Manager, Recruitment & Retention Operations Project Management

Manager, Recruitment & Retention Operations Project Management

Syneos Health® is a leading fully integrated biopharmaceutical solutions organization built to accelerate customer success. We translate unique clinical, medical affairs and commercial insights into outcomes to address modern market realities.

Our Clinical Development model brings the customer and the patient to the center of everything that we do. We are continuously looking for ways to simplify and streamline our work to not only make Syneos Health easier to work with, but to make us easier to work for.

Whether you join us in a Functional Service Provider partnership or a Full-Service environment, you’ll collaborate with passionate problem solvers, innovating as a team to help our customers achieve their goals. We are agile and driven to accelerate the delivery of therapies, because we are passionate to change lives.

Discover what our 29,000 employees, across 110 countries already know:

WORK HERE MATTERS EVERYWHERE

Why Syneos Health

• We are passionate about developing our people, through career development and progression; supportive and engaged line management; technical and therapeutic area training; peer recognition and total rewards program.
• We are committed to our Total Self culture – where you can authentically be yourself. Our Total Self culture is what unites us globally, and we are dedicated to taking care of our people.
• We are continuously building the company we all want to work for and our customers want to work with. Why? Because when we bring together diversity of thoughts, backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives – we’re able to create a place where everyone feels like they belong.

Job Responsibilities

Manager, Recruitment & Retention Operations Project Management

Overview:

Are you passionate about improving patient access in clinical trials? Do you excel at leading teams, driving project performance, and delivering results in a dynamic, high-impact environment? We are seeking a Manager of Recruitment & Retention (R&R) Operations Project Management to oversee critical efforts aimed at enhancing patient engagement and clinical trial enrollment across a diverse portfolio of projects.

This is an exciting opportunity to lead cross-functional teams that directly contribute to improving outcomes in clinical research. You will play a pivotal role in optimizing patient recruitment and retention strategies, guiding teams through change, and ensuring operational excellence through data-driven project management.

Key Responsibilities:

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead and mentor a team of project managers and individual contributors across multiple levels.

• Provide coaching, conduct performance reviews, and foster a culture of growth, collaboration, and accountability.

• Champion change management and guide the team through evolving strategies and processes.

• Oversee onboarding and continuous training efforts to ensure high-functioning teams.

Project & Campaign Management

• Manage a portfolio of recruitment and retention projects from initiation through closeout.

• Lead campaign planning, budgeting, execution, and monitoring to ensure alignment with client objectives and industry regulations.

• Identify risks early, implement mitigation plans, and ensure timelines and quality metrics are met.

Client & Stakeholder Engagement

• Act as a key liaison with clinical trial sponsors, CROs, vendors, and internal stakeholders.

• Understand client needs and deliver strategic solutions tailored to protocol and site-specific challenges.

• Participate in pre-award activities such as RFP responses and bid defenses.

Strategic Planning & Innovation

• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to implement scalable, patient-centric recruitment strategies.

• Drive innovation by identifying and integrating new tools, platforms, and technologies.

• Evaluate vendor capabilities and contribute to preferred provider strategy.

Operational Oversight

• Ensure accurate project budgeting, invoicing, and financial reconciliation across your portfolio.

• Partner with clinical operations, regulatory affairs, creative services, and data analytics to ensure cross-functional alignment.

• Support audits, inspections, and resolution of any CAPAs.

REQUIRED Skills and Experience:

**Must-Have Qualifications**

• Proven line management experience , including leading teams through change.

• Strong background in patient recruitment and retention in the clinical trial space.

• Experience managing technology-enabled strategies (e.g., eConsent, trial websites, patient-facing apps).

• 5+ years of experience in clinical trial operations , with a focus on patient recruitment and retention .

• Demonstrated expertise in project and budget management within the clinical trial domain.

• Familiarity with regulatory environments and sponsor/CRO partnerships.

Technical Capabilities

• Proficiency with project and data tools such as Smartsheet , Tableau , Veeva , and Microsoft Office .

• Experience with performance monitoring using platforms like Salesforce and AWS Quicksight is a plus.

• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret and act on data to optimize project performance.

Project Management & Strategy

• Experience managing recruitment campaigns across various digital channels.

• Understanding of agile, waterfall, and hybrid project management methodologies.

• Ability to lead cross-functional teams in a matrixed environment.

Communication & Problem Solving

• Outstanding communication skills with the ability to interface effectively with clients and internal teams.

• Strong critical thinking and root-cause analysis skills to troubleshoot and resolve project challenges.

Preferred Experience:

We’re especially interested in candidates who:

• Have successfully implemented technology-driven recruitment solutions .

• Have led digital advertising campaigns aimed at patient enrollment and retention .

• Have developed or managed clinical trial-specific digital assets (e.g., eConsent systems, recruitment websites, patient apps).

• Bring experience with performance analytics for campaign optimization.

Why Join Us?:

You'll be part of a forward-thinking team driving innovation in clinical trial access. Our work helps accelerate research and improve lives, and we’re looking for passionate leaders ready to make a meaningful impact.

Ready to make a difference in patient access and clinical innovation? Apply today.

Get to know Syneos Health

Over the past 5 years, we have worked with 94% of all Novel FDA Approved Drugs, 95% of EMA Authorized Products and over 200 Studies across 73,000 Sites and 675,000+ Trial patients.

No matter what your role is, you’ll take the initiative and challenge the status quo with us in a highly competitive and ever-changing environment. Learn more about Syneos Health.

Additional Information

Tasks, duties, and responsibilities as listed in this job description are not exhaustive. The Company, at its sole discretion and with no prior notice, may assign other tasks, duties, and job responsibilities. Equivalent experience, skills, and/or education will also be considered so qualifications of incumbents may differ from those listed in the Job Description. The Company, at its sole discretion, will determine what constitutes as equivalent to the qualifications described above. Further, nothing contained herein should be construed to create an employment contract. Occasionally, required skills/experiences for jobs are expressed in brief terms. Any language contained herein is intended to fully comply with all obligations imposed by the legislation of each country in which it operates, including the implementation of the EU Equality Directive, in relation to the recruitment and employment of its employees. The Company is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, including the provision of reasonable accommodations, when appropriate, to assist employees or applicants to perform the essential functions of the job.

Summary

The Manager of Recruitment & Retention Operations Project Management leads cross-functional teams to drive patient recruitment and retention in clinical trials. This role oversees project planning, execution, and stakeholder engagement, with a focus on technology-enabled strategies and data-driven decision-making. Key responsibilities include team leadership, campaign management, client liaison, and operational oversight. Ideal candidates have 5+ years of experience in clinical trial operations, proven line management skills, and a strong grasp of digital tools and regulatory environments.