Project Manager, AI in Drug Discovery (AIDD)

A*STAR - Agency for Science, Technology and Research; Singapore; On-site; SGD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

A*STAR is seeking a proactive Project Manager to drive multidisciplinary drug discovery programs in Singapore. You will partner with AIDD leadership to plan, coordinate, and execute projects from target validation to lead optimization, ensuring scientific, operational, and financial objectives are met on schedule and within budget.

Ideal candidates bring at least 2 years of PM experience in pharmaceutical R&D and hold a degree in Chemistry or Life Sciences; PM certification is a plus.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field.
• At least 2 years of PM experience in pharma/biotech/CRO.
• PM certification is advantageous.
• Experience leading interdisciplinary drug discovery projects.
• Strong communication and leadership.

Responsibilities

• Develop integrated project plans, timelines, milestones, and resourcing.
• Track progress against objectives, deliverables, timelines, and budgets.
• Support annual budget planning and forecasting.
• Identify critical paths and manage dependencies.
• Identify project risks and mitigation strategies.
• Facilitate project reviews.
• Foster collaborations with internal and external partners.
• Coordinate activities with CROs and collaborators.
• Communicate status to stakeholders.

Skills

Project management

Cross-functional teamwork

Budgets & forecasting

Governance & compliance

Stakeholder communication

Interdisciplinary coordination

Education

Bachelor's degree in Chemistry or Life Sciences

Master's or PhD beneficial

Job description

Role & Responsibilities

The Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Drug Discovery (AIDD), hosted by the Singapore Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), is Singapore’s national programme for the utilization of AI in drug discovery. AIDD will develop novel machine learning models and algorithms towards the discovery and validation of drug targets, biomarkers, and molecular entities as therapeutics.

We are seeking a Project Manager who will work closely with AIDD Leadership and be responsible for planning, coordinating, and driving the execution of multidisciplinary small molecule drug discovery projects from target validation through lead optimisation and candidate nomination. This role serves as the operational lead for cross-functional project teams, ensuring that scientific, operational, financial, and strategic objectives are achieved on schedule and within budget.

Key Responsibilities (1)

Key Responsibilities

Project Planning and Execution

• Develop integrated project plans, timelines, milestones, and resourcing.
• Track progress against objectives, deliverables, timelines, and budgets.
• Support annual budget planning and forecasting.
• Identify critical paths and manage dependencies proactively.
• Identify project risks and develop mitigation strategies.
• Facilitate project reviews.

Interdisciplinary collaboration

• Foster collaborations with experimental and clinical groups both within A*STAR and with external academic, clinical and industry partners, leveraging the unique capabilities of AIDD
• Align project priorities and resource allocation across functions
• Coordinate activities with CROs, academic collaborators, industry partners, and government agencies.

Key Responsibilities (2)

Communication and Governance

• Organise regular project meetings and ensure appropriate record keeping.
• Communicate project status, achievements, and plans to stakeholders.
• Coordinate preparation of reports for funding agencies, scientific advisory boards, and governance committees.
• Maintain strong governance, compliance, risk management, financial prudence, and documentation practices.

Your Profile

We are looking for a highly organised and passionate individual with:

• Bachelor's degree, Master's or PhD in Chemistry, Life Sciences, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, Chemoinformatics, Bioinformatics, Computer Science, Machine Learning, or a closely related field.
• At least 2 years of project management experience within pharmaceutical, biotechnology, CRO, or translational research environments.
• Professional certification in Project Management is advantageous.
• Extensive experience managing complex interdisciplinary projects, ideally at the interface of computational and experimental drug discovery
• Deep understanding of drug discovery principles
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and leadership skills, with a proven ability to foster a collaborative and inclusive research environment
• Ability to adapt to evolving project needs and thrive in a fast-paced environment.
• Background in oncology or other therapeutically relevant disease areas is preferred
• Successful applicants will be appointed at a suitable level within the team, with designation and remuneration reflecting their qualifications and professional experience