Director, Software Implementation

Certara accelerates medicines using proprietary biosimulation software, technology and services to transform traditional drug discovery and development. Its clients include more than 2,000 biopharmaceutical companies, academic institutions and regulatory agencies across 62 countries. Certara touches more than 80% of all drugs that are approved by the FDA and is constantly working to efficiently and effectively guide its customers through drug approval.

The Director of Software Implementation is a strategic leader responsible for ensuring the successful deployment, adoption, and long-term value realization of Certara's advanced ACE products at key clients. You will lead complex, multi-product implementation programs across global pharmaceutical companies, CROs, and major industry partners - spanning the full lifecycle from planning through go-live, adoption, and expansion.

You will oversee implementation programs primarily spanning the P21 Advanced Tier (Data Exchange, CRF Creator/ryze, Enterprise Plus, Metadata Repository) and the Phoenix Cloud ecosystem (Phoenix, Integral, Hosted deployments, PK Submit, PK AI Reports, TFL Studio). Where client needs extend beyond the ACE portfolio - for example, into Certara's services or other solutions - you will connect clients to the right resources across Certara. You lead not only the technical deployment of these systems but the process and workflow changes required to drive lasting adoption and business value.

You will lead a small, focused team - currently two direct reports - while remaining hands-on in program delivery. You will coordinate with cross-functional partners across product, engineering, cloud operations, data science, and customer success, and will have the opportunity to grow the team as the practice expands. You will serve as a senior escalation point for key accounts and play an active role in client-facing governance structures.

This role offers broad visibility across the ACE product ecosystem - P21, Phoenix Cloud, and the broader platform - giving you the opportunity to shape how enterprise clients adopt and benefit from an interconnected suite of industry-leading tools.

• Enterprise-Level Implementations: Oversee programs ranging from quick-turn pilots to multi-year digital transformation initiatives.

• Strategic Client Ownership: Serve as the accountable owner for client success and satisfaction during implementation.

• Cross-Portfolio Integrations: Ensure seamless interaction of multiple ACE products within complex enterprise environments.

• Business Transformation Leadership: Lead the design and implementation of new operating models, workflows, and governance processes.

• Organizational Leadership: Lead and develop a small, high-performing team while driving delivery excellence, with the opportunity to grow the team as the practice scales.

• Product & Roadmap Influence: Shape cross-product strategy and prioritize interoperability through enterprise implementation insights.
• Cross-Functional Coordination: Collaborate with contributors across ACE product, engineering, cloud, and services teams - and where relevant, with broader Certara functions - to deliver the best outcomes for clients.

Strategic Implementation Leadership

• Own the implementation lifecycle for top-tier clients, from planning through go-live, adoption, and expansion.

• Determine delivery models appropriate to each engagement type (pilot, phased rollout, multi-year program).

• Serve as the primary day-to-day liaison between Certara and client stakeholders, aligning expectations, resolving issues, and ensuring progress.

• Establish governance structures-steering committees, working groups, executive sponsor meetings-to maintain alignment and accountability.

Execution & Delivery Oversight

• Ensure rigorous planning, resourcing, and milestone tracking across all implementation streams.

• Oversee creation of project artifacts, documentation, release notes, validation packages, technical configuration, and process workflows.

• Interpret and communicate architectural, data, and integration considerations affecting client deployment and product feasibility.

• Monitor and manage technical and operational risks, implementing mitigations and corrective actions when needed.

Business Process & Organizational Change Management

• Guide clients through transitions to modernized processes for data standards, metadata governance, CDISC workflows, analysis pipelines, and reporting.

• Support creation or evolution of client SOPs, governance councils, training frameworks, and operating models.

• Ensure clients realize measurable business value, not just technical deployment outcomes.

Cross-Portfolio Integration & Product Strategy Influence

• Diagnose end-to-end workflows across ACE ecosystem (P21 MDR Phoenix Cloud AI Reports TFL Studio).

• Identify and escalate product or interoperability gaps; propose solutions supported by client use cases and strategic objectives.

• Collaborate with product leadership to prioritize features or integrations required for enterprise adoption.

• Support co-development initiatives involving feasibility, scope, value, and strategic alignment.

Organizational Leadership & Team Development

• Manage, coach, and develop a team of implementation professionals; recruit additional talent as the practice grows.

• Define and maintain methodologies, standards, and playbooks that ensure delivery consistency.

• Coordinate contributions from product managers, architects, engineers, and SMEs engaged on strategic programs.

• Foster a culture of excellence, accountability, and continuous improvement within cross-functional program teams.

Strategic Alignment & Cross-Certara Collaboration

• Partner with ACE leadership on program prioritization and escalation decisions.

• Interface with broader Certara teams - including professional services, sales, and other product groups - to ensure clients can access the full breadth of Certara's capabilities when implementation needs extend beyond the ACE portfolio.

• Report program status, sequencing, risks, and strategic implications to executives.

• Identify emerging patterns in client needs that inform long-term portfolio strategy.
• Represent ACE in enterprise customer forums, industry discussions, and cross-functional Certara leadership groups.

• 7 years leading enterprise software implementation programs, ideally in scientific, clinical, or regulated domains.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and develop direct reports while driving alignment across cross-functional teams in matrixed organizations.
• Strong stakeholder management skills; ability to serve as trusted advisor to senior executives.
• Understanding of data standards, metadata systems, workflow automation, or scientific computing ecosystems.
  Proven ability to guide major organizational change and drive adoption.
• Strategic thinker able to diagnose cross-product gaps and propose systemic solutions.
• High resilience, adaptability, and comfort with complexity.

Preferred

• Experience with CDISC standards, metadata repositories, EDC integrations, or pharmacometrics/PK/PD workflows.
• Background in consulting, biometrics, data science, or enterprise IT transformation.
• Experience with custom development programs or co-development initiatives.
• Familiarity with SaaS architecture, cloud operations, and API-driven integrations.

Certara bases all employment-related decision on merit, taking into consideration qualifications, skills, achievement, and performance. We treat all applicants and employees without regard to personal characteristics such as race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, nationality, marital status, pregnancy, physical or mental condition, genetic information, military service, or other characteristic protected by law.