Associate Director, Program Management

Zenas BioPharma, Inc.; Waltham (MA); On-site; USD 155,000 - 194,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Job summary

Zenas BioPharma, Inc. in Waltham, MA is seeking an experienced Associate Director, Program Management to provide operational support for one or more clinical development programs, serving as a trusted partner to the Global Project Leader and ensuring GDTs are organized and effective.

The role emphasizes strong communication, emotional intelligence, and the ability to drive integrated timelines, governance, and risk management across cross-functional teams, with a competitive compensation and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• 8+ years of program management experience in clinical drug development.
• Strong ability to manage multiple complex workstreams.
• Excellent written and oral communication.
• High emotional intelligence and cross-functional collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Manage GDT meeting operations from agenda to follow-up.
• Develop and maintain the integrated program timeline with interdependencies.
• Maintain program risk and mitigation log and escalate risks as needed.
• Support development of governance presentations.
• Partner with the GPL on priorities and deliverables.
• Foster a one-team culture and remove cross-functional barriers.
• Implement PM systems to ensure consistency across GDTs.

Skills

Bachelor’s degree

Program management

Drug development knowledge

Prioritization

Change management

Emotional intelligence

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Smartsheet

ThinkCell

PowerPoint

Microsoft Teams

Job description

Zenas is a clinical-stage global biopharmaceutical company committed to becoming a leader in the development and commercialization of transformative therapies for patients with autoimmune diseases. Our core business strategy combines our experienced leadership team with a disciplined product candidate acquisition approach to identify, acquire and develop product candidates globally that we believe can provide superior clinical benefits to patients living with autoimmune diseases. Zenas is advancing two late-stage, potential franchise molecules, obexelimab and orelabrutinib. Obexelimab, Zenas’ lead product candidate, is a bifunctional monoclonal antibody designed to bind both CD19 and FcγRIIb, which are broadly present across B cell lineage, to inhibit the activity of cells that are implicated in many autoimmune diseases without depleting them. We believe that obexelimab’s unique mechanism of action and self-administered, subcutaneous injection regimen may broadly and effectively address the pathogenic role of B cell lineage in chronic autoimmune disease. Orelabrutinib is a potentially best-in-class, highly selective CNS-penetrant, oral, small molecule Bruton’s Tyrosine Kinase (BTK) inhibitor with the potential to address compartmentalized inflammation and disease progression in Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Zenas’ earlier stage programs include ZB021, a clinical-stage, potentially best-in-class, oral, IL-17AA/AF inhibitor; ZB022, a preclinical, potentially best-in-class, oral, brain-penetrant, TYK2 inhibitor; and ZB014, a preclinical half-life extended anti-CD-19 and FcγRIIb monoclonal antibody.

We are seeking top talent who share our commitment to patients and have a track record of success in acquiring, developing and commercializing products across the globe. Our colleagues have an opportunity to engage in a fast-paced learning environment and experience individual and organizational success as we work towards becoming a global immunology and autoimmune disease leader, while living our values of Transparency, Relationships, Urgency, Excellence and Innovation – TRUE Innovation!

Position Summary

The Associate Director, Program Management provides operational support for one or more Zenas clinical development programs. Serving as a trusted thought partner to the Global Project Leader (GPL), the ideal candidate uses exceptional communication and their high EQ to ensure Global Development Teams (GDTs) are organized and operating effectively.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage all GDT meeting operations, including agenda and pre-read preparation, facilitation, minutes, and action follow-up, ensuring that topics, objectives, and timing are appropriate for a cross-functional audience
• Develop and maintain the integrated program timeline, including activities, assumptions, risks, and key interdependencies, in alignment with the development strategy
• Maintain the program risk and mitigation log, driving regular team review and escalating risks to impacted functions and program leadership
• Support development of team governance presentations
• Serve as a trusted thought partner to the GPL in setting program priorities, running meetings, and creating deliverables
• Promote team operating principles, fostering a "one team" mindset and removing barriers to cooperation across functions
• Implement program management systems and best practices to ensure consistency and operational effectiveness across GDTs

Qualifications

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree
• 8+ years of prior program management experience within clinical drug development
• Demonstrated understanding of drug development and all relevant core functional areas, including the interdependencies needed to develop integrated timelines
• Ability to prioritize and deliver on simultaneous complex workstreams
• Ability to change direction quickly as business needs require, embracing change as an opportunity and helping team members navigate it
• Continuous growth mindset
• Exceptional written and oral communication skills
• Demonstrated emotional intelligence, including the ability to navigate cross-functional dynamics and foster team health

Preferred

• Experience with Smartsheet, ThinkCell, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Teams
• Experience across multiple phases of drug development

The position is eligible for a competitive compensation and benefits package.

Zenas is committed to fair and equitable compensation practices. The base salary pay range for this role is $155,200 to $194,000. Actual compensation packages will depend on various factors, including, but not limited to depth of experience, education, skillset, overall performance and/or location.

Zenas believes in providing a competitive compensation and benefits package to all employees. Our base salary is just one component of Zenas’ competitive total rewards strategy that also includes annual performance bonus, equity, full range of benefits and other incentive compensation plans.

Zenas BioPharma is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to fostering an environment where diversity is valued. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment based on merit, qualifications and the needs of the business.