Senior Program Manager- Drug Development (Neurology)

Role Summary

Senior Program Manager for Drug Development (Neurology) responsible for supporting one or more product development teams of higher complexity or strategic importance, driving cross-functional alignment on goals and timelines, and delivering milestones on or ahead of schedule. This role helps establish and execute product development plans within budget, scope, and schedule, ensuring consistent practices across all project life cycle phases and coordinating with research, development, manufacturing, regulatory, and other stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Partner with Team Leaders to manage the development and execution of program team strategy
• Establish and maintain functionally integrated program schedules to enable accurate analyses, identify critical path activities, and address resource constraints
• Assess program risk and support mitigation planning and tracking
• Independently identify and manage program objectives, work plans, timelines, and budgets, providing status updates to stakeholders
• Lead scenario planning to prepare teams for differing outcomes at key milestones
• Manage relationships and deliverables with external partners, tracking and delivering on obligations in a timely manner
• Identify inter-dependencies in short-, mid-, and long-term program plans and advise teams on risk or acceleration opportunities
• Challenge assumptions and provide recommendations to improve processes and outcomes
• Contribute to development efforts by leveraging network of experts and vendors to solve drug development challenges
• Facilitate and document program team meetings, cross-functional communication, and decision making to ensure alignment with leadership
• Develop relationships with key functional stakeholders across the organization to support program goals
• Serve as a Program Management expert resource for the broader organization
• Contribute to the development of the Program Management function through new tools and processes
• Contribute to successful execution of Program Management department goals and activities
• May manage other Program Management staff
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

• Required: BS/BA in Life Sciences with 8+ years of multidisciplinary pharmaceutical/biotechnology experience, including early and late-phase program management with IND/CTA and NDA/MAA submissions; or
• Required: Master’s in Life Sciences with 6+ years of relevant experience; or
• Required: PhD in Life Sciences with 4+ years of relevant experience; or
• PMP Certification highly desired
• Anticipates business and industry issues; recommends process/technical/service improvements
• Demonstrates broad expertise or unique knowledge; considered an expert within the company and may have external presence
• Applies in-depth expertise and broad knowledge of related areas to improve team efficiency
• Ability to work as part of and lead multiple teams; strong leadership and mentoring abilities
• Excellent computer, communication, problem-solving, and analytical thinking skills
• Ability to see the broader picture and long-term impact on the division/company
• Ability to meet multiple deadlines with high accuracy and efficiency across various projects
• Strong project management and leadership skills; ability to interact with all organizational levels
• Demonstrated knowledge of project management practices, tools, and methodologies
• Knowledge of drug development processes and inter-dependencies of research, CMC, non-clinical, clinical, and manufacturing
• Experience managing global drug development efforts
• Excellent team player with willingness to work across projects in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment
• Ability to manage conflict, drive consensus, and promote decision-making
• Proficiency in Smartsheet

Skills

• Strong program management skills across early and late-phase drug development
• Cross-functional collaboration and stakeholder management
• Risk assessment and mitigation planning
• Scenario planning and decision support
• Vendor and external partner management
• Effective communication and meeting facilitation
• Data-driven analysis and project tracking
• Process improvement and tool optimization

Education

• BS/BA in Life Sciences, or
• MS in Life Sciences, or
• PhD in Life Sciences