Director, Biotech Strategy Lead - CNS/ Rare Disease

Biotech Strategy Lead- CNS/ Rare Disease - US - REMOTE

ICON is a global healthcare intelligence and clinical research organisation united by a mission to bring new medicines and treatments to patients faster.

As a values-driven organisation, integrity, collaboration, agility, and inclusion are at the heart of how we work and interact with each other, customers, patients and suppliers.

As a Director, Biotech Strategy Lead, CNS/ Rare Disease, you will play a key role in shaping innovative clinical development strategies and solutions for biotechnology clients, with a specific focus on CNS/ Rare Disease. Acting as a strategic advisor, CNS/ Rare Disease therapeutic area expert, and thought leader, you will bring deep understanding of CNS/ Rare Disease drug development, clinical operations, and the biotech environment to create differentiated solutions that address client needs and support business growth.

You will partner across Business Development, Operations, Medical, Scientific, Finance, and senior leadership teams to shape opportunity strategy, engage clients, support proposals and bid defenses, and translate CNS/ Rare Disease-focused clinical development strategies into successful operational delivery. This is a highly influential individual contributor role requiring the ability to lead through therapeutic expertise, strategic thinking, collaboration, and influence within a complex global matrix.

What you will do

• Shape differentiated CNS/ Rare Disease clinical development and operational strategies for biotechnology opportunities, translating client objectives, development plans, and scientific requirements into innovative, practical, and commercially competitive solutions.
• Serve as a strategic advisor and CNS/ Rare Disease therapeutic area expert during client engagements, opportunity assessments, capability presentations, proposal strategy discussions, and bid defenses.
• Lead the strategic development of proposals and solutions, partnering across Business Development, Operations, Finance, Medical, Scientific, and CNS/ Rare Disease teams to develop compelling responses to RFIs, RFPs, budgets, and other client requirements.
• Build trusted relationships with biotech clients, developing a deep understanding of their CNS/ Rare Disease pipelines, development priorities, and business objectives while identifying opportunities to expand strategic partnerships and portfolios.
• Provide strategic oversight from solution development through execution, evaluating operational feasibility, financial assumptions, risks, KPIs, KRIs, quality indicators, and performance data to help ensure proposed strategies translate effectively into clinical delivery.
• Apply deep CNS/ Rare Disease and drug development expertise to business strategy, providing insight into evolving development approaches, scientific and clinical trends, operational challenges, competitive dynamics, and changing client needs within the CNS/ Rare Disease market.
• Strengthen ICON's CNS/ Rare Disease positioning and capabilities through cross-functional collaboration, continuous improvement, knowledge sharing, and participation in client meetings, conferences, webinars, scientific forums, and other thought leadership activities.
  

Your profile

• Bachelor's degree in Life Sciences, Business Administration, or a related discipline; a scientific or biological sciences background is highly valued.
• Approximately 9 or more years of experience within the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, CRO, clinical research, or drug development environment, with significant exposure to clinical development and trial operations.
• Demonstrated CNS/ Rare Disease therapeutic area expertise, with a strong understanding of CNS/ Rare Disease drug development, clinical development strategies, study design considerations, and operational challenges within the biotech environment.
• Demonstrated experience supporting business development activities, including proposal strategy, opportunity assessment, client presentations, bid defenses, and development of differentiated client solutions.
• Experience translating scientific, clinical, operational, and commercial considerations into strategic solutions that are both operationally feasible and responsive to the needs of CNS/ Rare Disease biotech clients.
• Proven ability to lead complex cross-functional initiatives and influence stakeholders within a global, matrixed organization without relying on direct reporting-line authority.
• Executive-level communication, presentation, negotiation, and relationship-management skills, with the ability to engage senior client and internal stakeholders and confidently represent CNS/ Rare Disease strategies and recommendations.
• Strong business acumen, analytical thinking, sound judgment, and the ability to assess development challenges, business risks, financial considerations, and operational performance to inform strategic decision-making.
• Live in the US and able to travel approximately 25% based on business and client needs.

Employment with ICON is contingent upon having the legal right to work in the country where the role is based.

Rewards & Benefits

ICON offers a competitive and comprehensive total rewards package designed to support your health, wellbeing, and career development.

Benefits may include:

• Competitive base salary and performance related incentives
• Health and wellbeing programmes including medical, dental, and vision coverage where applicable
• Retirement and pension plans
• Life assurance and disability coverage
• Employee assistance programmes and wellbeing resources
• Learning and development opportunities through structured training and career pathways

Benefits may vary depending on role and location.

Visit our careers site to read more about the benefits ICON offers.

Inclusion and Accessibility

ICON is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to building an inclusive and accessible workplace where everyone feels valued and supported.

If you require reasonable accommodations during the recruitment process, please let us know or submit a request here.

Are you a current ICON Employee? Please click here to apply

About Us

ICON is an award-winning workplace that enables you to make a difference to patients’ lives by being part of a world-class clinical research organisation that helps deliver new medicines & medical devices that are benefitting patients worldwide. You are also part of a diverse company that cares about our world and is dedicated to conducting business more sustainably and supporting the communities in which we live.

If you’re as driven as we are, join us. You’ll be working in a great environment, with some of the brightest and the friendliest people in the sector, and you’ll be helping shape an industry.