Project Director

Location: Shanghai, China
Vacancy Type: Permanent, full time
Reporting to: Vice President, International East

Inizio Ignite is the global advisory partner for health and life sciences, encompassing connected expertise across Research Partnership, Putnam, Vynamic, and STEM. Guided by purpose, passion, and precision, we collaborate with clients to ignite impact, accelerate performance, and deliver lasting change for patients. By uniting strategy, insights, and innovation with a unique depth and breadth of expertise, we drive transformation and shape the future of health.

Our STEM team uses benchmarking through AI-enabled and evidence-based approaches to drive alignment resulting in accelerated performance. Serving clients across brand & commercial, Medical Affairs & sales, our expertise includes data, research & insights (proprietary benchmarking data), strategic brand alignment, and sales & MSL performance benchmarking. Proudly part of Inizio – the market-leading commercialization partner for health and life sciences. From early-stage development to loss of exclusivity, we simplify complexity, unlock value, and make collaboration seamless at every pivotal moment – supporting confident, insight-driven decisions that move innovation forward.

Job purpose:

The Project Director reports into the VP, International East, and manages consulting projects end to end, responsible (on a matrix basis) for the project team including field staff. The projects tend to be for global Pharmaceutical organisations focused on their China market, as well as local Pharmaceutical organisations.

Key Responsibilities

• The Project Director has a responsibility for business development, including maintaining current business, winning new clients and expanding the STEM business across existing clients
• The Project Director is a key client contact at STEM, developing an understanding of their business, interviewing their leaders, analysing and interpreting observational data, and ultimately presenting the final report and making strategic recommendations, as well as maintaining ongoing contact with the client
• With an experienced team of field workers, the Project Director is responsible for briefing their team (pulled together on a project basis), as well as taking part in some of the field interviews with senior leaders
• The field workers managed directly/indirectly observe healthcare professional interactions with the sales, market access or field-based medical teams, depending on the scope and nature of the project
• Whilst data is being gathered, the Project Director develops and stress-tests an initial hypothesis, so that a bespoke presentation can be brought together by the support team, and strategic recommendations can be made to the client
• Project Directors thrive in the entrepreneurial environment, attracted to the high levels of accountability and opportunity to be a true partner to clients, making strategic recommendations which significantly impact the success of their business
• STEM’s wide-ranging and innovative business model allows exposure to C-Level executives across the top Pharma companies, and the opportunity to tackle their critical issues
• STEM has a culture where people can have a real impact, underpinned by traits like autonomy, flexibility, trust and empowerment
• STEM has an excellent reputation with their clients, and as a fast-growing business, there are opportunities to expand and develop beyond the role when success has been demonstrated.
• STEM offers the opportunity to move into more senior and / or above country roles for the right talent as part of their long-term career development.

Essential Skills

• Qualified to degree level in a relevant area (for example Business Studies/ Life Sciences)
• Advanced business degree is a plus (e.g. MBA/ Certificates)
• In house Pharma Sales Management, Marketing Management, Business Unit Head or management consultant with high level of client facing interaction, related to sales and marketing.
• Additional Consultancy experience within Pharma will be desirable, but not essential.
• Ability to network at high levels, and be credible when interacting with senior individuals within client companies is essential.
• Results-focused but very good interpersonal skills to win business while appearing relaxed.
• Ambitious, ability to work independently but a good team player with good leadership skills
• Gravitas and interpersonal awareness to interact, challenge, advise and deliver solutions.

Ignite STEM is a dynamic, fast paced global pharmaceutical and life sciences strategic benchmarking firm headquartered in the UK and present across six continents. STEM have developed an audit process and built a benchmarking database with more than 500,000 face-to-face observations completed across 52 countries. The benchmark provided is unique in the pharmaceutical industry consisting of over 100 KPIs, while focusing on 2-3 key priorities during formulation of action planning to help clients further accelerate performance.

STEM accelerates performance, improves strategic alignment, and facilitates excellence in marketing, medical, market access and account plans strategy execution. Due to the unique, specialised and highly targeted offering, STEM is experiencing a rapid growth phase, and recruiting heavily across the world. New employees will be joining at a time where rapid career development and growth opportunities are expected, as the organisation works towards their mid and long-term goals.

Vision: To always be viewed as an essential partner in enabling our clients to reach more patients with their medicines

Mission: To accelerate high performance

Find us here:

Website: www.inizioignite.com

Ignite STEM is an equal opportunity employer. Ignite STEM will consider all qualified applicants for employment without discrimination on grounds of disability, sex or sexual orientation, pregnancy or maternity leave status, race or national or ethnic origin, age, religion or belief, gender identity or re-assignment, marital or civil partnership status, protected veteran status (if applicable) or any other characteristic protected by law. Ignite STEM only employs individuals with the right to work in the country/ies where the role is advertised.