Remote Sr. Program Manager - Early Research

Global Project Management (GPM) Strategically enables the development of medicines through program management best practices and timely/informed program/portfolio decision making. GPM drives strategy, planning and execution of assets, through cohesive leadership and strong partnerships, to bring transformative therapies to the communities we serve.

The Sr. Program Manager position is a key transitional role to becoming a leader in the organization. A Sr. PM is an excellent communicator an advanced problem solver and decision maker, rigorous in applying a logical approach and focused on solutions. The Sr. Program Manager – Early Research will be responsible for independently executing on program management activities supporting key cross functional teams to ensure efficient team function and the achievement of key deliverables such as operational plans, timelines, budgeting and resourcing using Microsoft Project (MSP), risk and issue management in collaboration with the respective Team Leader. Needs to be comfortable with multiple modalities and therapeutic areas.

Role Responsibilities

Strategic Planning

• Strategic thought partner to Therapeutic Area (TA) Team Leads, including building high-performing teams and maintaining alignment of Partner Teams and functions to the overarching program strategy.
• Facilitate development of program strategic deliverables and OKRs
• Provide guidance on the business operating model, including but not limited to issue escalation and guidance on early stage (eRRC, RRC and xRRC) governance (including when needed, preparation, facilitation, and meeting minutes)
• Partner with the Therapeutic Area Team Leads in the development of, and updates to, the TA owned program plans.

Operational Execution

• Issues, Risk and Decision Management
• Timeline and Budget Management and Oversight
• Development and oversight of program-level timeline that reflects the critical path for key deliverables, and milestones for Stage appropriate objectives (e.g., Integrated Master (cross-functional), Program Overview)
• Manage, resolve or, when needed, escalate interdependencies, issues, key decisions.
• Manage or oversee project budgets for internal and external cost, and FTE requirements utilizing MSP
• For Therapeutic Area Team, proactively develop execution plans for near-term and longer-term deliverables and oversee execution.
• In collaboration with team members, develop high-level program timelines with clearly identified assumptions and risks. As needed, lead program-level scenario planning initiatives
• In conjunction with team leads, oversee execution (planned vs actuals for high-level timeline)
• Develop the Program Risk Register and facilitate routine review of risks and mitigations of critical / high risks with team leads / teams and risks that impact multiple cross-functional teams or programs.

Stakeholder Management, Communication and Facilitation

• Communicate objectives, plans and timelines to the cross-functional teams.
• Facilitate program reporting / communications (including CEO executive summary, monthly program report)
• Encourage a culture of collaboration and communication across cross-functional team to align on objectives, plans, timelines, and activities according to the team charters.
• Lead the PRIME team and as needed, lead Tiger Teams
• When applicable, attend program team meetings as ancillary team member on agenda-driven basis and providing recommendations for program-level topics for team discussion / escalation.
• In conjunction with Therapeutic Area Team Leads, holding team members accountable for assigned actions and roles.
• Facilitate governance and team meetings and provide oversight of supporting materials.

For Therapeutic Area Teams:

• Provide oversight of the creation and maintenance of team systems for collaboration, communication, and document storage (e.g., MS Teams, Distribution list, Team Calendars, SharePoint logs)
• Request Lessons Learned sessions after major milestones, as appropriate.
• Provide support for and/or facilitation of team meetings (e.g., meeting request, scheduling, agenda, minutes, deck preparation, pre-reads)

Education Required

• Ph.D., Masters or minimally BA/BS (with at least 3 years of experience in a research organization), in a relevant scientific field.

Experience Required

• Minimum of 8 years total relevant experience (including industry, project management, or academia), with at least 5 years in a project management role. PMP or comparable certification a plus.
• People management experience a plus.

Supervisor Responsibility

• No supervisor responsibility

Competencies Required

Behavioral

• Communications: Able to facilitate small and large meetings efficiently and effectively across functions, promoting candid communication, collaboration, meeting stakeholder needs, and accomplishing meeting objectives
• Leadership: Maintains composure while acknowledging and listening to differing viewpoints, identifying discrepancies, and gathering additional information
• Agility: Demonstrates ability to push past problems and continue work progress.

Technical

• Product Development Lifecycle: Demonstrates solid understanding of cross-functional interdependencies and potential conflicts throughout the product development lifecycle and proactively leverages this knowledge to coordinate effective discussions within team settings.
• Project Management: Demonstrates command of a wide range of project management tools and techniques and appropriate leverages the appropriate PM tools to make progress.
• Product and Therapeutic Area Knowledge: Draws on experience, lessons learned, best practices to ask relevant questions about product and therapeutic modalities to identify project management considerations and propose mitigating actions.