionate about scaling excellence in clinical operations, we want to hear from you. Apply now.
