ICON is a global healthcare intelligence and clinical research organisation united by a mission to bring new medicines and treatments to patients faster.
As a values-driven organisation, integrity, collaboration, agility, and inclusion are at the heart of how we work and interact with each other, customers, patients and suppliers.
Job title – Lead Business Operations Specialist
Job role - RBQM Lead
About the Role
We are seeking an experienced and forward-thinking (Risk-Based Quality Management ) RBQM Lead to support the implementation and execution of proactive, risk-focused quality oversight across clinical studies.
As an RBQM Lead, you will serve as a subject matter expert and change leader, ensuring risk-based principles are embedded throughout the clinical trial lifecycle—from study design through execution and governance. This global role will drive the implementation of study level RBQM strategies, standards, and initiatives to strengthen quality oversight and inspection readiness.
Key Responsibilities
RBQM Planning & Risk Assessment
• Lead execution of Quality and Risk Management planning in alignment with study and program objectives.
• Facilitate cross-functional workshops to identify and document Critical-to-Quality (CtQ) factors, critical data, and critical processes.
• Coordinate and oversee initial and ongoing risk assessments, ensuring timely
identification of risks and implementation of mitigation strategies.
• Ensure risk assessments, risk controls, and mitigation plans are complete,
actionable, and aligned with regulatory expectations.
Cross-Functional Collaboration & Oversight
• Partner with Clinical Operations, Data Management, Biostatistics, and other
stakeholders to review data flows, critical data pathways, and data review
requirements.
• Provide input into Risk-Based Monitoring (RBM) strategies, including targeted
SDV/SDR approaches and reduced verification models.
• Perform quality gate reviews of functional plans to confirm integration of risk
mitigation and monitoring strategies.
Ongoing Risk Management & Oversight
• Lead and facilitate Risk Review Meetings (RRMs) and ensure comprehensive
documentation of risk evaluations and decisions.
• Oversee ongoing risk surveillance to ensure monitoring strategies remain effective and aligned with study timelines and budgets.
• Ensure risk review outputs provide meaningful insights, trend analysis, and
actionable recommendations.
• Update risk assessments based on protocol amendments, emerging signals, or changes to critical data and processes.
Governance & Quality
• Support program-level and organizational RBQM governance and oversight
activities.
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives to enhance RBQM maturity and effectiveness across the organization.
Qualifications & Experience
• Comprehensive clinical research experience, collaborating with global teams within a matrixed organizational environment
• Significant experience in clinical research within one or more of the following areas:
o Risk-Based Quality Management (RBQM)
o Clinical Operations
o Central Monitoring
o Clinical Risk Management
o Clinical Data Science
Technical Expertise & Capability
• Strong knowledge of ICH E6 (R2/R3), ICH E8, and their application to RBQM.
• Deep understanding of clinical trial processes, data flows, and risk-based
monitoring strategies.
• Demonstrated expertise implementing RBQM methodologies for multiple projects.
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional initiatives and influence stakeholders
globally.
• Strong strategic thinking with the ability to translate regulatory expectations into operational practice.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder engagement, and facilitation skills.
Mindset & Behaviors
• Proactive and solutions-oriented with a strong focus on quality and continuous
improvement.
• Ability to operate effectively in complex, global environments.
• Strong critical thinking and risk anticipation capabilities.
• Passion for mentoring teams and strengthening RBQM capabilities across the
organization.
• Commitment to fostering an inclusive and collaborative culture.
Employment with ICON is contingent upon having the legal right to work in the country where the role is based.
Rewards & Benefits
ICON offers a competitive and comprehensive total rewards package designed to support your health, wellbeing, and career development.
Benefits may include:
- Competitive base salary and performance related incentives
- Health and wellbeing programmes including medical, dental, and vision coverage where applicable
- Retirement and pension plans
- Life assurance and disability coverage
- Employee assistance programmes and wellbeing resources
- Learning and development opportunities through structured training and career pathways
Benefits may vary depending on role and location.
Visit our careers site to read more about the benefits ICON offers.
Inclusion and Accessibility
ICON is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to building an inclusive and accessible workplace where everyone feels valued and supported.
If you require reasonable accommodations during the recruitment process, please let us know or submit a request here.
Are you a current ICON Employee? Please click here to apply
Skills Required
- Comprehensive clinical research experience working with global teams in a matrixed organization
- Significant experience in Risk-Based Quality Management (RBQM)
- Experience in Clinical Operations, Central Monitoring, Clinical Risk Management or Clinical Data Science
- Strong knowledge of ICH E6 (R2/R3) and ICH E8 and their application to RBQM
- Demonstrated expertise implementing RBQM methodologies across multiple projects
- Proven ability to lead cross-functional initiatives and influence stakeholders globally
- Excellent communication, stakeholder engagement, and facilitation skills
- Strategic thinking with ability to translate regulatory expectations into operational practice
ICON plc Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about ICON plc and has not been reviewed or approved by ICON plc.
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Healthcare Strength — Benefits are described as comprehensive, with medical coverage and wellness initiatives highlighted. Larger sites are also associated with added wellness supports such as onsite fitness options and access to an employee assistance program.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Time-off and flexibility provisions are positioned as a meaningful part of the total package, including vacation/annual leave and flexible work scheduling. Flexibility is sometimes cited as helping offset long hours in certain roles.
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Retirement Support — Retirement and savings support is presented as a core component of the benefits package, including offerings such as pension arrangements in some locations and a U.S. 401(k) plan with company match. Financial planning resources are also emphasized as part of broader security benefits.
ICON plc Insights
What We Do
Since our foundation in Dublin, Ireland in 1990, our mission has been to help our clients to accelerate the development of drugs and devices that save lives and improve quality of life. We do this by delivering best in class information, solutions and performance, with an unyielding focus on quality at all times. We offer a full range of consulting, development and commercialisation services from a global network of offices in 53 countries. We focus our innovation on the factors that are critical to our clients – reducing time to market, reducing cost, and increasing quality – and our global team of experts has extensive experience in a broad range of therapeutic areas.
