Director/Sr. Director, Program Management

Character Biosciences•Jersey City, NJ

5d•$205,000 - $280,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Director/Senior Director of Program Management will bridge the gap between high-level strategy and technical execution, helping to lead cross-functional teams from discovery through commercialization. This role requires a seasoned leader who thrives in the "gray area" of drug development, turning ambiguity into actionable, integrated plans. The successful candidate demonstrates outstanding influencing and communication skills and has a solution-oriented mindset to move programs forward with a sense of urgency.

Requirements

BA or BS in life sciences required; advanced degree preferred
Minimum of 8 years (Director) to 10 years (Sr. Director) of industry experience in drug development and program/portfolio management. Candidates must demonstrate success in advancing programs from early-phase milestones through late-stage execution, with specialized experience in Ophthalmology/retina preferred
Expert-level proficiency in developing and maintaining integrated Gantt timelines (via MS Project). Must demonstrate a deep understanding of critical path methodology and the technical interdependencies between Toxicology, CMC, Clinical Ops, and Regulatory Affairs.
Demonstrated experience in leading teams and cultivating effective cross-functional collaborations
Ability to manage multiple competing priorities and rapidly gather, assimilate, and disseminate information on critical project components and milestones
Exceptional organizational and communication skills, with a track record of effective engagement with executive management
Ability to work independently and under tight deadlines

Nice To Haves

PMP certification preferred

Responsibilities

Partner with Project Team and functional heads to establish and maintain integrated program plans, identifying and managing critical paths to value-creating milestones
Develop and track comprehensive program timelines and budget
Drive the development and implementation of comprehensive program plans, goals, budgets, and timelines. Ensure every functional area is aligned and held accountable.
Partnering with Finance, functional heads, and Project Team to forecast a program budget and resource needs.
Ensure alignment of program strategy/plan/execution with management expectations and priorities
Lead the development of scenarios and recommendations for decision making at various governance bodies
Strengthen and lead cross-functional Project Teams, fostering a culture of open collaboration, critical thinking, and a sense of urgency. Facilitating a cross-functional meeting to identify and resolve a critical path bottleneck in a clinical trial or program.
Leverage deep industry knowledge to identify potential program risks early. Collaborate with the Project Team to develop robust contingency plans to ensure value-creating milestones are met.
Ensure accurate and timely communication -- you must be adept at framing nuanced context, capturing the rationale for decisions, and tailoring messages for diverse audiences.