Associate Director, Data Architect

Job Description

The Associate Director Data Architect (M-track) leads and develops a programming and reporting team - set goals assign work coach performance and manage recruiting/onboarding - while communicating status and risks to leadership and partners. Provide hands-on technical review solutioning support enforce SOPs/standards manage workload and prioritization track quality and timelines and drive best practices (code review reusable components test automation) and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities:

Programming and reporting

• Lead design and deployment of clinical technology system solutions (e.g. for EDC Electronic Data Capture RTSM Randomization and Trial Supply Management and eCOA/ePRO electronic Clinical Outcomes Assessment/ electronic Patient-Reported Outcomes) using programming frameworks and automation tools.
• Provide technical oversight for clinical programming reporting and data integration across portfolios.
• Recommend and implement tools to streamline design build and validation processes.
• Apply data literacy to design transformation strategies for actionable insights.
• Develop advanced reporting solutions (dashboards listings visual analytics) with reusable components and role-based access.

Data Engineering

• Define and govern integration architecture including data sources and transformation workflows.
• Ensure consistent implementation of enterprise standards and reusable assets.
• Monitor and troubleshoot data ingestion and consumption for reliability.
• Automate and strengthen data engineering processes to reduce risk and improve efficiency.
• Develop robust data models semantic layers and curated datasets; enforce quality checks.

Process

• Drive process optimization by identifying gaps and implementing improvements.
• Translate strategy into clear priorities roadmaps and ways of working for assigned domains.
• Lead testing strategies for solutions; automate validation and ensure traceability.
• Contribute to resource planning and workload distribution across global teams.
• Set documentation and audit standards; ensure compliance through rigorous change management.
• Lead cross-functional collaboration meetings and enterprise-level improvement programs.
• Influence adoption of data standards tools and automation for better delivery and decision-making.
• Provide leadership coaching and mentoring to build capabilities and foster a culture of quality and collaboration.
• Support release management across environments; align stakeholders lead UAT (User Acceptance Training) and improve reporting standards.
• Partner across teams to turn data and technical findings into clear actionable recommendations
• Act as a reliable partner to GDMS and other cross-functional teams actively seeking input aligning on priorities and closing feedback loops to drive high-quality coordinated delivery.

People management

• Align teams around a clear direction; set clear objectives aligned to organizational goals; assign work and set priorities accounting for work-life balance sustainability.
• Conduct regular check-ins and annual reviews; coach for performance; provide recognition.
• Develop career plans; create growth opportunities and promotion cases; ensure appropriate training and mentoring.
• Lead recruiting and hiring and oversee performance management activities including management of sensitive employee-relations matters in partnership with HR.
• Coordinate on-shore/off-shore and contingent resources; ensure role clarity and effective handoffs.
• Manage an operating budget and optimize spend against priorities.
• Inspires and ensures that team leaders are effectively supporting and empowering their individual leaders.

Technical skills:

• Expert-level proficiency in different technology languages (e.g. SQL Python SAS and R) for implementing clinical data collectors integrations transformations visualizations
• Evidence of experience in architecting and interoperability of EDC platforms data integration environments clinical operations systems and cloud computing platforms
• Proficiency with key data-management and/or clinical operations tools and platforms (e.g. systems for data capture review visualization reconciliation and reporting) with the ability to help select configure or optimize solutions.
• Broad understanding of the data-management technology ecosystem (e.g. data capture review reconciliation reporting analytics and enabling tools) and how components fit together across the end-to-end process.
• Experience leveraging automation scripting or digital solutions to streamline data-management activities and reduce manual effort.
• Ability to interpret operational and quality metrics use analytical/forecasting tools for capacity and scenario planning and translate insights into clear decisions and actions.
• Strong understanding of common clinical and regulatory data standards clinical operational data models metadata management and controlled terminologies (e.g. MedDRA WHODrug) to ensure consistency and submission readiness.
• Strong understanding of validation system lifecycle data-privacy and System Development Lifecycle Management activities
• Strong understanding of drug discovery process FDA regulations GxP / ICH guidelines
• Ability to connect business outcomes to technical deliverables

Non-technical skills:

• Strong ability to lead teams in a matrixed global organization while ensuring delivery excellence through effective problem-solving techniques
• Demonstrated success in coaching developing and performance-managing high-performing individuals
• Builds strong partnerships across technical business and quality functions to enhance collaboration and deliver integrated outcomes
• Balances business needs resource capacity and compliance requirements to make sound operational decisions
• Capable of leading teams through process and organizational transformation with empathy and clarity

Enterprise Leadership Skills:

• Execution Excellence Is results-focused per compliance standards; sets ambitious expectations for accomplishment and ensures others contribute to org strategies by focusing them on the most critical priorities; translates departmental goals into clear expectations
• Coaching and Development Manages individual contributors and/or supervisors provides technical guidance and develops others through coaching feedback and guidance
• Entrepreneurship Embraces patient customer focus ensuring that internal or external customer perspective is the driving force behind strategic priorities business decisions org processes and individual activities; crafts and implements service practices that meet customers and own organization needs

Qualifications & experience:

• Bachelors Degree with a minimum of 8 years experience working in clinical data programming data engineering or related data-management/clinical operations function as well as:

• 2 years people management experience.

• Demonstrated deep subject matter expertise in clinical development.

OR

• Advanced Degree (Masters or Doctorate) with a minimum of 4 years experience working in clinical data programming data engineering or related data-management/clinical operations functions as well as:

• 2 years people management experience.

• Demonstrated deep subject matter expertise in clinical development.

Headcount responsibility: 6-8

Required Skills:

Preferred Skills:

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