Senior Director, Program Management

Paylocity; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 240,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

Viking Therapeutics, Inc. seeks a Senior Director of Program Management to drive planning and execution of metabolic and endocrine drug programs.

You will integrate clinical, nonclinical, regulatory, CMC, technical operations and commercial activities into a single plan, update it as new data emerge, and provide decision-grade reports to executives. You will recruit and mentor staff, ensuring the PMO serves as the “single source of truth” for timelines, risks and mitigation, enabling accelerated

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Life Sciences or related field.
• 12+ years of progressive biopharmaceutical drug development experience, incl. 7+ years in program/project management for clinical-stage programs.
• Led cross-functional teams across Phase 1–3 with at least one major regulatory submission.
• PM certification (PMP) or equivalent preferred.
• Experience with cardiometabolic or endocrine programs.

Responsibilities

• Partner with Clinical Development, Clinical Operations, Nonclinical, Regulatory, CMC/Technical Operations, Medical Affairs and Commercial to plan and enable execution of the program plan.
• Build and maintain integrated program schedules, with critical path analysis and scenario planning; drive corrective actions when variances arise.
• Collaborate with Finance on budgets, forecasting, and variance analysis; support resource allocation decisions.
• Lead program risk identification, mitigation, and contingency planning; establish governance for executive updates.
• Mentor PM staff and improve PM processes and tools; support BD due diligence as needed.
• Present program status and recommendations to executive leadership and the board as requested.

Skills

Cross-functional leadership

Executive communication

Program scheduling

Budgeting & forecasting

matrix influence

Decision making

Problem solving

GxP knowledge

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Life Sciences

Tools

Smartsheet

Job description

Description

As the Senior Director of Program Management at Viking, your primary responsibility will be to drive the planning and execution of Viking’s drug programs in metabolic and endocrine disorders.

You will integrate clinical, nonclinical, regulatory, CMC, technical operations & commercial activities and considerations into a single plan. You will then update the plan based on emerging information, manage timeline, identify gaps and risks, and provide clear, decision-enabling reports to executive leadership.

You will recruit, mentor and coach direct report(s) and ensure that the Program Management Office provides the “single source of truth” for program timelines, risks & mitigation strategies, and acceleration options.

You are a “do-er” who prefers not to sit by the sidelines. You have a strong record of leading programs through major regulatory milestones (IND & NDA), expansive knowledge of the research, development and commercialization process, and – critically - the ability to influence and align cross-functional teams in a fast-paced environment.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The main responsibilities of this role include but are not limited to the following:

• Partner with functional leads in Clinical Development, Clinical Operations, Nonclinical, Regulatory Affairs, CMC/Technical Operations, Medical Affairs and Commercial to plan & enable successful execution of program plan
• Build and maintain integrated program schedules, including critical path analysis and scenario planning, and drive corrective actions when variances arise
• Partner with Finance on program budgets, forecasting, and variance analysis, and support resource allocation decisions
• Lead program risk identification, mitigation, and contingency planning
• Establish program governance and present program status and recommendations to executive leadership and the board as requested
• Mentor program management staff and continuously improve program management processes and tools
• Support business development due diligence and partnership evaluations as requested
• Other duties as assigned

Requirements

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Life Sciences or a related field
• 12+ years of progressive experience in biopharmaceutical drug development, including at least 7 years in program or project management of clinical-stage programs
• Demonstrated experience leading cross-functional teams across Phase 1–3 development and through at least one major regulatory submission
• Preferred
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or equivalent
• Experience with cardiometabolic or endocrine programs

Knowledge and Skills

• Concise written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present to senior leadership and external stakeholders in a tl;dr manner
• Strong knowledge of the drug R&D process, regulatory requirements, and GxP guidelines
• Expertise in integrated scheduling and project management tools (e.g. Smartsheet)
• Demonstrated experience in program budget management, forecasting, and risk management
• Proven ability to lead and influence in a matrix environment without direct authority
• Impeccable sense of knowing when to push (for a decision) and when to pause
• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and decision-making skills
• Ability to work effectively (and maintain a sense of positive humor) in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment with changing priorities

VIKING THERAPEUTICS

Viking Therapeutics, Inc., is committed to equal opportunity in the terms and conditions of employment for all employees and job applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, gender identity or gender expression, national origin, disability or veteran status. Viking Therapeutics also complies with all applicable national, state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment as well as work authorization and employment eligibility verification requirements of the Immigration and Nationality Act and IRCA.

Notice to Agency and Search Firm Representatives

Viking Therapeutics, Inc. is not accepting unsolicited resumes from agencies and/or search firms for this job posting. Resumes submitted to any Viking employee by a third-party agency and/or search firm without a valid written & signed search agreement, and assignment of specific position, will become the sole property of Viking Therapeutics, Inc. No fee will be paid if a candidate is hired for this position as a result of an unsolicited agency or search firm referral. #LI-DNI

Salary Description

$240,000.00 - $260,000.00 annual salary