(Sr.) Program Director, Late Development

leydenlabs; Leiden; Hybrid; EUR 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Leyden Labs is seeking a (Sr.) Program Director, Late Development to lead one or more company-critical development programs. This role serves as primary integrator across functions, aligning strategy, execution, governance, and decision-making throughout the development lifecycle.

Reporting to the CTO, you will partner with scientific, clinical, regulatory, CMC, quality, operational, and external stakeholders, driving key decisions and program success in a hybrid setup based in the Netherlands.

Qualifications

• MS or PhD in chemistry, biology, biotechnology, or related scientific discipline.
• At least 10 years in biotech/pharma with 5+ years in leadership of late-stage programs.
• Experience integrating scientific, clinical, regulatory, CMC, quality, and operations into program strategy.

Responsibilities

• Own the integrated late-stage development strategy and plan across functions.
• Lead cross-functional program teams with clear objectives, timelines, and accountability.
• Build and sustain a high-performing program team and governance processes.
• Frame options and provide recommendations to Executive Team and governance committees.
• Enable timely decisions through disciplined governance and concise progress communication.

Skills

Leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Strategic thinking

Communication

Education

MS or PhD in chemistry, biology, or related science

Job description

(Sr.) Program Director, Late Development

Program Development | Netherlands | Hybrid

The opportunity Lead company-critical development programs by shaping integrated strategy, aligning functions, and driving decisions that maximize program and company value.

About the role

Leyden Labs is seeking a (Sr.) Program Director, Late Development to lead one or more company-critical development programs. This highly visible role will serve as the primary integrator across functions, connecting strategy, execution, governance, and decision-making throughout the development lifecycle.

Reporting to the Chief Technology Officer, the (Sr.) Program Director will be a key member of the Program Development team and will partner closely with scientific, clinical, regulatory, CMC, quality, operational, and external stakeholders.

Key responsibilities

• Own the integrated late-stage development strategy and plan, aligning scientific, clinical, regulatory, CMC, quality, operational, and business priorities to maximize program and company value.

• Lead cross-functional program teams by setting clear objectives, priorities, deliverables, timelines, decision points, and accountability for outcomes.

• Build and sustain a high-performing program team that collaborates effectively, constructively challenges assumptions, and consistently delivers against shared goals.

• Frame strategic options, opportunities, risks, and trade-offs, and provide clear recommendations to the Executive Team and relevant governance committees.

• Enable timely, high-quality decisions through disciplined program governance, transparent planning, effective escalation, and concise communication of progress and recommendations.

Leadership expectations

• Create a compelling program vision and translate it into a clear, actionable direction for the team.

• Lead through influence in a matrix organization, building trust and alignment across diverse functions, senior stakeholders, and external partners.

• Foster an inclusive culture of collaboration, transparency, accountability, constructive challenge, and shared ownership.

• Demonstrate sound judgment and adaptability, balancing strategic perspective with the operational discipline needed to move teams from discussion to decision.

Qualifications and experience

• MS or PhD in chemistry, biological or medical sciences, biotechnology, or a related scientific discipline.

• At least 10 years of experience in the biotechnology or pharmaceutical industry, including at least 5 years in a project, program, or cross-functional leadership role supporting late-stage development programs.

• Deep understanding of the drug development lifecycle, with hands-on experience supporting pivotal clinical trials, regulatory submissions, and cross-functional development activities.

• Demonstrated ability to integrate complex scientific, clinical, regulatory, CMC, quality, operational, and business considerations into coherent program strategies and plans.

• Experience leading internal and external development activities with cross-functional partners and vendors under demanding timelines.

• Strong strategic thinking, organizational, analytical, and interpersonal skills, with confidence engaging senior leaders and managing complex, high-stakes programs.

• Strong preference for candidates with hands-on experience advancing programs from Phase II/III through BLA/NDA filing and regulatory review

• Excellent written and verbal communication, presentation, collaboration, influencing, and negotiation skills.

• Therapeutic area experience in respiratory disease, infectious disease, immunology, or related fields is preferred.

About you

• You are a self-starter who works effectively on your own initiative while building strong, trusted partnerships.

• You are comfortable working in an evolving environment and can adapt quickly and thoughtfully when priorities or circumstances change.

• You simplify complexity and communicate the essential issues, alternatives, and recommendations with clarity.

• You combine a practical, can-do mindset with disciplined strategic and analytical thinking.

• You bring strong leadership and influencing skills at departmental, organizational, and cross-functional levels.

• You thrive in a mission-driven, collaborative biotechnology environment and are motivated by the opportunity to develop meaningful medical innovation.

Why Leyden Labs

Leyden Labs is developing innovative mucosal protection platforms designed to help protect people from respiratory viruses, including influenza and coronaviruses. You will join a talented, highly collaborative team at a pivotal stage in the company's journey and contribute directly to advancing a growing development pipeline and meaningful medical science.

Location and working model

The team works on a hybrid, on-site schedule. We are therefore looking for a colleague who is currently based in the Netherlands. The preferred start date is as soon as practical, while recognizing that the right candidate may have a notice period or planned leave.

Equal opportunity

Leyden Labs is an equal opportunity employer. We believe in the value of a diverse and inclusive team united by a common purpose. We welcome candidates who want to make an impact, collaborate across disciplines, and help advance our mission.

Agency recruiters: Leyden Labs fills vacancies through its internal recruitment efforts. External agency support is not required for this role, and we kindly ask agencies not to contact employees directly.