Internal Account Director (Recruitment & Retention)

Syneos Health® is a leading fully-integrated life sciences services organization built to accelerate customer success. We partner with innovators at every point across the drug development and commercialization continuum, helping them navigate complexity, anticipate change and accelerate progress. Our Clinical Solutions team members act with a drug development mindset, applying their years of experience and deep expertise to truly understand customer needs and represent those in the solutions we shape.

About the Role: Are you looking to lead strategies that accelerate access to life-saving therapies and transform the patient experience in clinical research? As an Internal Account Director, Recruitment & Retention (R&R), you will play a pivotal role in designing and delivering innovative enrollment and retention solutions for global clinical trials. This senior-level role seeks a proven leader in clinical trial recruitment with a demonstrated history of driving successful patient enrollment across complex therapeutic areas, combining strategic insight and operational excellence. You will collaborate across Clinical Trial Management, Project Leadership, R&R Operations, Data Science, Regulatory, and external vendor partners to ensure sponsors achieve enrollment targets on time and with quality. Acting as a trusted advisor, you will represent R&R services in Bid Defense Meetings, client discussions, and sponsor escalations—shaping strategies that directly impact trial success.

Core Responsibilities:

• Lead Recruitment Strategy: Own the development and execution of patient recruitment and retention plans (PRPs) from study start-up through close-out.
• Be the Sponsor’s Go-To Expert: Represent R&R solutions in Bid Defense Meetings, pre-award planning, and escalations.
• Cross-Functional Leadership: Partner with Clinical Trial Managers, Project Leads, Regulatory, Operations, and Data Scientists to deliver data-driven solutions.
• Enrollment Oversight: Track study progress, proactively manage risks, and implement mitigation strategies to protect timelines.
• Data & Vendor Management: Analyze performance trends, collaborate with vendors, and apply insights to optimize recruitment outcomes.
• Solution Innovation: Contribute to continuous improvement by sharing lessons learned, market insights, and client feedback.
• Strategic Partnerships: Build and sustain strong sponsor, site, and vendor relationships to ensure delivery excellence and repeat business.
• Mentorship & Growth: Provide guidance to colleagues and strengthen team capabilities as the group expands.

Qualifications:

• 8+ years of clinical research or clinical trial operations experience, with extensive focus on patient recruitment and retention.
• Minimum of 1–2 years in leadership or management roles.
• Proven track record of developing and executing successful, measurable recruitment strategies across therapeutic areas.
• Strong understanding of global R&R strategies, including decentralized trials, direct-to-patient outreach, and site-facing support.
• Ability to manage multiple, complex studies under tight timelines.
• Skilled in Microsoft Office Suite; familiarity with clinical trial technology platforms preferred.

Critical Skills:

• Strategic thinker with the ability to convert insights into actionable recruitment plans.
• Exceptional communicator and presenter, able to influence senior stakeholders and sponsors.
• Strong problem-solving and proactive risk management skills in dynamic clinical environments.
• Deep knowledge of cultural and regulatory factors affecting global patient recruitment.
• Flexible, innovative, and collaborative mindset with a focus on results.

Preferred Candidate Profile:

• Respected industry expert with a reputation for successfully delivering high-profile studies.
• Trusted advisor to sponsors who can confidently represent R&R strategies at the executive level.
• Proven innovator who has implemented new approaches to overcome enrollment challenges.
• Global strategist experienced in managing patient recruitment across multiple geographies, cultures, and regulatory landscapes.
• Strong collaborator and mentor who uplifts colleagues while driving accountability and results.