Sr. Strategic Operations Director
Durham, NCFull-time$123–344K/yrSeen todaySeen in employer's feed today
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Job overview
The Sr. Strategic Operations Director leads operational governance and strategic account initiatives for a designated customer portfolio of development assets. The role oversees projects, customer account operations, resource forecasting, and delivery against metrics, milestones, and contractual obligations. It also serves as the primary operational contact and relationship manager for the customer, supports sales initiatives, and requires 25% travel.
Skills & qualifications
Skills
Qualifications
Benefits
Full job description
Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
Full time
R1565832
To be eligible for this position, you must reside in the same country where the job is located.
Job Overview
Leads the governance of assets, resources, technology and processes required to support the designated customer portfolio of Assets (defined as compounds in development). In this capacity the individual will additionally seek to provide oversight of all projects as well as lead the operational governance committee.
Essential Functions
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Lead strategic planning, direction and support to business/strategic development initiatives for designated customer.
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Lead member of the strategic Account Management team; responsible for leading key SAM initiatives.
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Lead member of the Strategic Account Management (SAM) team; responsible for leading key SAM initiatives.
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Directs the designated customer account globally to provide leadership oversight to customer and IQVIA assigned project teams and lead the development of and adherence by all project teams to an operations manual specific to the designated customer account for all product development projects.
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Accountable for the development and management against key customer rules of engagement and/or operational norms.
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Direct the delivery against key metrics, milestones, and contractual obligations for a portfolio of projects to encompass expectation setting and management against quality, time and financial objectives (e.g. project & portfolio margin targets).
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Serve as the primary operational management contact globally to the designated customer account; responsible for driving and ensuring appropriate communication channels are maintained and key customer expectations transcend the organization and are adhered to across the portfolio of projects.
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Lead the review of a customer pipeline, opportunities pending, and future customer needs in support of the quarterly development of resource forecasts for delivery to the cost centers providing resources to the designated customer account (e.g. project management, QLAB, Phase I, ECG, data management, clinical operations, biostatistics, etc).
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Act as the key relationship manager for designated customer; serve as the primary management holder for a designated customer escalation plan, recommend courses of action regarding client management issues; implement requisite action plans.
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Serve as a member of the designated customer Operations and Governance Committee(s).
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Team member responsible for participation in the development and support of customer sales initiatives; activities to include, proposal and budget development, commercial feasibility of potential programs and impact on company operations and goals.
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Lead, oversee and manage the enterprise to ensure global customer best practices are adhered to by individuals assigned to projects for the designated customer account.
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Lead, oversee and manage the enterprise to ensure the IQVIA transformational and business practices are adhered to by individuals assigned to projects for the designated customer account.
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Perform other duties as assigned.
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25% travel is required (based on location).
Qualifications
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Other Degree in Life Science, Business Management or related field Req
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15 years in the pharmaceutical, CRO, or related industry, experience to include clinical operations, CRA, Commercial and /or alternative operational functional (e.g. business development, data management, project management, laboratory, pre-clinical) Req Or
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Equivalent combination of education, training and experience Req
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Demonstrated knowledge of contractual obligations and processes and customer accounts.
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Excellent motivation, team building and leadership skills.
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Excellent presentation and negotiation skills.
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Excellent communication skills.
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Good problem-solving skills.
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Demonstrated ability to deliver results to the appropriate quality and timeline metrics.
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Strong influencing and negotiation skills.
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Excellent customer service skills.
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Sound judgment and decision-making skills.
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Strong software and computer skills, including MS Office applications.
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Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with coworkers, managers and clients.
IQVIA is a leading global provider of clinical research services, commercial insights and healthcare intelligence to the life sciences and healthcare industries. We create intelligent connections to accelerate the development and commercialization of innovative medical treatments to help improve patient outcomes and population health worldwide. Learn more at https://jobs.iqvia.com
IQVIA is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by applicable law. https://jobs.iqvia.com/eoe
IQVIA is committed to integrity in our hiring process and maintains a zero tolerance policy for candidate fraud. All information and credentials submitted in your application must be truthful and complete. Any false statements, misrepresentations, or material omissions during the recruitment process will result in immediate disqualification of your application, or termination of employment if discovered later, in accordance with applicable law. We appreciate your honesty and professionalism.
The potential base pay range for this role, when annualized, is $123,400.00 - $343,800.00. The actual base pay offered may vary based on a number of factors including job-related qualifications such as knowledge, skills, education, and experience; location; and/or schedule (full or part-time). Dependent on the position offered, incentive plans, bonuses, and/or other forms of compensation may be offered, in addition to a range of health and welfare and/or other benefits.
IQVIA is a leading global provider of clinical research services, commercial insights and healthcare intelligence to the life sciences and healthcare industries. We create connections that accelerate the development and commercialization of innovative medical treatments. Everything we do is part of a journey to improve patient outcomes and population health worldwide.
To get there, we seek out diverse talent with curious minds and a relentless commitment to innovation and impact. No matter your role, everyone at IQVIA contributes to our shared goal of helping customers improve the lives of patients everywhere. Thank you for your interest in growing your career with us.
EEO Minorities/Females/Protected Veterans/Disabled
How this job compares
Set against the 11,962 open Account Management jobs on Olive Jobs, counted November 4, 2026.
- Pay
- This posting$123–344K/yr
- North Carolina median$100–159K/yr168 salary ranges
- US median$100–150K/yr8,030 salary ranges
This range's midpoint, $234K, is 80% above the North Carolina median midpoint ($130K) — in the top quarter of Account Management salary ranges in North Carolina.
- Openings
- Olive Jobs lists 310 open Account Management jobs in North Carolina and 11,962 across the US. 13% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
- Hiring the most in North Carolina
- Accenture8 open
- Elevance Health8 open
- Lowe's7 open
- Experience
- This posting asks for at least 15 years of experience — more than three in four Account Management postings that state a minimum ask for (median 5 years, across 9,057 postings).
- Education
- 2,959 of the 11,962 open Account Management jobs (25%) ask for a bachelor's degree or higher.
Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on November 4, 2026. Pay medians are the middle values of the low ends and of the high ends of postings that list both ends of a range in the same cadence (a yearly salary or an hourly rate); a range's midpoint is halfway between its ends. Pay and experience figures resting on fewer than 20 postings are left out.
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