Associate Director

The OpportunityThis is a leadership position combining people management, operational excellence, client relationships and innovation. You will work closely with our Head of Biostatistics and Scientific Advisor, complementing scientific leadership with strong operational management and organizational development. Our Statistics team currently consists of approximately 15 statisticians, working on both internal CRO projects and Functional Service Provider (FSP) assignments with pharmaceutical companies. We are looking for someone who can take real ownership of the team's operations, develop our people, strengthen relationships with international clients and help us build a more efficient, proactive and technology-enabled Statistics organization.

Key Responsibilities
Team Leadership & People Development
• Lead and develop a team of statisticians working across multiple clinical projects and FSP assignments.
• Manage performance, professional development, mentoring and career progression.
• Develop future Lead and Principal Statisticians.
• Promote an international, collaborative and accountable working culture.
• Encourage statisticians to become proactive scientific partners rather than simply executing assigned tasks. Operational Management
• Manage resource allocation, capacity planning, workload distribution and project priorities.
• Ensure timely delivery of high-quality statistical services across multiple client projects.
• Establish clear operational processes, performance indicators and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Identify delivery risks early and implement corrective actions.
• Collaborate with Statistical Programming, Data Management, Quality Assurance and Business Development teams. Client Relationships & Scientific Advisory
• Build and maintain strong relationships with pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device clients.
• Support statistical oversight, project planning and resolution of complex delivery challenges.
• Encourage proactive scientific contributions and identify opportunities to expand existing client relationships.
• Work with our Scientific Advisor on complex statistical questions and strategic client discussions.
• Contribute to proposals, bid defenses and new business opportunities. Innovation & AI Transformation
• Identify opportunities to improve statistical workflows through automation, AI and modern analytical technologies.
• Lead the practical implementation and adoption of AI-assisted tools for statistical activities.
• Collaborate with internal technical teams to improve SAP development, statistical review, programming support and quality control.
• Ensure new processes and technologies are appropriately validated and compliant with applicable regulatory and quality requirements.
• Measure improvements in productivity, quality and delivery efficiency.

Your Profile
Required Qualifications
• Degree in Statistics, Biostatistics or a related quantitative discipline; MSc or PhD preferred.
• Approximately 8+ years of relevant experience in clinical research, including substantial experience in a CRO, pharmaceutical or biotechnology environment.
• Proven direct people-management experience, including performance management, resource planning, recruitment and professional development.
• Experience managing multiple clinical studies, project teams and competing priorities.
• Strong understanding of clinical development, statistical deliverables, regulatory requirements and industry standards.
• Experience working with international clients and multicultural teams.
• Strong communication, organizational and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to combine strategic thinking with hands-on operational execution.
• Excellent English communication skills. Highly Valued Experience
• Previous leadership of a Biostatistics department or a substantial statistical team.
• Experience managing FSP statisticians embedded within pharmaceutical companies.
• Experience introducing new technologies, automation or AI-supported processes into statistical workflows.
• Practical understanding of Generative AI applications and their limitations in regulated environments.
• Experience with RWE, advanced statistical methodologies or innovative clinical trial designs.
• Experience supporting commercial proposals, client development and scientific consulting.

What We Offer
• A leadership role with genuine responsibility and the opportunity to influence how the organization operates.
• Direct collaboration with Valos senior management and scientific leadership.
• The opportunity to develop and internationalize an established Statistics team.
• Active involvement in implementing AI and innovative statistical workflows.
• Exposure to international pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device clients.
• A growing, specialized CRO environment where improvements can be implemented without the complexity of a large organization.
• Competitive compensation based on experience and location. Why This Role Is DifferentWe are not simply looking for an experienced statistician who can supervise clinical studies. We are looking for a leader who can develop people, organize operations, build client relationships and turn innovation into measurable improvements. You should be comfortable taking responsibility, challenging existing processes constructively and working closely with scientific leadership to build a stronger Statistics organization. If you have successfully managed statistical teams and are interested in combining clinical research, operational leadership and AI-driven innovation, we would be pleased to hear from you. Interested? Apply through LinkedIn or contact Valos directly. Valos — Advancing Clinical Research Through Scientific Expertise and Innovation #Hiring #Biostatistics #ClinicalResearch #CRO #StatisticsLeadership #Biometrics #ArtificialIntelligence #ClinicalTrials