Senior Director, Head of Clinical Project and Portfolio Management

Company Description

Eikon Therapeutics is a new biopharmaceutical company employing revolutionary technology at the intersection of chemistry, engineering, computation, and biology to discover novel treatments for life-threatening disease.  Eikon's discovery platform is built on groundbreaking innovations from its founders (Nobel Prize, 2014), culminating in the creation of microscopes which enable real time, molecular-resolution measurements of protein movement in living cells, thereby unlocking otherwise intractable classes of proteins of proteins as drug targets.

Position

We are seeking a collaborative individual with strong leadership presence who has extensive experience in the clinical drug development process and a deep understanding of and application of principles, concepts, practices, and standards of pharmaceutical project management.  This position will partner with multiple members of the clinical development team and manage programs bridging discovery stage entities into the clinic as well as through the various stages of clinical development and into commercially viable therapeutics. This is an exciting opportunity to join an innovative and groundbreaking organization and establish yourself as a pillar during the organization’s foundational growth period.

About You

You have a strong scientific background, coupled with excellent leadership and exceptional communication skills and a passion for coordinating strategies, resources, timelines and continuous improvement initiatives across multiple functions and activities in order to shepherd a molecule through its lifecycle to realize maximum value for its targeted population. 

What You’ll Do

• Provide leadership to the clinical project and portfolio management function: Build the best team and chart the course. This includes continual optimization of the organizational design and resources, ownership and optimization of key processes, talent and succession management, overall operating budget management and oversight of all clinical project management.
• Partner with cross-functional leaders to develop comprehensive product development and lifecycle management plans (Non-clinical, Clinical, CMC, Regulatory, Commercial) that optimize: value, time, resources, risk, and alignment with business objectives.
• Chairs timely, efficient, and action-oriented project team meetings and is responsible for coordinating team operations, communication and verifying the timely achievement of deliverables.
• Co-leads the design, implementation, and update of life cycle development plans, which articulate the vision & strategy for asset maximization and Development plans which define the scope of project team deliverables, ensuring Development plans integrate therapeutic area/disease area and molecule vision & strategy, with timing, scope and resources.
• Provide leadership to the team and functional areas to anticipate and identify complex project issues which pose a challenge to achieving strategic goals; propose and implements plans to resolve such issues and execute corrective actions.
• Be a key resource in proactively integrating multiple functions and activities, as well as proactively identifying and helping to drive decision-making and resolution of program related matters and the overall Eikon portfolio as appropriate.
• Design, implement and manage the Program Management Office (PMO) and provide senior level oversight of all programs. Leverage PMO resources to support both programs and functions as needed.
• Resource Management: creation of FTE estimates, monitoring FTE usage throughout course of project and proposing revisions to resource plans as needed.
• Risk Management: identify, monitor and report on the risk factors influencing clinical, CMC non-clinical, and regulatory development plans. Support team members to identify risk mitigation plans and ensure cross-functional risk management and reporting.
• Communication Management: Facilitates project level of communication across functions and regions and manages core team documents. Ensures input of all team members and documents decisions made. Ensures project teams follow the global development framework and governance process.
• Enable high performing teams by ensuring there are good team dynamics within the project team.
• May be responsible for developing and implementing continuous improvement and optimization initiatives across the department via management of PMO function.
• Manage due diligence and business development activities for Clinical Development; support mergers and acquisitions of clinical research products and organizations to ensure comprehensive knowledge transfer and risk management.
• Monitor industry best practices and identify opportunities for consistency and operationally excellent standards for project and portfolio management processes.
• Mentor, train more junior staff, in the nuances of managing a development project: management of team dynamics, understanding stages of development and how functional inputs interact to ensure project progression, coaching on R&D/company processes, relating to development team management, strategic document preparation, project management skills and team management.

Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s degree with 12+ years of relevant project management/scientific experience within the pharmaceutical industry; OR a Masters degree with 10+ years of relevant experience; OR a PhD in a scientific field or a PharmD, or MD with 8+ years of relevant experience. A scientific background is preferred.
• Experience must include 5+ years of leading cross-functional project management activities within the pharmaceutical industry, building, managing and articulating comprehensive, complex, cross-functional plans.
• Extensive knowledge of the drug development process and deep understanding of and application of principles, concepts, practices and standards of pharmaceutical project management.
• Expertise in developing and managing project scope, deliverables, risks and resource requirements.
• Strong leadership presence and organizational awareness with the ability to translate into action.
• Excellent analytical skills with an ability to summarize and present complex information in a clear and concise manner.
• Outstanding verbal and written communications skills with the ability to effectively interact with all levels within the company.
• Must be able to understand and communicate scientific and business elements associated with the therapeutic areas(s) of assigned projects.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills and understanding of team dynamics.
• Ability to lead without authority, influence and motivate teams.
• Ability to help teams anticipate, plan, and adapt to an evolving environment.
• Ability to take accountability and empower individuals and teams to make effective decisions which are aligned with the company’s vision, values and goals.
• Advanced knowledge and skill with Microsoft Project, Microsoft Excel and other reporting and tracking tools (e.g., Planisware)
• Demonstrated ability to succinctly translate and effectively communicate the potential impact of significant and complex issues.
• Ability to read, analyze an interpret common scientific and technical journals, financial reports, and legal documents. Ability to effectively present information to senior management, internal stakeholders, and external partners.
• Proven ability to work independently in a dynamic, fast-moving environment, but also as part of a collaborative and innovative team.
• Ability to manage assignments and effectively deliver all expected deliverables in an organized and a timely manner and proactively communicate changes in pre-established goals and deadlines.

At Eikon, employee compensation also includes bonus and equity compensation, in addition to several generous benefit programs, including:

• 401k plan with company matching
• Medical (premiums covered by Eikon at 95%), dental and vision insurance (premiums covered by Eikon at 100%)
• Mental health and wellness benefits
• Weeklong summer and winter holiday shutdowns
• Generous paid time off and holiday policies
• Life/AD&D Insurance (premiums covered by Eikon at 100%) and optional supplemental employee-paid life/AD&D policies
• Enhanced parental leave benefit
• Daily subsidized lunch program when on-site

The expected salary range for this role is $213,000 to $245,000, depending on skills, competency, and the market demand for your expertise.