Associate Director, Client Engagement

Description

You're driven, resourceful, and above all else - remarkably smart.

The Associate Director, Client Engagement is responsible for oversight of the engagement manager (EM) team, identifying and implementing solutions/procedures for operational effectiveness, and financial acumen oversight. In addition, this individual helps to implement approaches for planning, organizing, managing, and executing projects. Direct management of 3-5 EM team members.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

• Manages 3-5 EM team members (FLM and individual contributor), including performance mgmt/review, coaching, and professional development guidance
• Uses approved AI tools to support coaching conversations with direct reports by identifying themes from documented project updates, workload trends, development goals, and feedback, then translating those insights into clear, individualized guidance
• Coaches direct reports on responsible and effective use of approved AI tools, including prompt writing, validating outputs, protecting confidential or client information, and applying AI to improve project execution, communication, and follow-through
• Supports Director/Senior Director with oversight of engagement manager team, as well as overall operational processes and initiatives for Learning Solutions, providing coaching and guidance
• Defines, implements, and revises operational policies and guidelines for the organization
• Supports Director/Senior Director in monitoring the company's revenue target to maximize profits and ensure resources are compliant with utilization targets
• Oversees the procurement and resource allocation management process
• Monitors resource capacity of delivery teams to identify needs for FTE and contractor support
• Manages new hire onboarding and employee training initiatives and conducts onboarding sessions as required for new hires
• Develops and implements standard processes, templates, and tools for the Learning Solutions team
• Drives processes and timeline adherence; ensures all team members, both internal and external, adhere to process guidelines and work together to problem solve issues
• Leverages approved AI tools and large language models (LLMs) to streamline routine project tasks, such as drafting meeting recaps, summarizing project status, organizing action items, and preparing first drafts of client or internal communications for review.
• Applies responsible AI practices by validating AI-generated outputs for accuracy, confidentiality, client requirements, and compliance with company policies before sharing or incorporating them into deliverables.
• Manages overall budget and utilization of contributing resources, revenue tracking, and forecasting throughout project lifecycle to ensure projects stay within scoped timeline and budget, including identifying and escalating requests that are out of scope
• Oversight of project specific risk analysis and mitigation as needed by EM team
• Ensures that all team members, including Business Development, are communicating throughout projects and leveraging key resources as needed
• Communicates the overall strategic intent of a project and provides project management support to meet the needs of the clients (i.e., both external and internal) when EM team is at capacity
• Identifies potential account/project opportunities and coordinates with business development
• Other duties as needed to meet the needs of the team
• Able to flex schedule accordingly to handle client requests and travel, as needed (up to 25% of time)
• Maintains a minimum Utilization rate of 100% (i.e., 40 Hours); with a minimum Client Billable Utilization rate of 65% (i.e., 26 Hours); Billable Utilization rate may vary based on number of direct and indirect reports

JOB QUALIFICATIONS

Experience

• Required: Minimum 8-10 years of experience in project management/operations
• Required: Minimum 4 years of experience as people manager and/or consistent mentoring of junior staff
• Preferred: Minimum 5 years of experience in life sciences/pharma/biotech industry
• Required: Experience using approved AI tools and large language models (LLMs) to improve project management efficiency, communication, documentation, or workflow automation.
• Required: 4-year college degree
• Preferred: MBA or Master's Degree

Skills

• Required: Good at establishing clear directions; effective communicator; problem-solver; adaptable communication style; organized; understands job responsibilities of others and functions appropriately
• Required: MS Office Suite experiences
• Preferred: Project Management Software/Programs
• Preferred: Background in training, background in life sciences/pharma/biotech industry

The annual base salary for this position ranges from $X to $Y. The base salary range represents the anticipated low and high of the Syneos Health range for this position. Actual salary will vary based on various factors such as the candidate's qualifications, skills, competencies, and proficiency for the role. In addition, some positions may include eligibility to earn commissions/bonus based on company and / or individual performance.

At Syneos Health, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace. If your past experience doesn't align perfectly, we encourage you to apply anyway. At times, we will consider transferable skills from previous roles. We also encourage you to join our Talent Network to stay connected to additional career opportunities.

Why Syneos Health? We partner with industry experts to solve and execute against today's toughest commercialization challenges facing the world's leading healthcare companies. The diversification and breadth of our new and existing partnerships create a multitude of career paths and employment opportunities on our Commercial Operations and Leadership teams. Join our game-changing, global company dedicated to creating better, smarter, faster ways to get biopharmaceutical therapies to patients. Experience the thrill of knowing that your everyday efforts are contributing to improving patients' lives around the world.

Work Here Matters Everywhere | How are you inspired to change lives?

Syneos Health companies are affirmative action/equal opportunity employers (Minorities/Females/Veterans/Disabled)

At Syneos Health, we believe in providing an environment and culture in which Our People can thrive, develop and advance. We reward and recognize our people by providing valuable benefits and a quality-of-life balance. The benefits for this position will include a competitive compensation package, Health benefits to include Medical, Dental and Vision, Company match 401k, flexible paid time off (PTO) and sick time. Because certain states and municipalities have regulated paid sick time requirements, eligibility for paid sick time may vary depending on where you work. Syneos Health complies with all applicable federal, state, and municipal paid sick time requirements.