Biologics R&D Program Manager – Early Pipeline

Xaira Therapeutics, Inc.; South San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 148,000 - 185,000; Full time

Job summary

Xaira Therapeutics in South San Francisco is seeking a Project Manager, Biologics R&D to align discovery programs from early-stage research through IND-enabling studies, collaborating with scientists and program leads to maintain timelines and deliverables.

This on-site role requires an advanced life sciences degree and 6+ years in biologics or drug discovery with cross-functional leadership, strong planning, and communication skills. Knowledge of PMI-style project management is a plus.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree (MS, PhD, or equivalent) in life sciences or related field strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Support day-to-day planning and coordination of biologics research programs from discovery through lead selection and IND-enabling work.
• Build and maintain project timelines capturing critical path, milestones, dependencies, and deliverables across programs.
• Partner with scientific leads and stakeholders to align scope, priorities, resources and progress.
• Define key milestones and decisional experiments; translate into actionable, resource-informed timelines.
• Coordinate and document decisive experiments, update project plans based on results and next steps.
• Facilitate cross-functional meetings, ensuring clear agendas, documentation, and follow-up actions.
• Monitor interdependencies and proactively identify and resolve conflicts across workstreams.

Skills

Cross-functional leadership

Planning & scheduling

Communication

Problem solving

Time management

Project coordination

Risk management

Bench science background

Education

Advanced degree in life sciences

Tools

Smartsheet

Confluence

Google Workspace

Job description

Xaira Therapeutics in South San Francisco is seeking a Project Manager, Biologics R&D to align discovery programs from early-stage research through IND-enabling studies, collaborating with scientists and program leads to maintain timelines and deliverables.

This on-site role requires an advanced life sciences degree and 6+ years in biologics or drug discovery with cross-functional leadership, strong planning, and communication skills. Knowledge of PMI-style project management is a plus.