Head of Data Science (Contract Research Organization)

Piper Companies is seeking a Head of Data Science to provide executive-level leadership for data science strategy and operations within a Contract Research Organization. The Head of Data Science role is a critical leadership position responsible for overseeing clinical data science functions while owning full Profit and Loss accountability. The Head of Data Science will guide clinical trial design and development, align data strategy with commercial objectives, and drive scalable, profitable growth across the organization.

Responsibilities of the Head of Data Science:

• Provide enterprise-wide leadership for data science across clinical development programs within a CRO environment.

• Own full Profit and Loss (P&L) responsibility, including budgeting, forecasting, margin optimization, and financial performance of data science services.

• Oversee clinical trial design, development, and execution from a data science perspective, ensuring alignment with regulatory, operational, and commercial goals.

• Partner with executive leadership, clinical operations, biostatistics, and business development teams to support new business initiatives and client engagements.

• Establish scalable data science frameworks, analytics platforms, and advanced modeling approaches to support complex clinical trials.

• Ensure data integrity, quality, and compliance with regulatory standards (FDA, ICH, GxP).

• Lead, mentor, and develop senior data science leaders and multidisciplinary teams across geographically distributed environments.

Qualifications of the Head of Data Science:

• 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in data science within a Contract Research Organization (CRO).

• Recent, hands-on CRO experience supporting clinical trial design and development.

• Proven executive-level ownership of Profit and Loss (P&L), including managing revenue, cost structures, and profitability.

• Deep expertise in clinical data science, advanced analytics, and data-driven decision-making for drug development.

• Strong understanding of regulatory requirements governing clinical data and submissions.

• Experience leading large, cross-functional teams in a remote or distributed environment.

Compensation for the Head of Data Science includes:

• Salary range: $280,000 – $300,000 depending on experience

• Executive-level benefits package including medical, dental, vision, 401(k), and PTO

This job opens for applications on 04/23/2026. Applications for this job will be accepted for at least 30 days from the posting date.

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