PPM Strategy Lead – Associate Director

Kite Pharma; Thousand Oaks (CA); On-site; USD 178,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus eligibility

Stock-based incentives

Paid time off

Medical, dental, vision, and life保险

Job summary

Kite Pharma is seeking an Associate Director, Project & Portfolio Management to lead strategic PM/PPM initiatives within Tech Ops. This role will build a Center of Excellence, define fit-for-purpose methodologies, and drive adoption across a dotted-line network while shaping future-state practices for consistent execution.

The position emphasizes change leadership, governance design, and practical guidance translation for leaders and teams, with a strong focus on portfolio visibility and

Qualifications

• Advanced degree with significant PM/PPM experience in biotech/pharma preferred.
• Proven ability to lead change and influence across a matrixed organization.
• Strong track record building governance models and training materials.
• Experience creating methodology, standards, and adoption plans.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and improvement of project and portfolio management standards across Tech Ops.
• Scale a PPM Center of Excellence with templates, playbooks, and training.
• Assess PPM maturity and identify high-value improvements.
• Design future-state PPM practices for consistency and flexibility.
• Drive adoption through stakeholder engagement and change management.
• Influence dotted-line network across functions without direct people management.
• Translate complex frameworks into actionable guidance for leaders.
• Define portfolio metrics to measure process effectiveness and risks.
• Foster a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.

Skills

Change Leadership

Stakeholder Engagement

Matrixed Environment

Governance & Frameworks

Communication Skills

Strategic Leadership

Education

PhD or Doctorate

Master's Degree

Bachelor's Degree

High School Diploma

Tools

PMO Tools

Job description

Kite Pharma is seeking an Associate Director, Project & Portfolio Management to lead strategic PM/PPM initiatives within Tech Ops. This role will build a Center of Excellence, define fit-for-purpose methodologies, and drive adoption across a dotted-line network while shaping future-state practices for consistent execution.

The position emphasizes change leadership, governance design, and practical guidance translation for leaders and teams, with a strong focus on portfolio visibility and