Therapeutic Strategy Lead / Director, Rare Diseases

IQVIA™ is the leading human data science company focused on helping healthcare clients find unparalleled insights and better solutions for patients. Formed through the merger of IMS Health and Quintiles, IQVIA offers a broad range of solutions that harness the power of healthcare data, domain expertise, transformative technology, and advanced analytics to drive healthcare forward.

JOB OVERVIEW

Experienced, consultative leader responsible for driving early engagement and proposals aligned with client needs and in collaboration with business development and other stakeholders. The Therapeutic Strategy Lead will drive solutions and help to develop and deliver proposals with market-leading solutions and capabilities. The TSL will serve as a Therapeutic Strategy Lead and Operational Expert throughout the rare disease business and program/project delivery lifecycle to increase IQVIAs therapeutic market share with early engagement and innovative strategic responses to proposals. The TSL also will be responsible for translating the therapeutic and operational strategy to the project teams once the new business is awarded.

This pivotal role represents and demonstrates IQVIA’s credibility with clients, furthering the R&DS business by designing innovative, market-leading solutions to secure new projects. Drawing on dedicated proposal development, technical and scientific support, the TSL will lead cross-functional teams in designing such solutions and ensure projects are set up to be successful from proposal development through to award. The TSL may work closely with account teams to build strategic client relationships.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Business Growth and Client Engagement:

• Leverage IQVIA medical, scientific, operational and data science experts to determine the optimal solution, project design and lead a cross-functional team in proposal development through to award
• Work with account teams to pro-actively develop and shape new business opportunities across a full portfolio of RDS offerings. The TSL will be responsible for the development of specific client-centric solutions to support business growth.
• Partner with business development and other functions to support an increase in the number of RFPs, decision rates and award of strategic and tactical new business to increase market share and achieve annual Gross New Business targets.
• Contribute and support client meetings and partnership meetings in collaboration with the therapeutic centers of excellence to increase long term enterprise growth through therapeutic and operational strategy differentiation
• Champion and advocate the key business objectives and include existing and new innovative solutions as applicable and appropriate through the sales process. This may include, but is not limited to, stand-alone programs and projects, requests for information (RFI), capabilities, and early engagement. Increase the number of early engagements opportunities to drive growth and non-competitive awards.

Strategy Development:

• As a leader of the pre-award strategy team, the TSL is accountable and responsible for the creation of innovative, effective and compelling therapeutic and operational strategies. The strategies must meet our customer needs, differentiate, and expedite clinical research programs for the benefit of our patients. Work with key internal stakeholders and pre/post-award teams to analyze information and data that enables the development of efficient and feasible delivery solutions. This may include, but is not limited to, protocol feasibility and risk management, assessment and management of the competitive landscape, optimal country and site distributions,  site and patient recruitment strategies, monitoring and vendor strategies.
• Review of the project budget (labor and pass-through costs) associated with the proposed delivery strategy. The budget should be competitive and in line with the contribution margin targets and pricing strategy agreed with Sales, Project Leadership, and other stakeholders.
• Actively develop and contribute to proposal text. Ensure overall proposal document is tailored to the specific needs of the client. 
•  Actively support Sales in the preparation and conduct of client and bid defense meetings, e.g. training and preparation of the assigned project team; provide specific content; ensure presentation focus and content effectively conveys project strategy and critical win themes. Attend and present at client meetings and bid defense meetings, if required, (based on the strategy for selling the opportunity).  Work with Sales on follow-up actions as needed.

Strategy Translation and Post Award Support

• Translate the awarded strategy to the delivery team and be an available resource for the delivery team when changes to strategy are required. Guide and mentor assigned Project Leader through a comprehensive handover of the project strategy and facilitate their understanding so that they can confidently present the project strategy to the client and internal stakeholders. This may extend to other assigned team members depending on the complexities and/or nuances of the strategy.  
• Provide strategic guidance and support to project leadership in the post-award phase

All responsibilities are essential job functions unless noted as nonessential (N).

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Remain up to date with knowledge and information that supports effectiveness as a Therapeutic Strategy Lead e.g. understanding IQVIA’ services, tools, and product offerings, status, and trends in assigned TA(s), innovations and advances in clinical trial methodology, and business intelligence.
• Broad protocol and therapeutic knowledge
• Strong understanding of other IQVIA departments and functions
• Proven ability to make decisions with limited information, bringing clarity to disparate information to inform actions and drive results
• Experience working productively in a pressurized environment, managing competing priorities and maintaining a positive outlook at work; handles criticism well and learns from it
• Comprehensive global knowledge, awareness, and practical understanding of the biopharma industry, drug development lifecycle, and operational clinical trial delivery
• Robust and current knowledge of scientific, clinical, regulatory, commercial and competitive landscape in applicable therapeutic area
• In depth knowledge of, and skill in applying, applicable clinical research regulatory requirements; e.g., Good Clinical Practice (GCP) and International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) guidelines
• Demonstrated ability to understand client needs, have difficult conversations with internal/external stakeholders and clients, negotiate solutions and understand impacts on the overall offering
• Strong communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills, including good command of English language (both written and spoken)
• Strong experience in presenting successfully to internal stakeholders and externally to Clients and can simply translate difficult and complex scenarios to gain support and approval.
• Strong leadership skills, ability to work with minimal supervision, and lead a virtual team in a matrix organization. 
• Innovative and strategic thinker
• Strong business acumen including confidence with financial considerations, excellent negotiation and influencing skills, and comfort working in both sales and operational environments
• Flexible and able to work in situations where specifications may or may not be well defined and willing to support work in other therapeutic areas when required
• Confident and capable in the use of technology, applications, and other media e.g. databases and internet to research new opportunities, remain current on therapeutic and operational knowledge and competitive landscape.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with a wide network of individuals, e.g. co-workers, managers and clients
• Effective mentoring and training skills, fostering learning and knowledge sharing with colleagues

MINIMUM REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor's degree in life sciences, advanced degree preferred, with extensive knowledge of rare diseases (additional Therapeutic expertise would be a plus) and 12 years’ global clinical research experience, including hands-on operational delivery and/or drug development experience; or equivalent combination of education, training and experience
• Proven track record in operational delivery and/or drug development involvement

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

May require frequent travel

Join Us

Making a positive impact on human health takes insight, curiosity, and intellectual courage. It takes brave minds, pushing the boundaries to transform healthcare. Regardless of your role, you will have the opportunity to play an important part in helping our clients drive healthcare forward and ultimately improve outcomes for patients.

Forge a career with greater purpose, make an impact, and never stop learning.

IQVIA is an EEO Employer - Minorities/Females/Protected Veterans/Disabled

IQVIA, Inc. provides reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities.  Applicants who require reasonable accommodation to submit an application for employment or otherwise participate in the application process should contact IQVIA’s Talent Acquisition team at workday_recruiting@iqvia.com to arrange for such an accommodation.