Senior Director, Program Manager

About the Role

Our client, a biotech start-up, has engaged GForce Life Sciences to provide a Senior Director, Program Manager. This position will report directly to the Chief Operations Officer within the C-Suite. This individual will be responsible for start-up and execution of a phase II trial. This position requires the ability to successfully work with cross-functional teams, strong vendor management of an outsourced trial, and the ability to track overall budget and spend.

Responsibilities

• Partner with senior leadership and key stakeholders to define program vision, asset strategy, scope, and investment requirements.
• Lead cross-functional program teams in the development and execution of integrated project plans aligned to asset strategy.
• Develop and maintain comprehensive, end-to-end development plans to drive a specific drug asset or portfolio through discovery, IND-enabling studies, and clinical phases.
• Define critical paths, identify at-risk activities and interdependencies, anticipate bottlenecks, remove barriers to progress, and develop contingency plans.
• Lead, motivate, and direct matrixed teams to ensure project goals are met.
• Anticipate barriers, establish risk mitigation strategies, and own program financials, including forecasting and budget tracking.
• Partner with Finance to ensure budget accuracy, payment tracking, forecast management, and financial reporting.
• Serve as a business lead with CROs, CDMOs, consultants, and other development vendors.
• Develop and manage scopes of work, monitor deliverables, approve invoices, and track vendor budgets against plan.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive, hands-on project and program management experience in biopharmaceutical drug development, spanning preclinical, clinical, regulatory, and CMC (Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls).
• Demonstrated experience working with CDMOs, CROs, and other external development partners, with strong financial planning, forecasting, and budget management skills.
• Direct experience leading cross-functional drug development programs, including regulatory filings and early-stage development activities.
• Bachelor's degree in a relevant scientific, engineering, or business discipline.
• Must have experience in managing vendors in an outsourced model.
• Must have clinical trial budgets experience.
• Must have early phase I/II experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Project Management Professional (PMP) or Program Management Professional (PgMP) certifications preferred.

Pay & Benefits

• Salary up to $250,000 plus bonus and equity options.
• Benefits included (Medical, Dental, Vision, 401k).

Schedule & Term

• Full time.
• Permanent position.
• September 2026 start date.
• Must be local to Boston, MA.