Delivery Leader - AI & Digital Transformation

Summary: This role leads delivery of Pharma and Clinical transformation programs in regulated environments, with responsibility for portfolio governance, stakeholder management, and execution of AI and digital initiatives. The person will coordinate cross-functional teams, manage risks and dependencies, and ensure programs are delivered on time, within compliance, and aligned to business goals. Job Locations: - Noida, Bangalore Key Responsibilities: Pharma \& Clinical Domain Delivery * Manage delivery of programs within regulated GxP environments * Oversee transformation programs across Clinical Data Management and safety systems * Collaborate with Regulatory, Quality, Medical Affairs, and Clinical Operations stakeholders to align delivery outcomes with business-critical compliance requirements Multi-Program Portfolio Governance * Own and govern a portfolio of concurrent programs spanning Pharma, Clinical, and R\&D domains, ensuring delivery alignment to strategic objectives * Establish and chair Program Steering Committees, managing executive-level reporting, escalations, and governance cadences * Define and enforce delivery standards, stage gates, and KPIs across all programs in the portfolio * Manage inter-program dependencies, risk registers, and resolution of cross-program blockers AI \& Digital Transformation Leadership * Lead end-to-end delivery of AI-powered transformation programs including GenAI, ML model deployment, intelligent automation, and advanced analytics platforms * Partner with AI Architects, Data Scientists, and Product teams to translate AI strategy into delivery roadmaps and executable plans * Oversee deployment of AI use cases across Clinical Trial Operations, Drug Discovery, Regulatory Affairs, Pharmacovigilance, and R\&D pipelines * Champion a culture of innovation, experimentation, and responsible AI within delivery teams Stakeholder \& Executive Engagement * Act as the primary point of contact for C-suite and senior stakeholder communities * Build and sustain trusted relationships with business sponsors, technology partners, and regulatory bodies * Communicate program status, risks, financials, and strategic recommendations with clarity and confidence * Lead change management and business readiness activities to drive adoption of transformed capabilities Team Leadership \& Delivery Excellence * Lead, mentor, and develop high-performing delivery teams across onshore, offshore, and hybrid models * Establish agile, scaled agile (SAFe), and hybrid delivery frameworks appropriate to the program context * Drive continuous improvement through lessons learned, retrospectives, and delivery maturity assessments Required Qualifications \& Experience: Experience * 12+ years of progressive delivery management experience, with at least 5 years managing multi-program portfolios of significant scale and complexity * Demonstrable experience delivering AI, machine learning, or intelligent automation programs in a commercial setting * Deep expertise in Pharmaceutical, Clinical Research, or R\&D environments with strong understanding of drug development lifecycle * Proven ability to deliver in regulated environments * Track record of delivering end-to-end digital transformation programs from strategy through to adoption Technical Skills * Hands-on understanding of GenAI, ML pipelines, RAG architectures, NLP, computer vision, and AI governance frameworks: AI \& Analytics * Data governance, MDM, API-led integration, data lake/warehouse architectures, real-world data (RWD): Data \& Integration * Veeva Vault, Oracle Clinical, Argus Safety Clinical Systems * Jira, Confluence, MS Project, Azure DevOps, ServiceNow Soft Skills \& Leadership Attributes * Exceptional stakeholder management and executive communication skills * Strong strategic thinking and the ability to translate vision into executable delivery plans * High emotional intelligence, resilience under pressure, and comfort with ambiguity * Collaborative leadership style with the ability to influence without authority * Strong commercial acumen with a benefit-realization mindset Preferred Qualifications * PMP, PgMP, or MSP certification * SAFe Program Consultant (SPC), Agile Coach, or equivalent agile certification * MBA or advanced degree in Life Sciences, Computer Science, Engineering, or Business * Experience working with CROs, CDMOs, regulatory agencies, or global pharma partners * Six Sigma, PRINCE2, or ITIL certification desirable