Director, Account Management – Partnership Build & Optimization

Director, Account Management – Partnership Build & Optimization

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.

Position Summary

The Director, Account Management within the Strategic Partnership & Integration Solutions Team serves as a partnership build methodology expert and drives all aspects of partnership infrastructure creation and optimization. Collaborating with other key ICON and externally facing partnership leaders, this role engages early in the process to directly understand partnership needs, offers best practice recommendations, and negotiates and designs fit-for-purpose partnership build plans. This role drives partnership implementation activities, ensuring that partnership infrastructure, governance, processes, technology, and stakeholder requirements are established effectively and delivered on time and to a high standard of quality.

This role ensures successful partnership launch, sustainability, and ongoing optimization.

Key Responsibilities

• Partnership Early Engagement Activities

• Contribute to RFIs / RFPs with partnership content

• Contribute to partnership level bid defenses

• Engage with key partnership level internal and external leaders to understand partnership needs in order to develop a fit-for-purpose infrastructure

• Work with the partnership Commercial Lead and Partnership Relationship Lead to ensure opportunities for all ICON services are highlighted for the partnership

• Partnership Build & Optimization

• Develop comprehensive partnership build and optimization plans tailored to the needs of each strategic partnership

• Define workstreams, milestones, dependencies, deliverables, timelines, and success measures

• Establish governance structures, stakeholder engagement maps and plans, communication frameworks, and operational processes required for partnership success

• Continuously evaluate partnership performance and identify opportunities for optimization and efficiency improvements

• Build Execution & Delivery

• Lead the implementation of partnership build and optimization plans from initiation through completion

• Drive timely completion of all build activities while maintaining high standards of quality and compliance

• Monitor progress against agreed milestones, proactively identifying risks, issues, and mitigation strategies

• Ensure all partnership deliverables are completed, documented, and transitioned effectively into business-as-usual operations

• Stakeholder & Client Engagement

• Serve as a primary point of contact for partnership build and optimization activities

• Build and maintain strong working relationships with sponsors, and internal cross-functional stakeholders and key partnership leaders

• Facilitate effective decision-making through clear communication, issue resolution, and escalation management

• Provide regular status updates, executive-level reporting, and progress communications to stakeholders

• Partnership Kick-Off & Logistics Management

• Design, propose, and facilitate Partnership Build Kick-Off Meetings

• Define meeting objectives, agendas, and expected outcomes to ensure successful partnership mobilization

• Oversee build logistics, including stakeholder participation, meeting schedules, communications, documentation, and action tracking

• Oversee support activities and ensure effective coordination of administrative and operational tasks

• Partnership Framework / Infrastructure

• Ensure alignment between client expectations and internal delivery teams

• Deliver and effectively roll out a customized, sustainable partnership framework

• Ensure maintenance of the built infrastructure through appropriate transitions and guidance materials

• Maintain periodic follow up with partnership leaders following build transitions to ensure optimization

• Re-engage as needed for partnership optimization activities

• Continuous Improvement & Best Practices

• Design partnership level health assessments, analyze results, and provide guidance on action plans

• Apply established partnership methodologies, tools, templates, and best practices across engagements

• Capture partnership level lessons learned and incorporate continuous improvement opportunities into future partnership builds

• Contribute to the development and enhancement of SPIS partnership frameworks, standards, and operating models

• Support the advancement of scalable partnership management capabilities across the organisation

• Required Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree

• Minimum of 5 years’ experience leading complex cross-functional initiatives, partnership implementations, program delivery, or operational transformation efforts

• Minimum of 5 years’ direct operational experience – broad working experience of operational processes involved working directly with clients in a portfolio / partnership leadership environment

• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities, stakeholders, and deadlines simultaneously

• Strong project planning, organization, and execution skills

• Excellent communication, facilitation, presentation, and stakeholder management abilities

• Experience driving initiatives through influence rather than direct authority

• Demonstrated ability to identify risks, solve problems, and deliver results in dynamic environments

What ICON can offer you:

• Our success depends on the quality of our people. That’s why we’ve made it a priority to build a diverse culture that rewards high performance and nurtures talent.

• In addition to your competitive salary, ICON offers a range of additional benefits. Our benefits are designed to be competitive within each country and are focused on well-being and work life balance opportunities for you and your family.

Our benefits examples include:

• Various annual leave entitlements

• A range of health insurance offerings to suit you and your family’s needs

• Competitive retirement planning offerings to maximize savings and plan with confidence for the years ahead

• Global Employee Assistance Programme, LifeWorks, offering 24-hour access to a global network of over 80,000 independent specialized professionals who are there to support you and your family’s well-being

• Life assurance

• Flexible country-specific optional benefits, including childcare vouchers, bike purchase schemes, discounted gym memberships, subsidized travel passes, health assessments, among others

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

• At ICON, inclusion & belonging are fundamental to our culture and values. We’re dedicated to providing an inclusive and accessible environment for all candidates. ICON is committed to providing a workplace free of discrimination and harassment. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.

• If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process, or in order to perform the essential functions of a position, please let us know or submit a request here

• Interested in the role, but unsure if you meet all of the requirements? We would encourage you to apply regardless – there’s every chance you’re exactly what we’re looking for here at ICON whether it is for this or other roles.