Associate Director/Director Program Management

Barrington James; Des Plaines (IL); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Barrington James in the Greater Chicago area offers an Associate Director/Director of Program Management role within a hybrid setting. This leader will oversee drug development programs across multiple therapeutic areas, from planning through to regulatory submission, coordinating cross-functional teams to execute integrated project plans.

The role requires a strong background in biopharma program management, budget oversight, and strategic leadership to drive on-time delivery and successful

Qualifications

• Degree in Life Sciences and/or Project Management.
• Minimum of 7 years’ experience within industry, academia, or consulting.
• Strong understanding of the end-to-end drug development process, with prior experience in biopharmaceutical project management.
• Proven ability to work cross-functionally with interdisciplinary teams to optimize resources and deliver development programs.
• Commercially minded, with experience managing budgets and resources and a track record of progressing programs through development to registration and beyond.
• Strong leadership and communication skills, with a results-oriented mindset.
• Demonstrated problem-solving ability, with experience developing innovative solutions in complex environments.
• Excellent project planning and tracking skills, with strong strategic thinking and contingency planning capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Support the management of drug development projects from kick-off through to approval, establishing timelines and aligning with strategic objectives.
• Lead projects in a fast-paced environment, fostering collaboration and ensuring high-quality execution.
• Support the PMO function by designing tools, templates, and processes to drive efficiency across the organization.
• Provide regular project status updates to stakeholders and senior leadership; establish reporting processes for transparency on progress, risks, and milestones.
• Support leadership of cross-functional Joint Project Teams through development to approval, including scenario planning and value propositions.
• Lead development and maintenance of compound development strategies, ensuring delivery within budgets and timelines.
• Motivate and challenge teams to address issues, incorporating input to meet asset needs.
• Identify risks and lead contingency planning; drive problem-solving to ensure timely decisions.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Strategic thinking

Problem solving

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Life Sciences degree

Project Management certification

Tools

MS Project

Smartsheet

Gantt planning

PowerPoint

SharePoint

Excel

Job description

Associate Director/Director Program Management

Greater Chicago Area - Hybrid

We’re exclusively partnered with a biopharmaceutical company operating a unique model and are currently seeking an Associate Director / Director of Program Management. This is a fantastic opportunity to join an organization with a diverse portfolio spanning both biologics and small molecules, covering end-to-end development through to commercialization.

The Global Project Leader will support drug development programs across multiple therapeutic areas, providing project leadership and oversight within a cross-functional, highly matrixed organization. This individual will contribute to the development of comprehensive, integrated project plans based on robust scientific data to support regulatory submissions and secure approval aligned with the Target Product Profile.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the management of drug development projects from kick-off through to approval, including assisting in the development of integrated project plans, establishing timelines, and ensuring alignment with strategic objectives.
• Lead projects in a fast-paced environment, fostering collaboration and ensuring high-quality execution while maintaining strong team dynamics and sustainable performance.
• Support the PMO function in designing and implementing effective tools, templates, and processes to drive continuous improvement, increase efficiency, and streamline operations across the organization.
• Provide regular project status updates to stakeholders and senior leadership; establish reporting processes to ensure transparency around progress, risks, and key milestones in line with PMO governance.
• Support the leadership of highly matrixed, cross-functional global Joint Project Teams (JPTs) through development to approval, including scenario planning (approval strategy, product narrative, value proposition, benefit-risk assessment, and mitigation strategies).
• Lead the development and maintenance of compound development strategies, ensuring delivery within approved budgets and timelines in close collaboration with cross-functional teams.
• Motivate and challenge team members to ensure all issues are addressed, incorporating functional input into strategy and execution plans to meet asset needs.
• Identify potential risks and lead contingency planning; drive problem-solving within the JPT using structured decision-making tools and techniques to ensure effective and timely decisions.

Qualifications & Skills

• Degree in Life Sciences and/or Project Management
• Minimum of 7 years’ experience within industry, academia, or consulting
• Strong understanding of the end-to-end drug development process, with prior experience in biopharmaceutical project management
• Proven ability to work cross-functionally with interdisciplinary teams to optimize resources and deliver development programs
• Commercially minded, with experience managing budgets and resources and a track record of progressing programs through development to registration and beyond
• Strong leadership and communication skills, with a results-oriented mindset
• Demonstrated problem-solving ability, with experience developing innovative solutions in complex environments
• Excellent project planning and tracking skills, with strong strategic thinking and contingency planning capabilities
• Proficiency in MS Project, Smartsheet, Gantt planning, PowerPoint, SharePoint, Excel, and other project management tools
• Solid development acumen, with experience leading large, cross-functional teams across complex drug development programs (e.g., injectables, drug-device combinations, multiple formulations and delivery methods), with the ability to maintain a “big picture” perspective