Title
Statistical Programming Innovation Lead
Ipsen Biopharm Ltd
Ipsen is a mid-sized global biopharmaceutical company with a focus on transformative medicines in three therapeutic areas: Oncology, Rare Disease and Neuroscience. Supported by nearly 100 years of development experience, with global hubs in the U.S., France and the U.K, we tackle areas of high unmet medical need through research and innovation.
Our passionate teams in more than 40 countries are focused on what matters and endeavor every day to bring medicines to patients in 88 countries. We build a workplace that champions human-centric leadership and fosters a culture of collaboration, excellence and impact. At Ipsen, every individual is empowered to be their true selves, grow and thrive alongside the company’s success. Join us on our journey towards sustainable growth, creating real impact on patients and society!
For more information, visit us at https://www.ipsen.com/and follow our latest news on LinkedIn and Instagram.
WHAT - Summary & Purpose of the Position
The Statistical Programming Innovation Lead advances innovation across Ipsen’s Biometry capabilities, spanning clinical trial design, statistical programming, and information science including through AI and automation. The role establishes the strategy, standards and ways of working needed to identify, develop and scale innovative approaches across study design, analysis and delivery.
The role leads experts in innovative programming, analytical methods, AI-enabled solutions, automation and information science, partnering across R&D, IT, Digital/Data/Analytics/AI and external providers to translate high-value opportunities into governed, reusable solutions.
The role accelerates clinical development through novel approached to trial design and statistical programming innovation, ensuring outputs are scientifically robust, documented, reproducible, scalable and validated where required.
As a peer Biometry capability, the role embeds a broader culture of innovation across the function to improve scientific quality, speed, productivity and decision-making.
WHAT - Main Responsibilities & Technical Competencies
• Lead the Statistical Programming Innovation capability within Biometry, setting the strategy, roadmap, priorities, standards and ways of working for statistical programming, automation, information science and innovation in optimal clinical trial design.
• Build and lead a specialist team with expertise in AI-enabled statistical programming, automation, information science and advanced analytical methods, with accountability for workforce planning, capability development, coaching, prioritisation, delivery oversight and succession planning.
• Lead the development and adoption of innovative statistical programming and automation capabilities that improve the speed, quality, consistency and scalability of Biometry analysis, reporting and delivery.
• Identify, develop and scale innovative statistical methods, including ML- and AI-enabled approaches, to optimise clinical trial design, analysis and statistical programming.
• Partner with IT and Digital/Data/Analytics/AI to design and deliver fit-for-purpose applications, tools and data products that enable Biometry methods, data and insights to be accessed, applied and reused effectively.
• Establish governance for AI-enabled and innovative Biometry solutions, including use-case intake, risk assessment, validation, documentation, version and access control, model monitoring, lifecycle management and user training.
• Partner across Statistical Programming, Biostatistics, Statistical Innovation and external providers to translate high-value use cases into reusable and scalable solutions.
• Evaluate emerging methods, tools, vendors and platforms, making build-versus-buy recommendations based on scientific and business value, technical feasibility, compliance, security, scalability and long-term maintainability.
• Drive adoption of new methods, tools and ways of working across Statistical Programming, Biostatistics and asset teams through training, communities of practice, value demonstrations and hands-on support for priority studies.
HOW - Behavioural Competencies Required
Competency Competency Behavioural Markers Explanation of Choice
Ensures Accountability • Ensures single accountable referents per task/project/outcome (independent of organizational context or multi-team projects)
• Builds and anchors an environment where people have the skills and habits to ask for clarification when accountabilities are unclear
• Consults/seeks relevant stakeholder views/expertise and coaches/ensures decisions are made by consent vs. consensus
• Takes personal accountability for decisions, actions, successes and failures, and fosters the same for others
• Follows through on commitment and makes sure others do the same Owns the Statistical Programming Innovation strategy and roadmap, with accountability for priorities, solution quality, compliance, delivery and adoption across Biometry.
Develops/Coaches Talent • Able to identify and align career goals, and blend organizational objectives into a cohesive development plan for self and team
• Able to coach
• Provides structured, actionable, regular and directional feedback and acts as a coach to empower people to own their own growth/development
• Prepares their own succession plans
• Displays a radically human-centered mindset; puts people first; focuses on doing good
• Demonstrates ability to build team effectiveness Builds and develops a specialist team to support Biometry with automation, information science and advanced analytical methods, while strengthening these capabilities across Biometry.
Drive Vision and Strategy • Paints a compelling picture of the vision (future status quo) and strategy that motivates others to action Sets the vision for a Statistical Programming Innovation capability that advances AI, automation, information science and optimal clinical trial design to improve quality, speed, productivity and decision-making.
Manage Complexity • Identifies contradictory information/demands/inputs to effectively solve problems
• Develops and evaluates alternative scenario and solutions
• Able to identify what truly matters and ruthlessly focus/ prioritize on making decisions with real impact Balances scientific and technical complexity with GxP requirements, data quality, security, validation, user adoption, and practical delivery across a global matrix.
Communicates Effectively • Asks open questions and digs deeper; shows care and respect for different perspectives (both verbally and non-verbally) and able to relate to other points of view
• Communicates transparently, "tells it how it is" while keeping the communication respectful
• Builds clear and crisp messages with structure and focus, uses visual communication and storytelling to make the message easy to digest and connect with the outcomes
• Demonstrates gravitas Translates complex statistical programming, AI, ML, LLM, application development and information science concepts into clear, actionable messages for study teams, senior leaders, IT and external partners.
HOW - Knowledge & Experience
• 10+ years of relevant pharmaceutical, biotechnology, technology, data science or statistical programming including significant leadership experience.
• Strong understanding of clinical trials, statistical programming, including clinical data flow, analysis datasets, outputs, validation.
• Demonstrated experience developing or scaling automation, application development, data products, analytical tools within a Biometrics group in a regulated environment.
• Practical knowledge of modern programming using ML and LLM approaches, including R, Python, SAS or equivalent environments.
• Experience leading technical teams and delivery portfolios, including resourcing, prioritization, coaching, capability development, stakeholder management and change adoption.
• Ability to partner effectively with strong communication skills to translate technical trade-offs, risks and business value for senior stakeholders.
• Experience with clinical data standards, metadata management, validated computing environments, cloud platforms, version control or related technology platforms.
• Experience in oncology, rare disease, neuroscience or specialty-care clinical development.
• Track record of delivering measurable productivity, quality or timeline improvements within Biometrics through automation and AI, in a regulated setting.
• MS/MSc or PhD in statistics, computer science, data science, bioinformatics, mathematics, clinical informatics or another relevant quantitative or technical discipline.
• Fluent in English, with excellent verbal and written communication skills.
We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels heard, valued, and supported; where we embrace “The Real Us”. The value we place on different perspectives and experiences drives our commitment to inclusion and equal opportunities. When we include diverse ways of thinking, we make more thoughtful decisions and discover more innovative solutions. Together we strive to better understand the communities we serve. This means we also want to help you perform at your best when applying for a role with us. If you require any adjustments or support during the application process, please let the recruitment team know. This information will be handled with care and will not affect the outcome of your application.
Apply on Ipsen (Ireland)’s careers page