Vice President, FSP Operations

At Cytel, we are passionate about advancing the development of life-changing therapies through innovative statistical, data, and clinical solutions. As a global leader supporting pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device organizations, we help our customers bring treatments to patients faster and more efficiently.

We are seeking an experienced and strategic Vice President, FSP Operations - India to lead and scale our India-based Functional Service Provider (FSP) organization. This executive leader will be accountable for operational excellence, client delivery, workforce strategy, financial performance, and the continued growth of Cytel's FSP business.

This is a highly visible leadership role requiring a proven track record of building high-performing teams, managing large-scale client partnerships, and driving operational transformation within the CRO, biopharmaceutical, or clinical research industry.

Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Develop and execute the strategic vision for Cytel's India-based FSP operations.

• Partner with global executive leadership to support business growth, operational scalability, and client success.

• Drive initiatives that enhance delivery quality, operational efficiency, employee engagement, and profitability.

• Serve as a key member of the global FSP leadership team.

Operational Excellence

• Lead large, multi-functional FSP teams supporting global pharmaceutical and biotechnology clients.

• Ensure consistent delivery of services across statistical programming, biostatistics, data management, clinical data science, and related functions.

• Establish and monitor operational KPIs, utilization metrics, productivity measures, and quality standards.

• Drive continuous improvement and process optimization initiatives.

Client Relationship Management

• Act as an executive sponsor for strategic client partnerships.

• Build trusted relationships with senior stakeholders across sponsor organizations.

• Support business reviews, governance meetings, escalation management, and account growth opportunities.

• Ensure exceptional client satisfaction and long-term retention.

Talent & Organizational Leadership

• Build, develop, and retain a high-performing leadership team across India.

• Create succession plans and leadership development programs to strengthen organizational capability.

• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation, and client-centricity.

• Champion diversity, inclusion, and employee engagement initiatives.

• Financial & Commercial Management

• Own operational financial performance, including revenue delivery, margin management, forecasting, and resource planning.

• Partner with Business Development and Account Management teams to support new opportunities and strategic bids.

• Ensure efficient workforce planning aligned with current and future client demand.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Life Sciences, Statistics, Mathematics, Business, or a related discipline.

• 15+ years of experience within CRO, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or clinical research environments.

• Significant leadership experience managing large global delivery organizations.

• Deep understanding of FSP, outsourced clinical development, and resource management models.

• Proven success leading teams of 200+ professionals across multiple functions and geographies.

• Strong financial acumen, including P&L ownership and operational budgeting.

• Demonstrated experience building senior-level client relationships.

• Experience leading India-based global capability centers or offshore delivery organizations.

• Experience supporting top-tier pharmaceutical and biotechnology organizations.

• Exceptional communication, influencing, and stakeholder management skills.

Why Cytel?

At Cytel, you'll have the opportunity to influence the future of clinical development while leading a talented global team dedicated to improving patient outcomes. We offer a collaborative culture, meaningful work, and the chance to make a significant impact in a growing and evolving organization.