Associate Director / Director – Project Management

The Project Management and Portfolio Strategy function at Attovia is responsible for integrating our innovative science with clinical and business opportunities and processes to deliver comprehensive development plans, operational excellence, and portfolio progression for our pipeline.

The Associated Director / Director, Program Management is an integral role on our Development program teams. Tasked with providing core program management support and strategic partnership with the Project Leader, this role is accountable for establishing and driving of program strategy, goals, plans, and long-term planning in alignment with the portfolio strategy. He or she must combine knowledge in program management, study operationalization, clinical development, regulatory requirements, CMC, finance etc. to manage Development programs from a technical, performance, and budget perspective. This role leverages internal and external cross-functional colleagues to influence best practices across the organization to achieve key milestones on time and on budget. Program status and requirements are communicated within the team and to functional and executive management. The incumbent will also drive the selection and implementation of processes and tools for program and portfolio planning and reporting.

Key Responsibilities

• Collaborates on cross-functional Development project teams to establish comprehensive end-to-end program plans, including defining objectives, milestones, and measurable deliverables.
• Provides guidance on the drug development process and applies best practices in program management to advance programs.
• Provides strategic insights on overall program, team, and operational performance to ensure that program prioritization, issue escalation, and portfolio alignment are addressed efficiently.
• Drives execution of program plans and critical decision making, while taking accountability for “on time, on budget” delivery of program goals & milestones.
• Provides guidance on budget planning, forecasting, and leverages quantitative analytics to forecast time and cost to goals and milestones.
• Provides project management guidance and support to other functional teams (e.g., Clinical, CMC) when and where necessary.
• Communicates effectively with key stakeholders and senior leadership regarding the status, objectives, risks, and mitigation plans of Development programs to enhance the organization's focus and delivery capabilities.
• Supports/manages cross-functional meetings, including scheduling logistics, the creation and distribution of meeting agendas and minutes, and drive completion of action items.
• Ensures good meeting disciplines are continuously maintained (with supporting documentation) so that there is a clear logical record of events for each project or partnership.
• Proactively identifies program risks and implements mitigation plans to prevent issues, ensuring timely communication with executive management.
• Tracks progress against project plans and ensures project teams/stakeholders have the tools necessary to deliver program objectives.
• Supports and maintains project infrastructure – including library/repositories of data & actions, project Gantt charts, and budgets.
• Drives the adoption of best practices in project management and execution.

Basic Qualifications

• Sound scientific background with BS or BA in science/technology or an equivalent combination of certified education and work experience.
• At least 8 years of relevant work experience in the biopharmaceutical industry with at least 4 years operating in a drug development project management capacity and a preference for experience in biologics development.
• Working knowledge of clinical development and regulatory requirements.

Preferred Qualifications

• Project Management Professional (PMP®) certification is a plus but not required.
• Experience across the continuum of drug development, from preclinical development through all stages (Ph1-3) of clinical development.
• Proven collaborator with a positive attitude and an ability to adjust to the fast-paced environment of a small biotech startup.
• Entrepreneurial mindset: demonstrates perseverance and sense of urgency in achieving goals, identifies and actively pursues potential opportunities in self-motivating and self-directed manner, constructively challenges the status quo for better outcomes.
• Focused on problem solving, troubleshooting, and issue resolution with demonstrated track record of taking initiative to resolve problems rapidly and transparently in cross-functional environments.
• Excellent planning skills with a high level of discipline and thorough attention to detail.
• Strong communication skills with excellent written and verbal proficiency to communicate information succinctly, in English (required).
• Structured thinker, strong organizational bias with the ability to implement structure without impacting team efficiency.
• Strong competence in using project management software such as MS Project, Smartsheet (or equivalent) and standard office software such as Microsoft PowerPoint, and Excel to above average proficiency.
• Ability to function as a mentor for key talent in a rapidly growing organization.