Senior Director, Project Management - Health & Life Sciences (Remote, US-based only)

Who We Are

Escalent is an award-winning data analytics and advisory firm that helps clients understand human and market behaviors to navigate disruption. As catalysts of progress for more than 40 years, our strategies guide the world’s leading brands. We accelerate growth by creating a seamless flow between primary, secondary, syndicated, and internal business data, providing consulting and advisory services from insights through implementation. Based on a profound understanding of what drives human beings and markets, we identify actions that build brands, enhance customer experiences, inspire product innovation and boost business productivity. We listen, learn, question, discover, innovate, and deliver—for each other and our clients—to make the world work better for people.

Role Overview

The Senior Director, Project Management leads the Project Management functions of primary market research and operations for Escalent Global Health & Life Sciences, providing operational direction for a department that includes multiple project management teams. This US-based role is accountable for ensuring that client work across the department and geographic regions is delivered consistently on time, at a high level of quality, and in alignment with agreed scope, budget, process, and financial expectations. The Senior Director is also expected to lead and manage individual projects, as needed, as well as support the commercial process including proposal cost estimating and contracting.

As a Senior Director-level leader, this position owns the short- to mid-term execution of the Project Management functional strategy, typically over a one- to three-year horizon. The Senior Director translates business, client, and functional priorities into operating plans, staffing and resource approaches, process expectations, and performance goals for the department.

The Senior Director contributes to client satisfaction, retention, operational discipline, and financial performance by leading through Managers and/or Team Leaders, influencing cross-functional partners, and communicating effectively with executive leadership. Problems faced are often complex and require extensive investigation, analysis, stakeholder alignment, and sound decision-making

The Salary Range for this position is $120,000 - $135,000. If this is not the right level for you, please check out our other postings. If this is not the right level for you, please check out our other postings. For this remote position, must be based in the United States.

Key Responsibilities

Department Leadership & Functional Strategy

• Own the short- to mid-term execution of the Project Management functional strategy for Escalent Health & Life Sciences, translating business priorities into operational plans, goals, and measurable outcomes.
• Provide operational direction for a global department that includes multiple project management teams led by Managers and/or Team Leaders.
• Set department-level goals, objectives, operating expectations, and performance measures to support project delivery, quality, financial stewardship, client service, and team development.
• Lead, coach, and develop Managers and/or Team Leaders, ensuring they are equipped to guide their teams, manage priorities, address performance needs, and build project management capability.
• Ensure Project Management policies, practices, procedures, compliance expectations, pharmacovigilance, including audit readiness, and quality standards are understood, adopted, and consistently followed by direct reports, team members, vendors, clients, and stakeholders.

Project, Client & Executive Leadership

• Oversee end-to-end Global Primary Research Health & Life Sciences project delivery across multiple teams and client engagements, ensuring effective project kickoff, timeline planning, scope management, budget monitoring, resource coordination, vendor management, and milestone/client communications.
• Partner with leaders across Insights & Consulting, Sales & Strategic Growth, Operations, Finance, and Centers of Excellence to support accurate bids, cost estimates, resource plans, delivery approaches, and business priorities.
• Serve as a senior project management leader who ensures the function “keeps the trains on schedule,” with department-level oversight of scope, time, cost, quality, resources, and risk.
• Communicate and influence executive leadership on project delivery priorities, operational risks, resource needs, process improvements, and recommended practices or approaches.
• Influence clients, colleagues, vendors, Managers, Team Leaders, and senior stakeholders to align around effective project management practices, delivery standards, and solutions.
• Provide consultative project management guidance to clients and internal leaders, leveraging expertise in Escalent solutions, research operations, Health & Life Sciences delivery models, and project execution.

Operational Excellence & Complex Problem Solving

• Identify, investigate, and resolve complex operational and project delivery issues related to timelines, scope, budget, quality, pharmacovigilance, staffing, vendor performance, stakeholder alignment, or client expectations.
• Use data, tools, analysis, stakeholder input, and sound judgment to evaluate complex problems, determine root causes, assess options, and recommend practical solutions.
• Drive consistent project management practices, documentation standards, status reporting, risk management, financial stewardship, and continuous process improvement across the department.
• Maintain accountability for project financial performance, including budget management, margin considerations, resource utilization, and cost-effective delivery approaches.
• Anticipate operational risks and capacity needs across the department, recommending adjustments to priorities, staffing, workflow, process, or escalation paths as needed.

What Success Looks Like

• The Project Management team has clear goals, operating expectations, performance measures, and delivery standards that align with Global Health & Life Sciences business priorities.
• Managers and/or Team Leaders are effectively leading their teams, developing talent, managing priorities, and supporting consistent execution.
• Projects are delivered on time, within scope, on budget, and with a strong focus on quality, client satisfaction, and financial outcomes. Cost estimates are accurate and continually reviewed to optimize proposal pricing.
• Complex delivery issues are investigated thoroughly, resolved effectively, and used to strengthen processes, communication, and decision-making.
• Clients, internal partners, vendors, and executive leaders experience proactive communication, credible recommendations, and strong project management leadership.
• Escalent project management practices, policies, and procedures are applied consistently across multiple global teams and engagements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field required. Advanced degree preferred. Equivalent combinations of education and experience will be considered.
• Typically requires 10+ years of project management, research operations, consulting, healthcare, life sciences, data collection, or related professional services experience, including experience leading teams or functions.
• Experience managing Managers, Team Leaders, or multiple global project teams is highly preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to translate functional strategy into operating plans, department goals, resource approaches, and measurable outcomes.
• Strong experience managing complex project delivery issues, including scope, schedule, budget, quality, stakeholder alignment, vendor performance, and resource constraints.
• Proven ability to communicate with and influence executive leadership, senior stakeholders, clients, cross-functional partners, and teams to adopt effective practices and approaches.
• Strong expertise in project financial management, vendor management, research operations, project execution, and continuous process improvement, with extensive experience implementing compliant operational processes and partnering with internal subject matter experts (SMEs) to ensure adherence to corporate policies, client requirements, life sciences regulations, and industry standards.
• Breadth of research methodology knowledge and experience, including quantitative, qualitative, and/or data collection methodologies. Experience within Health & Life Sciences research environments is preferred.
• PMP certification or formal project management training preferred.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint as well as AI tools and software. Experience with project management software is preferred.

Skills & Attributes

People who excel in this role are:

• Strategic operators who can translate functional priorities into practical execution plans.
• Experienced leaders who can lead through Managers and/or Team Leaders while maintaining visibility to operational performance and client outcomes as well as manage individual projects as needed.
• Strong communicators who build credibility with executive leadership, clients, colleagues, vendors, and senior stakeholders.
• Influential change leaders who can align others around practices, approaches, standards, and process improvements.
• Analytical problem solvers who can investigate complex issues, evaluate options, and recommend sound solutions.
• Highly organized, process-oriented leaders who can manage multiple teams, projects, risks, and competing priorities simultaneously.
• Collaborative, professional, and situationally aware, particularly in client-facing and executive-facing environments.
• Calm under pressure, detail-oriented, and committed to execution excellence, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Experienced in successfully coaching and mentoring team members to facilitate skills development and career growth.

Compensation, Benefits, and Culture

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance - Large carriers on a national level (domestic partner coverage included)
• 401k with Company Match
• Flexible PTO - Feel no guilt in taking off a minimum of 3 weeks of “real” vacation time
• Paid Parental Leave
• 12 Paid Company Holidays
• Hybrid/Virtual Work - Virtual-first workforce with employees in most states
• Base salary range for this role is $120,000 - $135,000

EEO/AA EMPLOYER M/F/V/D

Equal Opportunity Employer: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, age, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information, or other legally protected status.

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