Associate Director/Director, Program and Portfolio Management (Biotech) - Septerna
South San Francisco, CA
About the Job
Septerna is a biotechnology company based in South San Francisco, CA on a mission to develop life-changing medicines for patients with the vision to become the industry-leading G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR)-focused drug discovery company. The company's Native Complex Platform™ recapitulates GPCRs with their native structure, function, and dynamics outside of the cellular context. This approach enables novel access to modern structural and screening technologies used in industrial-scale drug discovery for the entire class of GPCRs. Septerna has an emerging pipeline of GPCR-targeted small molecule programs with potential for growth to target many GPCRs that have been undruggable and unexploited to date.
We are excited to expand our multidisciplinary team of individuals focused on creating revolutionary medicines to address the unmet needs of patients. At Septerna we strive to embrace diversity of thought, expertise, and background through collaboration. To join our ambitious team, be prepared to bring your real self to work every day; grow and learn from a talented team of drug hunters, scientists, and business professionals; and contribute your passion, creativity, and energy to accomplish our mission. We share a fearless pursuit of ground-breaking innovations and cultivate an environment where our employees succeed by learning from each other and working as a team.
We are committed to the development of meaningful therapeutics for patients with indications of high unmet need. This is a tremendous opportunity to work with talented individuals on the frontlines of therapeutic discovery and development. You will directly help move therapies through preclinical research, positioning them for success in the clinic. The successful candidate will add their passion, unique talents, and expertise to a dynamic team motivated to discover new disease-modifying therapeutics for patients in a fast-paced environment.
For more information see: www.septerna.com.
About The Role
We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced Associate Director/Director of Program Management to join our dynamic team. This role will be critical in driving the success of our research programs through development candidate nomination into early clinical development, including supporting regulatory submissions and clinical trial management.
In this role, you will lead and coordinate efforts across multiple disciplines, including research, preclinical development, regulatory affairs, clinical operations, and product development. Your strategic insight and project management expertise will be essential in ensuring projects progress on schedule and within budget, while maintaining the highest standards of scientific and operational excellence. You will be the primary point of contact for project stakeholders, ensuring clear and consistent communication, and will be instrumental in identifying and mitigating risks, resolving issues, and making informed decisions that align with the company's strategic objectives.
This position reports to the Senior Director of Program and Portfolio Management.
Key Responsibilities
- Leadership and Coordination: Partner closely with the Program Team Lead to advance programs through preclinical development into the clinic and beyond, ensuring alignment and effective collaboration. Facilitate regular meetings and updates to keep programs on track and stakeholders informed. Lead discussions around critical path activities and scenario planning and focus the teams on the tactical execution of the project plans
- Strategic Planning: Develop and manage comprehensive project plans, integrating key milestones, timelines, budgets, and resource requirements. Understand deviations from the budget and investigate alternatives. Conduct critical path analyses to identify potential bottlenecks and proactively address challenges
- Program Strategy Development: Support the Product Development Team in creating and refining program strategies that align with the company's overall goals. Work with teams to prepare presentations for internal and external meetings (e.g., team presentations, management review meetings, Board of Director meetings)
- Risk Management: Identify project risks and develop mitigation strategies. Monitor project progress and adjust project plans as necessary to address emerging issues and ensure successful outcomes
- Communication: Maintain clear and consistent communication with internal teams, external partners, consultants, and senior management. Provide regular updates on program status, challenges, and opportunities.
- Continuous Improvement: Contribute to establishing and refining program management processes and tools. Promote best practices and foster a culture of operational excellence and continuous improvement
About You
- Advanced degree relevant to drug discovery/development; Ph.D./ PharmD/MBA preferred
- Minimum of at least 10-15 years of experience within the Biotech or Pharma industry; prior experience in project management required, specifically in the early development space
- Proven expertise in project planning, execution, and risk management, with a deep understanding of drug development processes, particularly in endocrinology, immunology, CNS
- Demonstrated track record of managing small molecule discovery projects from early research through development candidates and IND/CTA submissions, clinical trial management, and program strategy development
- Experience with commonly used project management tools, including Microsoft Project and Smartsheet
- Ability to execute diverse and novel strategies in a matrix environment; experience managing and influencing complex issues and a variety of key stakeholders.
- Demonstrated skill in driving execution and focusing on deliverables
- Strong organizational skills, persistent attention to detail, and ability to work independently and collaboratively to manage timelines and priorities
- Ability to manage complex situations and adapt to changing business needs by prioritizing multiple tasks
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills. Demonstrated ability to collaborate closely with individual project leads/teams and scientific leadership
- Desire to work on a small team in a fast-paced environment
The anticipated salary range for candidates who will work in South San Francisco, CA is $180,000 - $230,000. Individual pay may vary based on additional factors, including, and without limitation, job-related skills, experience, work location and relevant education or training. Septerna's compensation package also includes benefits, stock options, and annual target bonus for full-time positions.
