Associate Program Director

Updated: October 19, 2026
Location: Atlanta, GA, United States
Job ID: 17296

Reporting to the Syneos Health National Business Director, the Associate Project Director (APD) provides leadership and operational oversight for assigned First Line Leaders and Sales Professionals within the franchise. The APD is accountable for delivering program results by driving business performance, ensuring operational execution, and developing and retaining talent in alignment with client and Syneos Health expectations.

Essential Functions

• Partner closely with the National Business Director, First Line Leaders, and cross-functional stakeholders to deliver project goals and client expectations.
• Lead, coach, and develop First Line Leaders through regular feedback, clear expectations, and targeted capability building to improve individual and team performance.
• Guide leaders in diagnosing performance gaps and executing timely action plans to optimize business results.
• Drive talent selection, onboarding, evaluation, and retention for Sales Professionals and First Line Leaders; conduct objective performance assessments and support development planning.
• Establish and execute retention strategies aligned to franchise objectives and workforce plans.
• Set a culture of ownership, accountability, and engagement by routinely communicating priorities, performance outcomes, and next-step actions; recognize results and reinforce expected behaviors.
• Provide strategic input to regional and territory plans; ensure alignment to brand/franchise strategy, analytics, and customer needs.
• Translate data and insights into clear, actionable recommendations by partnering with internal strategy and analytics resources.
• Proactively identify risks and opportunities; apply rigorous problem framing to recommend solutions that improve effectiveness and efficiency.
• Maintain operational oversight and ensure adherence to all promotional, legal, regulatory, and compliance requirements.
• Monitor budgets (including promotional and T&E spend) in alignment with client policies; prepare analyses and summaries to support budget neutrality.
• Recommend solutions to client issues that maximize revenue, improve efficiency, and control costs; understand management fee structures and identify opportunities to improve profitability.
• Travel is required to support Syneos Health events, client needs, and home office priorities.

Requirements

• 15+ years of progressive experience in pharmaceutical sales and sales leadership, including: (a) 5+ years managing sales representatives and (b) 2+ years managing First Line Leaders; experience leading cross-functional workstreams or functional roles (e.g., Operations, Training, Marketing) strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to identify high-impact strategies, develop business plans within an approved strategy, and engage teams to execute.
• Strong cross-functional influence, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Proficiency in interpreting performance data and translating insights into clear actions and recommendations.
• Working knowledge of promotional compliance expectations and ability to operate effectively in regulated environments.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Valid driver’s license and acceptable driving record.

At Syneos Health, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace. At times, we will consider transferable skills from previous roles.

Why Syneos Health?

Here, the work is challenging, and the pace is exhilarating. By joining one of our commercial teams, you’re empowered to succeed with the support, resources, and autonomy that you need. The diversification and breadth of our new and existing partnerships create a multitude of career paths and employment opportunities. Syneos Health has launched more sales teams in the last 5 years across all major therapeutic areas than the top 25 pharma companies combined. Join our game-changing, global company dedicated to creating better, smarter, faster ways to get biopharmaceutical therapies to patients. Experience the thrill of knowing that your everyday efforts are contributing to improving patients’ lives around the world.

Syneos Health companies are affirmative action/equal opportunity employers (Minorities/Females/Veterans/Disabled)

Benefits

• Competitive compensation package
• Health benefits to include Medical, Dental and Vision
• Company match 401k
• Flexible paid time off (PTO) and sick time
• Eligibility for paid sick time may vary depending on where you work

Discover what our more than 25,000 employees already know: work here matterseverywhere. We work hard,and smart, all in the name of getting much-needed therapies to thosewho need them most. A career with Syneos Health means your everyday workimprovespatients’ lives around the world. Selecting us as an employer secures acareer inwhich you’re guaranteed to:

Syneos Health® is a leading fully integrated biopharmaceutical solutions organization builtto accelerate customer success. We translate unique clinical, medical affairs and commercialinsights into outcomes to address modern market realities. To learn more visit syneoshealth.com .

Syneos Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receiveconsideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, marital status,ethnicity, national origin, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, protectedveteran status, disability or any other legally protected status and will not bediscriminated against. If you are an individual with a disability who requires reasonableaccommodation to complete any part of our application process, including the use of thiswebsite, please contact us at: Email: [emailprotected] One of our staff members willwork with you to provide alternate means to submit your application.