Senior Director, Project Management

IDEAYA is a precision medicine oncology company committed to the discovery, development, and commercialization of transformative therapies for cancer. Our approach integrates expertise in small-molecule drug discovery, structural biology, and bioinformatics with robust internal capabilities in identifying and validating translational biomarkers to develop tailored, potentially first-in-class targeted therapies aligned to the genetic drivers of disease.

About the role

The Senior Director, Project Management will serve as the project management lead for IDE892, providing both strategic and operational leadership across one of IDEAYA's highest-priority and most complex programs. This individual will bring scientific depth and program management rigor to a multi-arm, multi-collaboration development program spanning early combination studies through potential registrational development. The role demands a seasoned leader who can think strategically alongside the Clinical and Scientific Leads while ensuring flawless day-to-day execution across a highly matrixed, fast-moving team. This position is based in South San Francisco and requires onsite presence four days per week.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Program Leadership
  • Serve as Project Manager for IDE892, owning the overall program strategy in partnership with the Clinical Lead and Head of Research
  • Integrate scientific, clinical, regulatory, and commercial perspectives into a coherent Development Plan and Target Product Profile (TPP)
  • Lead program-level scenario planning, portfolio prioritization discussions, and trade-off analyses for Senior Leadership and the Board
  • Serve as a key point of contact for the Roche collaboration on IDE892, supporting Joint Steering Committee preparation and cross-company alignment
  • Anticipate strategic inflection points, including: combination selection, indication prioritization, registrational entry
• Operational Execution
  • Own and maintain the IDE892 integrated program timeline, critical path, milestone tracking, and risk register
  • Lead cross-functional Program Team meetings; drive decision-making, document outcomes, and ensure accountability
  • Partner with Clinical Operations to oversee study execution across IDE892-001 cohorts, including RAS combination arms and expansion into PDAC and NSCLC
  • Manage program budget in partnership with Finance; ensure accurate forecasting and resource alignment
  • Coordinate cross-functional readiness for IND amendments, regulatory interactions, and data readouts
• Risk Management & Problem Solving
  • Proactively identify program risks across scientific, operational, regulatory, and partnership dimensions
  • Facilitate rapid cross-functional risk assessment and drive contingency planning
  • Escalate critical issues to Senior Leadership with clarity and recommended paths forward
• External Collaboration Management
  • Support management of the Roche collaboration, including coordination of joint program teams, data sharing, and governance meetings
  • Coordinate with CROs and other external partners in close collaboration with Clinical Operations
• Communication & Reporting
  • Prepare and help present program updates for Senior Leadership Team, Board of Directors, and external partners
  • Ensure alignment between IDE892 program plans and broader corporate priorities and timelines

Requirements

• PhD in a relevant life sciences discipline (e.g., biology, pharmacology, biochemistry, or related field) required
• Minimum 10 years of drug development experience in the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry, with at least 5 years in program management
• Demonstrated experience leading cross-functional oncology program teams through Phase 1 and Phase 2 development
• Strong scientific fluency in oncology — ability to engage credibly with clinical, translational, and research teams
• Proven ability to develop and manage integrated program plans, budgets, and risk frameworks
• Experience managing external partnerships or collaborations at the program level
• Exceptional communication and facilitation skills; proven ability to align senior, cross-functional stakeholders
• Experience in RAS-driven cancers (PDAC, NSCLC, CRC) or MTAP/EGFR/KRAS biology
• Familiarity with combination oncology development strategy, including contribution-of-components frameworks
• Experience supporting late-phase or registrational programs through BLA/NDA or sNDA submission
• Prior experience in a lean, clinical-stage biotech environment managing multiple simultaneous program arms
• PMP certification or equivalent program management training

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage (100% company paid for employees and 90% company paid for dependents)
• 401k retirement plan
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)
• Wellness programs
• Company discretionary short-term incentive plan participation
• Company discretionary stock option awards (based on board approval)

Pay

The expected salary range for this role is $255,000 - $315,000. The final salary offered will depend on factors including experience, expertise in relevant disease areas, industry tenure, educational background, and performance during the interview process.

Schedule

This position requires onsite work at the South San Francisco headquarters four days per week, with work-from-home flexibility.