Associate Director, Program Management

About the Role

The Associate Director (AD) partners with cross-functional project leads to drive programs from concept through commercialization. This role ensures cohesive execution across R&D, CMC, regulatory, and commercial functions, delivering on time, within budget, and to quality standards. The AD provides strategic and operational leadership, proactively identifies and mitigates risks, and ensures clear communication and accountability across teams. They also serve as an independent voice in shaping program strategies and updating senior leadership on progress, risks, and portfolio impact.

Responsibilities

• Partner with the Development Program Lead (DPL) to foster a high-performing team and monitor team health and operating efficiency.
• Lead creation of team norms and operating principles, focusing on cross-functional input, accountability, and robust analysis of vetted options.
• Act as an integrator within the Development Program Team (DPT) and across the enterprise to ensure alignment and connect best practices.
• Facilitate effective, science-based business decisions, including scenario development, impact assessment, and transparent communication to stakeholders.
• Highlight interdependencies and downstream impacts of strategic decisions.
• Proactively identify risks and ensure mitigation plans are implemented.
• Develop and coordinate resource planning across DPT to ensure adequate resources are applied to the project.
• Advise on governance expectations, focusing on cross-functional input and rigorous debate.
• Coach project team members, drive excellence and accountability, and develop a talent pipeline for DPT membership.
• Act as a change agent for continuous improvement and transformational initiatives.
• For jointly developed projects, work closely with strategic alliance partners.
• Identify and mitigate project risks during drug development phases and communicate risks to stakeholders.
• Collaborate with external CDMOs and CROs to define timelines, establish and monitor KPIs, and manage relationships.
• Ensure non-clinical studies meet GXP quality requirements.
• Define budget and resource needs, create work breakdown structures, set and track deliverables, and perform critical path analysis.
• Ensure regular program communication and report status to the team and senior leadership.
• Recommend and implement best practices across program teams (e.g., resource capacity planning, risk management, team performance, timeline development, portfolio management).
• Work with functional leaders to maintain a positive team spirit and high-functioning team.
• Prepare monthly progress reports and ad hoc reports as required.
• Participate in the development of program management tools, templates, and processes.
• Handle additional tasks and projects as requested.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a science discipline or related field (Ph.D. preferred).
• 10+ years of relevant pharmaceutical industry experience, with at least 2 years managing multi-functional project teams.
• Breadth of drug development expertise with a solid understanding of project strategy and disease content.
• Experience in pharmaceutical drug discovery and development.
• Knowledge of manufacturing and CMC changes.
• Understanding of all phases of the drug development cycle and technical expertise in pharmaceutical product development and registration.
• Proficiency in project management processes, tools, and methodologies (PMP certification desirable).
• Ability to resolve complex problems and manage difficult stakeholder situations.
• Skill in leading critical path analyses and supporting scenario planning.
• Excellent project management skills, balancing speed, quality, and execution.
• Strategic thinking and ability to work effectively in a matrixed environment, managing multiple projects simultaneously.
• Advanced working knowledge of MS Project, Smartsheets, Excel, OneNote, and PowerPoint.
• High level of personal integrity and strong conflict resolution and consensus-building skills.
• Ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams.

Working Conditions

This position operates in an office setting, in person. The role may require availability outside standard hours to address priority business needs.