Patient Engagement Associate Director, Design And Innovation

This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Patient Engagement Associate Director, Design and Innovation based in the United States.

This is a strategic, sponsor-dedicated leadership role focused on embedding the patient voice throughout the drug development lifecycle.
You will shape patient engagement, recruitment, retention, and patient-centered evidence strategies within a pharmaceutical development environment.
The role combines strategic influence with hands-on leadership across clinical development, patient experience, and enterprise transformation.
You will collaborate with clinical, regulatory, medical, data, commercial, and public affairs stakeholders to translate patient insights into development decisions.
A key focus will be improving trial feasibility, participant experience, representation, recruitment, and retention through innovative approaches.
You will also help establish scalable patient engagement capabilities, strengthen external partnerships, and contribute to evolving industry and regulatory practices.
This fully remote opportunity is designed for an experienced pharmaceutical professional ready to drive meaningful change in patient-focused drug development.

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Accountabilities

• Lead global strategies for patient-focused clinical trial design, patient experience enhancement, patient engagement, and patient-centered evidence generation.

• Develop and execute sponsor-side patient recruitment and retention strategies that are integrated into clinical development planning and execution.

• Apply patient journey insights, inclusion frameworks, and co-designed engagement approaches to reduce participant burden and improve recruitment and trial satisfaction.

• Develop strategies that strengthen patient representation and inclusion across therapeutic areas, programs, and geographies.

• Lead enterprise-level change initiatives designed to scale patient engagement capabilities, standardize best practices, and modernize clinical trial experiences.

• Partner cross-functionally with Clinical Operations, Clinical Research, Regulatory, Data Science, Medical Affairs, Public Affairs, Commercial, and Corporate Affairs teams.

• Provide strategic input into initiatives related to patient-focused drug development, patient-focused medicine development, digital health, real-world evidence, and relevant regulatory frameworks.

• Engage with patient advocacy organizations, caregivers, and other external stakeholders to build meaningful relationships, trust, and long-term collaboration.

• Influence protocol design, endpoint considerations, development strategy, and other key decisions by incorporating actionable patient insights.

• Establish scalable and measurable patient engagement approaches across clinical programs.

• Drive strategies that improve recruitment and retention by ensuring clinical trials are designed with patient needs and experiences in mind.

• Support organizational transformation by helping embed patient engagement as a core component of development planning and decision-making.

• Communicate complex scientific, clinical, and regulatory concepts clearly to senior and cross-functional stakeholders.

• Contribute to the development of patient engagement capabilities that can be sustained and expanded across programs and therapeutic areas.

Requirements

• At least 5 years of experience in patient engagement, patient recruitment, or patient-centric clinical trial strategy within a pharmaceutical company.

• Demonstrated experience influencing senior cross-functional stakeholders and leading enterprise-level change.

• Strong understanding of global clinical development processes, regulatory frameworks, and operational decision-making.

• Proven ability to design and execute global, multifunctional patient engagement initiatives.

• Direct pharmaceutical sponsor-side experience owning patient engagement or recruitment strategy is required.

• Strong knowledge of patient-focused drug development and the evolving role of patient perspectives in clinical research.

• Exceptional communication and presentation skills, with the ability to translate complex scientific, clinical, and regulatory concepts into clear strategic recommendations.

• Strong strategic thinking, stakeholder management, collaboration, and change leadership capabilities.

• Ability to operate effectively in complex, global, cross-functional environments and influence without relying solely on formal authority.

• Experience developing approaches that improve patient recruitment, retention, representation, trial feasibility, or participant experience.

• Preferred: Advanced degree in Life Sciences, Pharmacy, Data Science, Information Technology, or a related discipline.

• Preferred: Experience with digital health solutions, real-world data, patient engagement technologies, or related innovation.

• Preferred: Previous leadership of large-scale global clinical development programs or enterprise transformation initiatives.

• Candidates whose experience is limited to CROs, clinical sites, agencies, or service vendors without pharmaceutical sponsor-side ownership of patient engagement or recruitment strategy are not aligned with the stated requirements.

Benefits

• Salary range of $114,000–$210,900, with actual compensation determined by qualifications, skills, competencies, experience, and proficiency.

• Fully remote position for U.S.-based candidates.

• Medical, dental, and vision benefits.

• Company 401(k) matching program.

• Eligibility to participate in an employee stock purchase plan.

• Potential eligibility for performance-based commissions or bonuses.

• Flexible paid time off and sick time, subject to applicable state and municipal requirements.

• Potential company car or car allowance, depending on position and eligibility.

• Career development and progression opportunities within a global life sciences environment.

• Access to technical and therapeutic-area training, professional development resources, and knowledge-sharing opportunities.

• Peer recognition and total rewards programs.

• Opportunity to collaborate with multidisciplinary experts across clinical development, data, science, digital health, and patient engagement.

• Opportunity to influence patient-centered drug development strategies with potential impact across global clinical programs.

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How Jobgether works:

We use an AI-powered matching process to ensure your application is reviewed quickly, objectively, and fairly against the role's core requirements. Our system identifies the top-fitting candidates, and this shortlist is then shared directly with the hiring company. The final decision and next steps (interviews, assessments) are managed by their internal team.

We appreciate your interest and wish you the best!

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