Program Executive, Early Phase

Ladders; United States; Remote; USD 300,000 - 350,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical coverage

Life insurance

AD&D

Disability benefits

401(k) matching

Bonuses

Job summary

Ladders is seeking a Program Executive, Early Phase to guide early-stage therapeutic programs through development milestones, partnering with clinical, regulatory, scientific, and operational teams to align strategy and execution in a remote setting.

In this role you will shape development paths, assess emerging evidence, and support leadership in go/no-go decisions, with a focus on cross-functional governance, data-driven decisions, and interactions with health authorities.

Qualifications

• 5-7 years of experience leading therapeutic programs through early clinical development.
• Experience leading Phase 1 and/or Phase 2 development.
• Experience managing program strategy, budgets, and resource planning for complex projects.
• Ability to integrate diverse data types for informed decision-making under uncertainty.
• Experience with significant interactions with FDA or global health authorities.
• Strong matrix leadership and influencing stakeholders without formal authority.
• Deep understanding of the drug development lifecycle and its impact on product and patient outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Lead the integrated program strategy and development plan through early clinical stages.
• Drive cross-functional execution and governance to meet program objectives and milestones.
• Own program strategy, budget, and resource planning, including critical go/no-go decisions.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to create a cohesive evidence-generation strategy.
• Evaluate emerging data to identify risks and alternative development paths.
• Prepare for key health authority interactions, ensuring alignment across strategies.
• Represent the program to executive leadership and external stakeholders, promoting accountability and transparency.

Skills

Cross-functional leadership

Data-driven decision making

Program management

Regulatory interactions

Job description

For our client, we are seeking a Program Executive, Early Phase to join the team of a leader in the Pharmaceuticals & Biotech space.

This leader will guide early-stage therapeutic programs through critical development milestones, bringing structure and clarity to complex, data-driven decisions. The role is highly cross-functional and will partner closely with clinical, regulatory, scientific, and operational stakeholders to align strategy, resources, and execution. You will help shape development paths, assess emerging evidence, and support leadership in making informed go/no-go decisions under uncertainty.

Location: Remote

Compensation: $300,000 – $350,000 annually

Responsibilities

• Lead the integrated program strategy and development plan through early clinical stages
• Drive cross-functional execution and governance to meet program objectives and milestones
• Own program strategy, budget, and resource planning, including critical go/no-go decisions
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to create a cohesive evidence-generation strategy
• Evaluate emerging data to identify risks and alternative development paths
• Prepare for key health authority interactions, ensuring alignment across strategies
• Represent the program to executive leadership and external stakeholders, promoting accountability and transparency

Qualifications

• 5-7 years of experience leading therapeutic programs through early clinical development phases
• Proven track record in cross-functional leadership for Phase 1 and/or Phase 2 development
• Direct experience managing program strategy, budgets, and resource planning for complex projects
• Ability to integrate diverse data types for informed decision-making under uncertainty
• Experience with significant interactions with FDA or global health authorities
• Strong skills in leading matrixed teams and influencing stakeholders without formal authority
• Deep understanding of the drug development lifecycle and its impact on product and patient outcomes

Benefits

• 99% of medical, dental, and vision premiums covered
• Company-paid life insurance, AD&D, and disability benefits
• 401(k) matching up to 6% with long-term stock incentives
• Discretionary quarterly bonuses and flexible wellness benefits
• Generous PTO, paid holidays, and company-wide shutdowns

Our client is an equal opportunity employer.