Case Study: Clinical Trails Director for a Life Sciences Company

Introduction
We were hired to appoint a Clinical Trials Director for a life sciences company. The brief was to find a leader who could plan and run global studies, protect patient safety and deliver on time and budget. After networks and advertising failed, we ran an executive search and delivered a clear, evidence-based shortlist.

The challenge

• Hire a Clinical Trials Director with end-to-end leadership of Phase II and III trials across the UK, EU and US.
• Work in a matrix with R&D, medical, biostatistics, regulatory and quality teams.
• Set a simple operating rhythm from start-up through close-out with clear governance and reviews.
• Lead protocol input and feasibility, country and site selection, vendor strategy and contracts for CROs, labs and imaging.
• Improve enrolment and retention with practical plans, including diversity targets and patient support.
• Use risk-based monitoring and keep data high quality with EDC, CTMS and an inspection-ready eTMF.
• Ensure Good Clinical Practice, ethics approvals and safety reporting with strong links to pharmacovigilance.
• Be ready for audits and inspections by MHRA, EMA and FDA with timely CAPAs.
• Track measures: first patient in, last patient out, cycle times, screen failure and dropout rates, protocol deviations, data query rates, on-time data lock, cost variance and inspection findings.
• Provide visible leadership across sites and vendors with regular travel.

Our approach

• Agreed the role and success measures with the Chief Medical Officer and Head of Clinical Operations, tied to programme milestones.
• Mapped target talent pools in biotech and pharma sponsors running global studies, leading CROs and relevant device sponsors across the UK and near Europe.
• Engaged Clinical Operations leaders, Clinical Project Directors and Senior Trial Managers with proven delivery.
• Used a consistent scorecard, structured interviews and case exercises on start-up planning, study rescue and inspection readiness. Kept the process confidential.

The result

• Delivered a strong shortlist within five weeks; offer accepted in seven.
• The appointed Clinical Trials Director had led pivotal Phase IIb and III studies, managed global CROs and passed inspections with no critical findings.
• Early outcomes included faster start-up, clearer governance, a streamlined vendor model, improved enrolment, lower screen failure and dropout rates, higher data quality, on-time database lock and reduced cost variance. The eTMF was inspection ready and CAPAs were closed on time.

Why it worked

• Headhunting reached strong passive candidates across sponsors and CROs.
• Tight timelines and senior sponsorship kept momentum from shortlist to offer.

Contact us
If you are hiring a Clinical Trials Director in life sciences we can help.
Call 0207 160 6996
Email info@executiveheadhunters.co.uk
Visit executiveheadhunters.co.uk
Book a confidential discussion with a Director to plan your search.