External Research Opportunity Lead

Location:

Brussels, Belgium (hybrid working)

Engagement Status:

Freelance until end of 2026

Overview
We’re partnered with a large pharmaceutical organisation to support in looking for an External Research Opportunity (ERO) Lead to own the end-to-end management of externally sponsored research with healthcare stakeholders. This is a high-impact role at the intersection of medical, legal, and compliance, supporting Investigator Initiated Studies (IIS), External Research Collaborations (ERC), and External Research Services (ERS) across multiple therapeutic areas. You’ll act as the subject matter expert, driving governance, contracting, and oversight to ensure research is delivered compliantly, efficiently, and with real scientific value.

Key Responsibilities

Lead the

review, endorsement, and lifecycle management

of external research opportunities

Chair and drive

review committee meetings

and decision-making processes

Develop and negotiate

research agreements and statement of work , partnering with medical, clinical, legal, and compliance teams

Ensure ongoing

contract compliance, milestone tracking, and performance oversight

Act as the primary liaison with internal and external stakeholders, escalating risks and issues as needed

Support the evolution of

external research frameworks, processes, and systems

Oversee external service providers to ensure delivery against agreed operational metrics

Requirements

3–5+ years’ experience

in Pharma/Biotech, Academia, Research Institutions, or CROs

3+ years’ experience

managing contracts across their full lifecycle

Strong experience in

project and stakeholder management

Solid understanding of

pharmaceutical research regulations and compliance requirements

Proven ability to manage multiple complex initiatives in an fast-paced environment

Hard Skills

Research contract development and negotiation

External research governance (IIS, ERC, ERS)

Regulatory and compliance oversight

Cross-functional project management

Vendor and service provider management

Soft Skills

Confident decision-maker with strong judgement

Excellent stakeholder engagement and influencing skills

Comfortable navigating ambiguity and complexity

Diplomatic, collaborative, and solutions-focused

Strong communicator with executive presence

Education

Bachelor’s degree required

Master’s degree, PhD, MD, or JD

advantageous but not essential

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