Managing Director in London

The VP, Managing Director (MD) serves as the strategic leader for a large anchor account or multiple strategic accounts. This role is accountable for profitable growth, operational excellence, and exceptional customer satisfaction – all while leveraging multiple playbooks. The Managing Director has the savvy to deeply know their accounts and act as a Protector, Builder, or Fixer — depending on the account’s health and growth opportunity.

This is an exciting and highly visible role that serves as an extension of the SYNH executive leadership team — positioned at the intersection of science, strategy, and execution. The VP, Managing Director directly shapes the company’s client relationships and commercial success by influencing our most strategic accounts and enabling cross-enterprise excellence. This leader has a tangible impact on the future direction of our business, helping to define how we partner with the industry’s most innovative clients to bring therapies to patients faster.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the executive relationship holder for assigned accounts, influencing at the C-suite and senior leadership levels.
• Operate as an extension of the executive team.
• Develop and execute multi-year account strategies that integrate the Account Protector, Builder, and Fixer playbooks based on account maturity and business context.
• Partner with internal stakeholders across delivery, operations, finance, and commercial to ensure alignment with customer objectives and consistent delivery of results.
• Identify, prioritize, and pursue new business opportunities through proactive engagement and tailored proposals.
• Lead and orchestrate cross-functional account teams to deliver high-impact results, ensuring accountability for financial performance, quality metrics, and customer satisfaction.
• The Managing Director holds ultimate accountability for the quality, consistency, and delivery of all work executed by cross-functional teams supporting their account.
• Apply a deep understanding of the customer’s ecosystem, decision‑making dynamics, and business objectives to anticipate risks, identify inflection points, and create innovative, data‑driven solutions that advance mutual success.
• Maintain a comprehensive view of the customer’s business landscape and proactively influence opportunities for growth — including expansion into new therapeutic areas, multi‑phase or multi‑country trial strategies, and adjacent service lines that strengthen partnership and long‑term value.
• Represent Syneos Health with credibility and executive presence, demonstrating a “GM mindset” and enterprise orientation.
• Provide thought leadership and contribute to strategic initiatives that strengthen the company’s market differentiation.

Core Competencies

• Playbook Agility: Ability to shift between “Protector,” “Builder,” and “Fixer” modes as account circumstances evolve.
• Commercial Acumen: Demonstrated ability to identify, shape, and win new business opportunities.
• Operational Leadership: Proven ability to drive delivery excellence and customer satisfaction.
• Strategic Thinking: Applies market insight and business analysis to inform decisions and identify new opportunities.
• Influence & Collaboration: Leads through influence across complex, matrixed teams and diverse stakeholders.
• Executive Presence: Trusted C‑suite advisor with strong communication, gravitas, and credibility at senior levels.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree (MBA, MS, PhD, or equivalent) in life sciences, business, or related field.
• Minimum 15 years of experience in clinical research, consulting, or strategic account management, with at least 8 years in leadership roles.
• Strong understanding of CRO operations, delivery models, and commercial practices.
• Demonstrated success in managing large‑scale, global accounts and driving growth.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Willingness to travel up to 50%.

Tasks, duties, and responsibilities as listed in this job description are not exhaustive. The Company, at its sole discretion and with no prior notice, may assign other tasks, duties, and job responsibilities. Equivalent experience, skills, and/or education will also be considered so qualifications of incumbents may differ from those listed in the Job Description. The Company, at its sole discretion, will determine what constitutes as equivalent to the qualifications described above. Further, nothing contained herein should be construed to create an employment contract. Occasionally, required skills/experiences for jobs are expressed in brief terms. Any language contained herein is intended to fully comply with all obligations imposed by the legislation of each country in which it operates, including the implementation of the EU Equality Directive, in relation to the recruitment and employment of its employees. The Company is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, including the provision of reasonable accommodations, when appropriate, to assist employees or applicants to perform the essential functions of the job.