Director, Clinical Programming

The Director, Clinical Programming is a senior subject matter expert and functional leader within RWS&A RWD Office Clinical Programming. The role is accountable for shaping and delivering high-quality, efficient, and fit-for-purpose clinical programming that supports the Statistics group and broader evidence generation portfolio. The incumbent provides strategic and technical leadership across both outsourced and in-house programming activities, independently makes decisions on programming approaches, standards, quality, and risk, and orchestrates delivery across internal teams and vendor partners. The Director also leads the development and adoption of AI and automation initiatives within the function, serves as the Clinical Programming SME on relevant AI workstreams, and provides guidance and mentorship to other programmers.

• Sets the direction for Clinical Programming within the RWS&A RWD Office and helps shape the function's operating model, priorities, standards, capabilities, and longer-term development.

• Acts as the senior Clinical Programming subject matter expert and primary point of escalation for complex, novel or high-impact programming questions.

• Provides end-to-end oversight and orchestration of programming activities delivered by external partners, including planning, technical direction, quality expectations, issue resolution, and accountability for timely delivery.

• Leads and, where appropriate, performs in-house programming activities in support of the Statistics group, including delivery of analysis datasets, tables, listings, figures, validation, and other fit-for-purpose deliverables.

• Leads the Clinical Programming contribution to artificial intelligence and automation initiatives, including serving as SME on AI workstreams, identifying and accelerating high-value use cases, and driving implementation within the function.

• Uses and advocates for approved AI-enabled tools, where appropriate, to improve efficiency and quality while ensuring validation, traceability, human oversight, and compliance with applicable policies.

• Makes autonomous, risk-based decisions on programming strategy, resourcing, standards, tools and delivery approaches, escalating only matters with broader functional or business impact.

• Ensures programming deliverables are accurate, traceable, reproducible, audit-ready and compliant with applicable internal standards, industry standards and regulatory requirements.

• Establishes fit-for-purpose governance and quality controls across internal and outsourced programming, and drives timely resolution of delivery, quality, compliance and capacity risks.

• Builds strong partnerships with Statistics, Data Management, Data Science, Epidemiology, Evidence Delivery and other stakeholders to translate study and analysis needs into executable programming plans.

• Develops and implements programming standards, reusable solutions, templates, automation, and best practices that improve consistency, quality, scalability and cycle times across the portfolio.

• Provides strategic input to portfolio planning, capacity management, sourcing, and vendor strategy for programming activities.

• Influences senior internal and external stakeholders through clear technical recommendations, evidence-based decisions and pragmatic solutions.

• Provides technical leadership, coaching and mentorship to junior programmers and contributes to capability building, knowledge sharing, recruitment and onboarding.

• Maintains up-to-date expertise in clinical programming, real-world evidence, emerging technologies, AI, relevant industry standards and regulatory expectations, and translates developments into practical improvements for the department.

Location: Barcelona - Spain (3 days working from the office and 2 days working from home).