Associate Director, Strategic Program Management

Abgenix; Redwood City (CA); Hybrid; USD 185,000 - 225,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance

401k with Company Match up to 4%

Company Equity

Generous Paid Time Off

Employee Stock Purchase Program (ESPP)

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)

Job summary

Codexis Inc. in Redwood City, CA is seeking an Associate Director of Strategic Program Management to lead cross-functional SPM efforts for the ECO Synthesis platform and customer programs.

You will partner with R&D, Commercial, Quality, and Finance to define scope, milestones, risks, and governance while driving disciplined execution across programs. The role emphasizes structured program infrastructure, timely escalation of risks, and continuous improvement of SPM processes to enable faster

Qualifications

• Minimum 10–12 years of related experience with a bachelor's degree.
• Experience leading complex, cross-functional programs in biotech/pharma.
• Strong program management and governance skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication.

Responsibilities

• Lead SPM execution for Codexis R&D programs and ECO Synthesis customer programs.
• Create standardized program infrastructure with timelines, dashboards, logs.
• Coordinate with internal departments to align priorities and resources.
• Support customer programs from planning to delivery and manage changes.
• Prepare governance-ready documentation and risk/decision logs.
• Improve SPM processes and templates for better execution.
• Capture lessons learned to improve speed and clarity.

Skills

Program management

Cross-functional leadership

Biotech experience

Stakeholder communication

Governance

Timeline planning

Risk management

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Smartsheet

Job description

The Associate Director, Strategic Program Management (SPM) will focus on management of the ECO Synthesis® technology platform, including Codexis R&D programs, key corporate initiatives, and customer programs supporting ECO Synthesis®. This role serves as the operational partner to program leads and cross-functional teams, creating and maintaining the program infrastructure needed to deliver objectives, milestones, budgets, risks, and outcomes aligned with Codexis’ strategic goals. The Associate Director, SPM will partner with program leads, functional leadership, and subject matter experts to define program scope, clarify roles and accountabilities, manage timelines and decision points, prepare materials for program reviews and governance forums, and ensure timely escalation of risks, trade-offs, resource constraints, and decisions. This role is expected to bring structure, visibility, and disciplined execution to cross-functional programs while enabling faster decision-making, clear communication, and continuous improvement across the SPM operating model.

The Associate Director, Strategic Program Management will be responsible for creating, maintaining, and driving integrated program plans in alignment with Codexis policies, procedures, and governance expectations. For Codexis R&D programs and key corporate initiatives, this role partners with program leads and functional teams to establish program charters, objectives, milestones, decision points, risks, issues, and cross-functional accountabilities. For customer programs, this role supports coordinated execution across Commercial, Research, Development, Quality, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, and Finance stakeholders to enable on‑time and in‑full delivery against customer commitments.

Department 68 - Strategic Program Management Employment Type Full Time Location Redwood City, CA Workplace type Hybrid Compensation $185,000 - $225,000 / year

Key Responsibilities

• Lead SPM execution for complex, cross‑functional Codexis R&D programs, key corporate initiatives, and ECO Synthesis® customer programs from scope definition and program chartering through delivery against schedule and agreed objectives.
• Create and maintain standardized program infrastructure, including Smartsheet timelines, milestones, dashboards, risks and issues logs, decision logs, action trackers, and meeting documentation to provide accurate visibility into program status, priorities, and execution risks.
• Build strong working relationships with internal departments to coordinate priorities, resolve execution barriers, and support proactive resource and schedule planning.
• Support customer programs from planning through completion by coordinating internal and client‑facing meetings, managing action items, tracking deliverables, and escalating scope changes, resource allocation needs, scheduling conflicts, and risks to customer commitments.
• Prepare clear, decision‑oriented program documentation for governance forums, including status summaries, recommendations and key risks/trade‑offs to support timely leadership alignment and program decisions.
• Facilitate escalation through the appropriate governance pathway when decisions impact timelines, deliverables, budgets, corporate goals, functional resources, or cross‑functional alignment.
• Contribute to the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of SPM processes, templates, metrics, and ways of working that improve execution discipline and decision quality across Codexis programs.
• Support retrospective reviews and lessons learned to identify opportunities to improve speed, communication, role clarity, risk management, and program outcomes.

Skills, Knowledge & Expertise

• Typically requires a minimum of 10-12 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree.
• Demonstrated experience leading complex, cross‑functional programs in biotechnology, pharmaceutical, life sciences, manufacturing, or a related technical environment.
• Strong understanding of program management practices, including chartering, integrated timeline development, milestone tracking, risk and issue management, decision logs, action tracking, governance preparation, and stakeholder communication.
• Proven ability to partner with technical, functional, commercial, quality, manufacturing, supply chain, and finance stakeholders to align priorities, resolve barriers, and deliver against program objectives.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to synthesize complex technical and business information into clear, decision‑oriented materials for leadership, governance forums, and customers.
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to manage multiple high‑priority programs, stakeholders, deliverables, and timelines with accuracy and sound judgment.

Job Benefits

• Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance
• Basic Life, AD&D, Short- and Long‑Term Disability Insurance
• 401k with Company Match up to 4%
• Company Equity
• Generous Paid Time Off including 18 Company Holidays (with a summer and winter shutdown), Vacation, and Wellness Time
• Annual Lifestyle Account for reimbursement of fitness programs, equipment and more
• Employee Stock Purchase Program (ESPP)
• Flexible Spending Accounts (Commuter/Parking, Dependent Care & Healthcare)
• Student Debt Program (Company Contribution to Loans)
• Mental Health Wellness Program
• Subsidized onsite lunch program
• Onsite Gym Facilities
• Paid Parental Leave
• And More!

About Codexis Inc

At Codexis we offer a very competitive compensation package and beyond excellent benefits! We foster career growth, continued education and upskilling through our mentorship program and learning and development opportunities. You will learn and work alongside inspirational leaders and colleagues who are equally passionate about our mission and committed to fostering an inclusive, growth‑centered, and rewarding culture. Diversity is valued and mutual trust is of paramount importance to the ethos at Codexis. The people, the culture and working with others with a common goal is what makes Codexis a great place to work.

For more information, visit www.codexis.com.

Codexis is an equal opportunity employer & prohibits unlawful discrimination based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin/ancestry, age, disability, marital & veteran status.