Associate Director, Project Management

Centessa Pharmaceuticals; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 115,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) plan

Medical, dental, vision, life insured

Paid time off

Health and wellness program

Job summary

Centessa Pharmaceuticals, a clinical-stage biotech, seeks an Associate Director, Project Management for Orexin development programs based in the US. You will lead cross-functional teams, maintain program plans and dashboards, and guide budgets and risk strategies through IND-enabling activities and early clinical development.

The role requires 8+ years in pharma/biotech R&D (PM focus) and demonstrates strong communication, leadership, and regulatory submission experience. On-site with travel.

Qualifications

• PM/Project Management experience in pharma/biotech R&D.
• PMP certification preferred and strong communication skills.
• Proven ability to manage cross-functional teams and budgets.

Responsibilities

• Partner with GTL to manage cross-functional matrix development teams.
• Develop and maintain integrated program Gantt charts and dashboards.
• Lead risk management, budgets and vendor management within approved budgets.
• Prepare governance materials and support regulatory submissions.

Education

BS/MS/MBA in pharmaceutical/biotech R&D

Tools

Smartsheet

Job description

Centessa Pharmaceuticals, a wholly owned subsidiary of Eli Lilly and Company, is a clinical-stage company developing orexin receptor 2 (OX2R) agonists as a new class of medicines for the treatment of narcolepsy and potentially other sleep-wake disorders. Centessa’s lead investigational candidate – cleminorexton (formerly ORX750) – is being developed for narcolepsy type 1, narcolepsy type 2, and idiopathic hypersomnia. Centessa's OX2R agonist portfolio includes additional clinical and preclinical-stage assets with potential utility across a broader range of neurological, neurodegenerative, and neuropsychiatric conditions.

Headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, Centessa was recognized as a Great Place to Work® in 2026.

Description Of Role

Centessa is seeking a Associate Director, Project Management – Orexin Development Programs. This individual will leverage both project management and drug development experience to manage one or more early-stage global Orexin development programs. This position will report to the Executive Director, Global Team Leader.

Key Responsibilities

• Partner with the GTL (Global Team Leader) to project manage a cross-functional matrix development team, and select sub-teams
• Lead the development of and continuously maintain detailed and fully cross-functionally integrated program Gantt chart, incorporating all relevant dependencies, and provide fit-for-purpose summary views for team use and executive management reviews
• Identify and manage interdependencies, critical path and at-risk activities to support program level scenario planning and risk management strategies
• Develop and maintain relevant dashboards to communicate status and track progress
• Manage cross-functional team meetings including scheduling, preparing agendas, presentation materials, and minutes that ensure proper follow up of action items
• Develop and maintain issue logs and risks registers, and ensure team proactively resolve issues in a timely manner and that risks are mitigated as appropriate
• Work with cross-functional team and Finance to develop and update budgets, and manage program spend within approved budget
• Manage select external vendors (timelines, budgets, MSA/SOW documents, etc.) and integrate deliverables into program Gantt
• Support development of Governance and Executive presentations
• Provide support for the planning and preparation of documents to a quality standard required for Regulatory/Health Authority submissions
• Contribute to establishment and refinement of best practices, processes and procedures

Qualifications

• BS plus 8+ years’ experience in pharmaceutical/biotech R&D environment, or MS/MBA plus 6+ years in pharmaceutical/biotech R&D environment, including 4+ years as PM or equivalent
• Experience managing project teams through IND-enabling activities, pre-IND mtgs, IND submissions, and Phase 1 development.
• Proven expertise in drug development and registration, including early and late-stage clinical, nonclinical, CMC development, and regulatory interactions, submissions/reviews globally
• Highly motivated, proactive, detail-oriented and organized self-starter with strong communication, collaboration, interpersonal skills, and influence to accomplish work without formal authority and to ensure optimal team performance
• Excellent analytical skills and expert in facilitating team decision making; competent in the application of decision analysis methodologies and related tools
• Expert knowledge of project management principles and practices with the ability to thrive in a fast-paced dynamic environment (PMP certification is highly desired), and expert in project management software, e.g., Smartsheet

Work Location

The Associate Director, Project Management role is based in the US, with occasional travel.

Compensation

The annual base salary range for the this position is $115,000 -$170,000.

Individual compensation within this range will be determined based on a variety of factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge and location.

In addition to base pay, this role is eligible for a discretionary annual bonus. The company also offers a comprehensive benefits package, which includes a 401(k) plan, company-sponsored medical, dental, vision, and life insurance, generous paid time off, and a health and wellness program.

POSITION: Full-Time, Exempt

EEOC Statement: Centessa Pharmaceuticals, a wholly owned subdisary of Eli Lilly and Company believes in a diverse environment and is committed to equal employment opportunity for all its employees and qualified applicants. We do not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion, or any other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status. We will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with known disabilities, in accordance with applicable law.

Please note: We will not assign referral rights for any unsolicited resumes from recruitment agencies.