Associate Director, Program Management, Research and Preclinical Programs

Role Summary

Associate Director, Program Management to own end-to-end planning and execution across 2 to 4 research and preclinical assets while providing strategic insight at both the program and portfolio levels. Translate strategy into integrated plans, lead cross-functional teams, manage risk and the critical path with escalation, and deliver governance materials, reporting, and budget stewardship. Maintain a single source of truth and drive accountability to milestones. Domain expertise in autoimmune and immuno-oncology required (autoimmune strongly preferred) with a proven track record advancing programs from research through IND.

Responsibilities

• Core Program Management: Own end-to-end planning and execution for research and preclinical programs. Define scope and success criteria, build integrated timelines and critical path, track risks, assumptions, issues and decisions, run operating cadences, drive decision-making and accountability, and maintain the single source of truth.
• Strategic Coordination: Partner with project leads to translate strategy into executable plans. Drive prioritization, scenario planning, and preparation for governance forums.
• Build and Facilitate Cross-functional Teams: Coordinate across R&D, Finance, Regulatory, Nonclinical Drug Discovery Sciences, Technical Development, CMC, and Clinical to deliver milestones.
• Risk Management: Identify risks to timelines and deliverables, escalate threats to the critical path, and implement mitigation plans with proactive stakeholder communication.
• Stakeholder Communication: Provide clear, routine updates on progress, challenges, and decisions to internal and external stakeholders.
• Documentation and Reporting: Ensure comprehensive documentation and generate concise reports for senior leadership and partners.
• Budget Management: Coordinate with Research Operations, Finance and program teams to plan, track, and forecast budgets.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's degree in a relevant scientific discipline.
• Experience: 7+ years in biotech or pharma program management focused on research and preclinical development, with successful progression from research through IND and transition to clinical. Laboratory experience and prior scientific project lead experience in biotech preferred.
• Domain Expertise: Direct experience in autoimmune and immuno-oncology; autoimmune experience strongly preferred.
• Knowledge: Strong command of early drug development, including advancing novel candidates through IND and into first-in-human studies.
• Leadership: Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams and deliver complex programs.
• Skills: Excellent organization, analytics, problem solving, and written and verbal communication.
• Tools: Proficiency with project management software; Smartsheet experience highly desirable.
• Versatility: Ability to quickly learn and pivot across therapeutic areas as program needs evolve.
• Attributes: Self-motivated, proactive, collaborative, and able to influence without authority.