Clinical Program Management

Actalent; United States; Hybrid; USD 96,000 - 124,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision

401(k) Retirement Plan

Paid time off

Job summary

Actalent, based in Seattle, WA, seeks a Senior Manager, Program Management to lead cross-functional drug development programs from IND-enabling activities through early clinical development. You will build and optimize program management processes, lead teams, and ensure timely, high-quality execution in a fast-paced biotech environment.

The role requires a strong track record in oncology or autoimmune programs, expertise with Smartsheet and Microsoft Office, and the ability to balance strategic

Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in life sciences, engineering, or related discipline.
• 8+ years in program or project management in biotech/pharma.
• IND-enabling and submission readiness experience.
• Experience in first-in-human or early Phase 1 programs.
• Cross-functional development program leadership in a matrix environment.
• Strong planning, tracking, and reporting skills with Smartsheet.

Responsibilities

• Lead cross-functional program teams to advance assets through clinical trials.
• Define strategies, goals, milestones, and asset development plans.
• Track progress, identify gaps/risks, and drive timely resolutions.
• Establish program management infrastructure, standards, and processes.
• Drive operational excellence and consistent ways of working.
• Organize meetings, produce high-quality materials, and follow up on actions.
• Report program status with monthly updates and portfolio reviews.
• Coordinate cross-functional resource and financial planning with stakeholders.
• Support IND planning, enabling activities, and regulatory submissions.
• Collaborate with CROs and external partners for early-stage programs.

Skills

Cross-functional leadership

IND planning & execution

Early phase experience

Program management

GxP knowledge

Matrix organization experience

Detail-oriented planning

Excellent communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in life sciences or engineering

Tools

Smartsheet

Microsoft Office

Job description

Job Title: Senior Manager, Program Management

Job Description

The Senior Manager, Program Management oversees internal and partnered drug development programs, ensuring consistency across functions and driving cross-functional collaboration to enable efficient, high-quality delivery from preclinical stages through early clinical development. This role leads program teams through IND-enabling activities, clinical trial start-up, and early phase execution, while building program management infrastructure, processes, and best practices that support a growing biotech portfolio.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage cross-functional program teams to advance assets into and through clinical trials, with a focus on IND-stage and early Phase 1 programs.
• Partner with project teams and functional leaders to define program strategies with clear options, set goals and milestones, and develop detailed asset development plans.
• Track and report program progress, proactively identify gaps and risks, elevate issues as needed, and drive timely resolution to keep programs on track.
• Establish and enhance program management infrastructure, including standards, policies, and processes, in partnership with the Portfolio, Program & Alliance Strategy organization and other key stakeholders.
• Collaborate with functional leadership to drive operational excellence across the organization, ensuring consistent ways of working and efficient execution.
• Enable efficient drug development by fostering highly effective, inclusive, and collaborative program and alliance teams that support robust discussions and optimized operational plans.
• Support product and governance decision-making by organizing and running effective meetings, ensuring high-quality materials, clear decisions, and thorough follow-up on action items.
• Ensure clear, consistent, and transparent program communication across the organization, including systematic reporting such as monthly status reports, milestone tracking, and portfolio updates.
• Partner with Finance, Business Operations, and other stakeholders to support corporate program planning, including cross-functional resource planning, scenario planning, and financial assessments.
• Drive detailed IND planning and execution, including coordination of IND-enabling activities, submission readiness, and regulatory submissions in additional regions to support study expansion.
• Support early development programs in oncology and/or autoimmune indications, including study start-up and coordination with clinical operations and regulatory teams.
• Collaborate with external partners and CROs as needed to support clinical and regulatory activities for early-stage programs.
• Utilize Smartsheet and other project management tools to develop and maintain detailed program plans, timelines, risk registers, and dashboards.
• Support organizational initiatives and special projects as needed, contributing program management expertise to evolving business needs.
• Model and promote a collaborative, energetic, agile, organized, inclusive, curious, forward-thinking, and action-focused culture within program teams and across the organization.

Essential Skills

• Bachelors degree in life sciences, engineering, or a related discipline.
• Minimum of 8 years of program or project management experience in the biotech or pharmaceutical industry, leading cross-functional development programs.
• Proven experience managing IND-enabling execution and submission readiness, including detailed planning and coordination of IND activities.
• Experience supporting first-in-human or early Phase 1 clinical programs.
• Experience supporting programs through preclinical development and transition into early clinical development.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex timelines, cross-functional dependencies, and risk in fast-moving, ambiguous environments.
• Strong project and program management skills, including mastery of Smartsheet for planning, tracking, and reporting.
• Experience working in a matrix-style environment and serving as a program manager on cross-functional development teams.
• Strong understanding of early drug development, including nonclinical, CMC, regulatory, and early clinical activities.
• Experience working in GxP-regulated environments.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to influence and drive alignment without formal authority.
• Advanced computer skills and experience with Microsoft Office products (e.g., Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Outlook).

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Masters degree, PhD, or other advanced degree in life sciences, engineering, or a related discipline.
• PMP or equivalent program or project management certification.
• Prior experience in cell and gene therapy programs.
• Experience in oncology and/or autoimmune indications, particularly in early development.
• Background in working with clinical programs and CRO partners.
• Experience as a program manager in a growing or start-up biotech organization.
• Demonstrated ability to thrive in a highly collaborative, fast-paced, and evolving environment.
• Comfort operating in a matrix organization with multiple stakeholders and competing priorities.

Work Environment

This role operates in a hybrid work environment with onsite presence in the East Lake area of Seattle, WA, offering longer-term potential for continued engagement. The position involves close collaboration with cross-functional teams across research, nonclinical, CMC, regulatory, clinical, finance, and business operations functions, as well as external partners and CROs. Work is conducted in a modern biotech setting focused on innovative immunotherapy, oncology, and potentially autoimmune and gene therapy programs. The organization uses Smartsheet and Microsoft Office as core tools for program planning, tracking, and communication. For candidates working fully remote, the assignment is structured as a 12-week engagement. The culture emphasizes innovation, collaboration, inclusivity, and a mission-driven focus on transforming cancer treatment and improving outcomes for patients and their families.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Seattle, WA.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $70.00 - $90.00/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your jobclassification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may besubject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefitsavailable for this temporary role may include the following:Medical, dental & visionCritical Illness, Accident, and Hospital401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions availableLife Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)Short and long-term disabilityHealth Spending Account (HSA)Transportation benefitsEmployee Assistance ProgramTime Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Seattle, WA.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Nov 4, 2026.

Workplace Type

This is a hybrid position in Seattle,WA.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications withoutregard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability,sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protectedby law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification oradjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability,please email [e-mail] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance:

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in thecity and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicantswith arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector:

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as acondition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this lawshall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI):

We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process,including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applicationsand qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, youacknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.