Team Lead, Language Services

Team Lead, Language Services - Poland or Bulgaria - Home or office based

ICON plc is a world-leading healthcare intelligence and clinical research organization. We’re proud to foster an inclusive environment driving innovation and excellence, and we welcome you to join us on our mission to shape the future of clinical development.

The Team Lead oversees a Language Services team of Localization Engineers and DTP Specialists. This team is supporting the translation and localization of clinical‑trial materials for internal and external clients worldwide. Operating in a regulated, client‑focused environment, the role ensures excellence, quality, compliance, and continuous improvement while nurturing team capability and supporting strategic growth of language services within ICON’s Clinical & Scientific Research (PCS) division. The Team Lead is a subject‑matter expert in localization workflows, language‑technology tools, and ideally Life‑Sciences regulatory requirements, and acts as a senior escalation point for complex projects and strategic client relationships.

Job Requirements

• Experience:  Minimum 6 years’ experience in translation/localization or operations management, including coaching or mentoring a team.
• Domain expertise: Demonstrated expertise in Life‑Sciences and Healthcare related translation (pharmaceutical, clinical trials, biotech, or medical devices).
• Standards & compliance: Understanding of localization workflows, quality and risk‑management practices, and industry standards (GxP, ISO 9001/17100/13485).
• Quality management: Hands‑on experience with quality investigations, root‑cause analysis, and CAPA implementation.
• Client engagement: Proven ability to build and maintain strategic client relationships and contribute to business development through solution‑focused thinking.
• Technology: Advanced proficiency with AI, CAT tools, TMS platforms, and structured‑content formats (XML, SGML, PDF, etc.).
• Automation: In depth knowledge of process automation using the latest technologies, programming and script languages
• Soft skills: Excellent communication, stakeholder‑management, and organisational skills; able to thrive under tight deadlines with minimal supervision.
• Languages: Fluency in English; additional languages an advantage.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic

• Service growth: Champion the growth, integration, and visibility of language services within ICON’s PCS portfolio, aligning with organisational goals and client needs.
• Industry awareness: Maintain expert‑level knowledge of localisation, language‑technology, and Life‑Sciences regulatory trends; disseminate insights to project teams.
• Client partnerships: Strengthen client relationships by supporting pre‑sales solutions, participating in strategic reviews, and identifying opportunities for service expansion.
• Process innovation: Design and implement scalable project‑management practices, operational systems, and best‑practice documentation that drive efficiency, quality, and risk mitigation.
• People leadership: Lead and develop a high‑performing team through proactive coaching, resource planning, performance management, and recognition programmes.

Functional

• Management of team capacity
• Operational oversight: Ensure the constant support of the delivery of high‑quality, compliant translation and localisation services across all projects; monitor metrics and escalate issues as needed.
• Project leadership: Serve as senior escalation point and/or manager for complex, high‑visibility assignments, guaranteeing timeline, budget, and quality objectives.
• Risk management: Identify project risks early, define realistic assumptions in proposals, and oversee execution of mitigation or CAPA actions.
• Continuous improvement: Drive continuous improvement by capturing client feedback, conducting root‑cause analyses, and embedding lessons learned across teams.
• Representation: Represent the department at internal/external meetings, audits, and regulatory inspections.
• Tool & process ownership: Maintain and enhance department‑specific workflows, tools, checklists, and knowledge repositories.
• Compliance: Ensure full team compliance with SOPs, policies, procedures, training records, and applicable ISO/GxP requirements.
• Additional duties: Perform other duties as reasonably assigned to support departmental goals and service excellence.

What ICON can offer you:
Our success depends on the quality of our people. That’s why we’ve made it a priority to build a diverse culture that rewards high performance and nurtures talent.

In addition to your competitive salary, ICON offers a range of additional benefits. Our benefits are designed to be competitive within each country and are focused on well-being and work life balance opportunities for you and your family.

Our benefits examples include:

• Various annual leave entitlements
• A range of health insurance offerings to suit you and your family’s needs.
• Competitive retirement planning offerings to maximize savings and plan with confidence for the years ahead.
• Global Employee Assistance Programme, LifeWorks, offering 24-hour access to a global network of over 80,000 independent specialized professionals who are there to support you and your family’s well-being.
• Life assurance
• Flexible country-specific optional benefits, including childcare vouchers, bike purchase schemes, discounted gym memberships, subsidized travel passes, health assessments, among others.

Visit our careers site to read more about the benefits ICON offers.

At ICON, inclusion & belonging are fundamental to our culture and values. We’re dedicated to providing an inclusive and accessible environment for all candidates. ICON is committed to providing a workplace free of discrimination and harassment. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.

If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process, or in order to perform the essential functions of a position, please let us know or submit a request here

Interested in the role, but unsure if you meet all of the requirements? We would encourage you to apply regardless – there’s every chance you’re exactly what we’re looking for here at ICON whether it is for this or other roles.

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