(Associate) Director, Project Management
Centessa Pharmaceuticals
August 18, 2026
Remote friendly (Boston, MA)
United States
Operations
Program Management – Orexin Development Programs (Associate) Director
Key Responsibilities
- Partner with the Global Team Leader (GTL) to project manage a cross-functional matrix development team and select sub-teams.
- Develop and continuously maintain a fully cross-functionally integrated program Gantt chart (with dependencies) and provide executive/team summary views.
- Identify/manage interdependencies, critical path, and at-risk activities for scenario planning and risk management.
- Develop and maintain dashboards for status and progress tracking.
- Manage cross-functional team meetings (scheduling, agendas, materials, minutes) and ensure follow-up on action items.
- Maintain issue logs and risks registers; ensure timely resolution and appropriate mitigation.
- Work with the cross-functional team and Finance to develop/update budgets and manage program spend within approved budget.
- Manage select external vendors and integrate deliverables into the program Gantt.
- Support Governance and Executive presentations.
- Support preparation of documents for Regulatory/Health Authority submissions.
- Contribute to best practices, processes, and procedures.
Qualifications
- BS + 8+ years in pharmaceutical/biotech R&D (or MS/MBA + 6+ years), including 4+ years as PM (or equivalent).
- Experience through IND-enabling activities, pre-IND meetings, IND submissions, and Phase 1 development.
- Proven drug development/registration expertise (clinical, nonclinical, CMC, regulatory interactions; global submissions/reviews).
- Strong communication/collaboration and ability to influence without formal authority.
- Expert analytical skills; decision facilitation and decision analysis methodologies/tools.
- Expert project management knowledge (PMP highly desired) and software (e.g., Smartsheet).
Compensation/Benefits
- Annual base salary range: $115,000–$170,000 (Associate Director) or $130,000–$210,000 (Director); discretionary annual bonus; 401(k), medical/dental/vision/life insurance, paid time off, health and wellness program.
Position: Full-Time, Exempt
Key Responsibilities
- Partner with the Global Team Leader (GTL) to project manage a cross-functional matrix development team and select sub-teams.
- Develop and continuously maintain a fully cross-functionally integrated program Gantt chart (with dependencies) and provide executive/team summary views.
- Identify/manage interdependencies, critical path, and at-risk activities for scenario planning and risk management.
- Develop and maintain dashboards for status and progress tracking.
- Manage cross-functional team meetings (scheduling, agendas, materials, minutes) and ensure follow-up on action items.
- Maintain issue logs and risks registers; ensure timely resolution and appropriate mitigation.
- Work with the cross-functional team and Finance to develop/update budgets and manage program spend within approved budget.
- Manage select external vendors and integrate deliverables into the program Gantt.
- Support Governance and Executive presentations.
- Support preparation of documents for Regulatory/Health Authority submissions.
- Contribute to best practices, processes, and procedures.
Qualifications
- BS + 8+ years in pharmaceutical/biotech R&D (or MS/MBA + 6+ years), including 4+ years as PM (or equivalent).
- Experience through IND-enabling activities, pre-IND meetings, IND submissions, and Phase 1 development.
- Proven drug development/registration expertise (clinical, nonclinical, CMC, regulatory interactions; global submissions/reviews).
- Strong communication/collaboration and ability to influence without formal authority.
- Expert analytical skills; decision facilitation and decision analysis methodologies/tools.
- Expert project management knowledge (PMP highly desired) and software (e.g., Smartsheet).
Compensation/Benefits
- Annual base salary range: $115,000–$170,000 (Associate Director) or $130,000–$210,000 (Director); discretionary annual bonus; 401(k), medical/dental/vision/life insurance, paid time off, health and wellness program.
Position: Full-Time, Exempt