Associate Director, Program Management

Fortvita Biologics; Palo Alto (CA); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Fortvita Biologics is seeking an Associate Director, PMO to lead planning and execution of Phase 2 and Phase 3 clinical programs. You will partner with Clinical Operations, Biometrics, QA, CMC, BD, Commercial, and Finance to ensure milestones, timelines, and budgets are met while delivering integrated development plans.

The role requires deep program management experience, cross-functional leadership, and a track record of regulatory interactions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a technical or life sciences field.
• 6+ years of pharmaceutical/biotechnology industry experience.
• 3+ years of project/program management leading cross-functional drug development programs.
• Direct Phase 2 and Phase 3 clinical development experience, including key milestones and regulatory interactions.
• Experience with portfolio management, including prioritization, reporting, and governance.
• Proficiency with project/portfolio management tools (Smartsheet, MS Project, Planisware).

Responsibilities

• Define program scope, objectives, milestones, and success criteria for Phase 2 and Phase 3 programs.
• Develop and maintain integrated cross-functional development plans, timelines, budgets, and resource forecasts.
• Drive execution against key milestones, proactively managing risks, dependencies, and timeline impacts.
• Coordinate delivery of critical clinical development milestones in partnership with Clinical Operations and Biometrics.
• Support scenario planning and strategic decision-making through analysis of timeline, enrollment, and resource trade-offs.

Skills

Project management

Cross-functional leadership

Strategic thinking

Executive stakeholder management

Budgeting & financial planning

Education

Bachelor’s degree in technical or life sciences

Tools

Smartsheet

MS Project

Planisware

Job description

Remote (U.S.-based) - CA, CO, CT, FL, IL, IN, MA, MD, MN, NH, NJ, NY, NC, PA, RI, TX, UT, VA, WA

Preference is Palo Alto, CA - Hybrid

Travel up to 15% required

ABOUT THE COMPANY

Fortvita Biologics is a San Francisco Bay Area–based biopharmaceutical company advancing next-generation biologics with the goal of addressing critical health needs. Building on our foundation in oncology, we are expanding into cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, immunology, and ophthalmology, applying our scientific rigor and platform capabilities to areas of growing global health burden. Our expertise covers antibody discovery and engineering, including monoclonal, bispecific, and polyspecific antibodies, as well as antibody-drug conjugates, all supported by development strategies rooted in thoughtful design and agile execution.

Our clinical development footprint covers the U.S., Australia, and key regions across APAC and Europe, including the EU, UK, South Korea, and Japan. With more than 100 professionals across research, development, regulatory, and operations, we bring deep expertise and a global perspective to every program. Guided by our mission to transform research breakthroughs into therapeutic excellence and driven by our vision to improve lives through scientific innovation, we are committed to delivering meaningful impact for patients around the world.

POSITION SUMMARY

Reporting to the Head of PMO, the Associate Director, Program Management leads the planning and execution of clinical development programs while supporting portfolio prioritization, governance, and reporting across the R&D organization. In partnership with cross-functional leaders and the Project Lead (PL) Lead, this role drives integrated development plans, ensures delivery against milestones, timelines, budgets, and key decision points, and provides portfolio analytics and reporting to enable informed investment, resource, and risk-based decisions. The ideal candidate brings deep program management expertise, proven Phase 2 and Phase 3 execution experience, and a strong track record of driving cross-functional alignment across Clinical, QA, CMC, BD, Commercial, and Finance.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Partner with the PL Lead to define program scope, objectives, milestones, and success criteria for Phase 2 and Phase 3 programs.
• Develop and maintain integrated cross-functional development plans, timelines, budgets, and resource forecasts.
• Drive execution against key milestones, proactively managing risks, dependencies, and timeline impacts.
• Coordinate delivery of critical clinical development milestones in partnership with Clinical Operations and Biometrics.
• Support scenario planning and strategic decision-making through analysis of timeline, enrollment, and resource trade-offs.

Cross-Functional Alignment & Team Leadership

• Drive cross-functional alignment, decision-making, and execution across Clinical, QA, CMC, BD, Commercial, and Finance.
• Lead and influence matrixed teams, resolving issues and removing barriers to program success.
• Facilitate governance and stage-gate reviews, ensuring high-quality, decision-ready materials.
• Track key decisions, risks, and action items, driving accountability and follow-through.
• May mentor and provide oversight to program management team members.
• Support portfolio prioritization and resource allocation through portfolio analytics, reporting, and governance.
• Develop and maintain portfolio dashboards, roadmaps, and status reporting on milestones, risks, and dependencies.
• Contribute to resource planning, capacity modeling, and scenario analyses to support investment decisions.
• Facilitate portfolio review meetings, including decision support, materials preparation, and follow-up.
• Identify cross-program dependencies, resource constraints, and portfolio risks for leadership visibility.
• Partner with Finance and BD on budgeting, resource planning, valuation inputs, and long-range planning.

Reporting, Communication & Standards

• Provide clear, timely updates on program and portfolio status, risks, decisions, and key milestones.
• Maintain accurate, compliant program documentation and records.
• Drive adoption of PMO best practices, tools, templates, and processes.
• Support continuous improvement of governance, stage-gate, and team operating models.

Other duties as assigned

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in a technical or life sciences field.
• 6+ years of pharmaceutical/biotechnology industry experience.
• 3+ years of project/program management leading cross-functional drug development programs.
• Proven experience driving timelines, milestones, and alignment across drug development functions.
• Direct Phase 2 and Phase 3 clinical development experience, including key milestones and regulatory interactions.
• Experience with portfolio management, including prioritization, resource planning, reporting, and governance.
• Proficiency with project/portfolio management tools (e.g., Smartsheet, MS Project, Planisware).

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Advanced degree (MS, PhD, MBA, or equivalent).
• PMP or equivalent certification.
• Late-stage development experience through regulatory submission and launch.
• Global and/or multi-regional clinical development experience.
• Knowledge of portfolio analytics and valuation methods.
• Ability to interpret scientific, technical, and clinical development data.

COMPETENCIES/CORE SKILLS

• Strategic thinking & prioritization
• Driving execution & accountability
• Cross-functional leadership & collaboration
• Influence without authority
• Excellent communication and executive stakeholder management skills.
• Budgeting & financial planning acumen

Fortvita is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and applicants and do not discriminate based on any protected characteristic under applicable federal, state, or local law. This includes but not limited to race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding), gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, military or veteran status, or hair texture and style. Harassment or discrimination on the basis of any protected trait is strictly prohibited.

We do not accept unsolicited resumes from staffing agencies or search firms. Any resume submitted without a signed agreement will be considered unsolicited, and Fortvita will not be obligated to pay any fees.

Additional Legal Disclaimers

Applicants must have legal authorization to work in the United States. In compliance with federal law, all new hires will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the U.S. and complete Form I-9 upon hire.

Employment at Fortvita is at-will. This means that either the employee or the company may terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause or advanced notice. This job description is intended to describe the general nature of the work being performed and does not constitute a contract or guarantee