Associate Director, Clinical Operations Lead in Thatcham

CSL's R&D organization is accelerating innovation to deliver greater impact for patients. With a project-led structure and a focus on collaboration, we’re building a future-ready team that thrives in dynamic biotech ecosystems. Joining CSL now means being part of an agile team committed to developing therapies that make a meaningful difference worldwide.

The Associate Director Clinical Operations Lead is accountable for the development of the operational strategy for a clinical study(ies) and/or a clinical program(s) as well as the end-to-end study management and delivery of all operational activities and budget management relating to assigned clinical study(ies)/program(s). This role must be experienced in working in a matrix environment (internal and external partners) with cross-functional responsibilities associated with trial execution and overall therapeutic area clinical development planning. This role typically manages one or more studies/or products, often the more complex in size and scope with minimal oversight and may take on additional responsibilities as defined by the Senior Director Clinops Program Lead.

Main Responsibilities:

• Clinical Operations Strategy: Design and implement operational strategies, study management plans, and supporting documentation to drive study efficiency and quality (more complex studies). Continuously assess and improve clinical operations processes. Provide early input in CDP and study outline.
• Project Management & CRO oversight: Lead cross-functional study teams, coordinate with functional area representatives, and ensure timely execution of all study-related activities. Responsible for vendor selection/management/oversight, issue escalation, and inspection readiness.
• Stakeholder Management & Team Leadership: Lead and coordinate cross-functional teams, fostering collaboration among internal and external stakeholders (including vendors, investigators, and regulatory authorities). Act as the primary point of contact for all study-related matters, build and maintain strong relationships, mentor and support team members, and represent the study team in communications with senior management. Act in an advisory capacity to other clinops colleagues and ensure knowledge sharing across therapeutic areas.
• Budget Forecasting and Performance Management: Forecast, manage, and report on study budgets and key performance metrics, including study start-up, enrollment, and data collection timeliness/quality.
• End-to-End Clinical Study Management: Plan, manage, and execute more complex global clinical studies from protocol development through to Clinical Study Report (CSR) completion and Trial Master File (TMF) archiving. Oversee timelines, budgets, regulatory/GCP compliance, feasibility, country strategy, enrollment plans, and risk mitigation. Act as the primary point of contact both internally and externally (e.g., vendors) as applicable for anything study related. Maintain up to date knowledge of the therapeutic area/product candidate(s), clinical practice, competitors, and regulatory considerations. Support audits/inspections and resolutions of findings. Support in the development of new SOPs, guidelines etc and/or participate in working groups about new processes. Functional leadership and mentorship of junior staff required; Act in advisory capacity to other clinops colleagues within and across TAs. When accountable to a set of studies and/or program(s) provides oversight and direction, ensuring appropriate delegation and delivery, inter-program efficiencies and applied learnings.

Qualifications and Experience Requirements:

• At minimum, bachelor’s degree or equivalent in life science, nursing, pharmacy, medical laboratory technology, or other health/medical related area preferred. Other degrees and certifications considered if commensurate with related clinical research experience (e.g., diploma or associate degree RN, certified medical technologist).
• As a guide, a minimum of 10 years’ relevant clinical research (or related) experience within the pharmaceutical industry.
• Previous experience in leading and managing a team of professional staff.
• A solid understanding of the drug development process, and specifically, each step within the clinical trial process.
• Experience in overseeing large and/or complex global clinical trials.
• Robust budget forecasting and management experience.
• Thorough knowledge of ICH guidelines/GCP and its applicability to all stages of the clinical development process.

Competencies:

• Demonstrated ability to lead teams and work in a fast-paced team environment.
• Experienced in working within a Matrix Environment and ability to work through interpersonal difficulties and resolve conflicts with a Matrix Environment.
• Successfully demonstrated the ability to mentor and coach others through peer-to-peer interactions and to develop reporting personnel to grow in complex clinical project management capabilities.
• Ability to evaluate, judge and make decisions regarding staff.
• Ability to teach/coaching and setting an example of ‘best practice’.
• Excellent interpersonal and decision-making skills.
• Demonstrates innovation.
• Possesses drive, energy, and enthusiasm to deliver the program objectives.
• Skilled at independently navigating new or novel indications, study/program approaches, and unique challenges.
• Excellent understanding of all tasks involved in a clinical development program(s) from developing a protocol through to finalizing a clinical study report.
• Ability to plan and ensure execution and completion of clinical program(s) to the highest ethical and scientific standards.
• Extensive and comprehensive knowledge of ICH guidelines/GCP, maintains current medical/scientific/regulatory knowledge.
• Demonstrated project management skills including simultaneous management of multiple projects.
• Possesses excellent planning, time management & coordination skills.
• Demonstrated ability to problem solve and use clear judgment in relation to interactions with external parties, timelines, and complex clinical programs.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills and maintains computer literacy in appropriate software.

We are looking forward to receiving your online application. Applications must include a motivation letter and CV, as well as letters of references and copies of relevant transcripts and/or diplomas in the original language. Please include all these in one document together with the CV.

About CSL Behring

CSL Behring is a global biotherapeutics leader driven by our promise to save lives. Focused on serving patients’ needs by using the latest technologies, we discover, develop and deliver innovative therapies for people living with conditions in the immunology, hematology, cardiovascular and metabolic, respiratory, and transplant therapeutic areas. We use three strategic scientific platforms of plasma fractionation, recombinant protein technology, and cell and gene therapy to support continued innovation and continually refine ways in which products can address unmet medical needs and help patients lead full lives. CSL Behring operates one of the world’s largest plasma collection networks, CSL Plasma. Our parent company, CSL, headquartered in Melbourne, Australia, employs 32,000 people, and delivers its lifesaving therapies to people in more than 100 countries.