About this role

Summary

Senior Director, Drug Development Services - CGT

Location: Sofia, Dublin, Warsaw, Lisbon, Bucharest, Barcelona, Reading Reference: JR160888

About ICON

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.

Senior Director, Drug Development & Consulting – Cell and Gene Therapy (Rare Disease)

At ICON plc, we are driven by commitment to People, Clients, and Performance. We are seeking a strategic Cell and Gene Therapy (CGT) expert to join our Drug Development & Consulting team in a highly visible, client-facing role.

This position offers the opportunity to act as a trusted advisor to senior stakeholders across the industry, including CEOs, CMOs, and other CGT Therapeutic Area Heads. You will deliver bespoke, asset-centric solutions while shaping cell and gene therapy drug development strategies across the full lifecycle.

The Role

This is a consultative and advisory role where you will serve as a key scientific partner to both external clients and internal teams. Often acting as the first technical point of contact, you will play a critical role in pre-sales activities, proposal strategy, and long-term partnership development within cell and gene therapy therapeutic areas (TAs).

Key Responsibilities

Lead strategic cell and gene therapy drug development program design, delivering tailored, asset-focused solutions
Own end-to-end protocol development, including design, scientific review, and evaluation for CGT clinical trials across Phases I–IV
Partner directly with senior client stakeholders (e.g., CMO, TA Heads, Clinical Development leadership) to provide expert guidance on CGT development strategy and data interpretation
Act as scientific and strategic lead in proposal development, study/operational strategy, and within Cell and Gene Therapy
Build and maintain strong relationships with Cell and Gene Therapy key opinion leaders (KOLs), advisory boards, and relevant regulatory authorities
Contribute to the development of CGT-focused service offerings, supporting innovation and growth in CGT therapeutic areas
Provide training, mentorship, and thought leadership in Cell and Gene Therapy to internal teams and external partners
Participate in portfolio reviews, governance discussions, and scientific oversight of CGT programs
Support operational teams with high-level scientific input, including investigator meetings, operational strategy and CGT-specific study discussions
Represent the organization at Cell and Gene Therapy congresses and scientific forums to promote clinical excellence and scientific leadership
What You Bring
Deep, recognized expertise in Cell and Gene Therapy drug development – Cell Therapy, Gene Therapy, RNA Therapy
Strong understanding of CGT clinical trial design, trial operations, biomarkers, endpoints, and evolving therapeutic landscapes
Proven ability to operate in a strategic, client-facing, consultative environment within pharmaceutical or clinical research settings
Experience engaging and influencing senior scientific and clinical stakeholders across industry and academia
Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to translate complex CGT data into clear, actionable development insights
Collaborative, global mindset with strong cross-functional leadership capability
MD or PhD ideally with specialization or substantial clinical/research experience in Cell and Gene Therapy inclusive of operational expertise.
Additional Information
20- 40% travel (domestic and international)
Opportunity to work in a highly visible, impact-driven role shaping the future of Cell and Gene Therapy drug development
Our Offer

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

Location

Sofia, Dublin, Warsaw, Lisbon, Bucharest, Barcelona, Reading

Reference

JR160888

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Senior Director, Drug Development Services - CGT

About this role

Key Responsibilities

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