Senior Director, Program ManagementWaltham, Massachusetts, United States

Akebia Therapeutics, Inc.; Waltham (MA); Hybrid; USD 250,000 - 309,000; Full time

Job summary

Akebia is seeking a Senior Director, R&D Program Lead to oversee the cross-functional development program for ebribafusp alfa (AKB-097) in Phase 2, with potential expansion to other early-stage programs. The role requires strong drug-development expertise, strategic judgment, and the ability to lead matrix teams toward key milestones.

The position reports into R&D leadership and focuses on strategy, governance, budgets, and milestone decisions, while promoting accountability and scientific rigor

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in a life sciences field (PhD, PharmD, or MD) and 10–15+ years of program leadership experience in biotech/pharma.
• Demonstrated ability to lead development of complex drug programs and manage timelines, progress, and outcomes.
• Proven experience leading and motivating cross-functional teams and managing direct reports.
• Outstanding leadership and communication skills, with an integrated view of business and science.

Responsibilities

• Lead the cross-functional program team for ebribafusp alfa and other programs, establishing objectives, priorities, and decision processes.
• Develop and drive an integrated program strategy, including the target product profile, development plan, milestones, and value creation.
• Translate corporate priorities into executable development plans, timelines, and budgets.
• Guide program strategies with scientific, clinical, regulatory, CMC, commercial, and operational perspectives.

Skills

Program leadership

Cross-functional leadership

Communication skills

Team leadership

Strategic thinking

Education

Advanced degree (PhD/PharmD/MD)

Tools

Microsoft Project

Microsoft PowerPoint

Job description

Nearly 37 million Americans are currently affected by Chronic Kidney Disease. 37 million. At Akebia we take that number very seriously and every day we come to work, with the purpose of bettering the lives of each person impacted by kidney disease and the renal community that serves them.

Our tenacious, passionate employees' challenge the status quo and work to develop unique therapeutics that have the potential to set new standards of care for people living with kidney disease.

This is life-changing work, and we are all in, are you?

Please note that our offices have recently relocated to Waltham, MA. We follow a flexible, "magnet not mandate" approach to in-office work, encouraging in-person collaboration and onsite engagement while supporting hybrid flexibility based on role and business needs.

Job Summary

The Senior Director, R&D Program Lead will lead the cross-functional development program for ebribafusp alfa (AKB-097), currently in Phase 2, and may assume responsibility for additional early-stage Akebia programs as they advance from research. This individual will set program strategy, align functional plans with corporate and portfolio objectives, and drive execution through key development milestones and decisions. The role requires strong drug-development expertise, strategic judgment, and the ability to lead and influence high‑performing teams in a matrix environment.

Essential Functions & Duties

• Lead the cross‑functional program team for ebribafusp alfa and other development programs as assigned, establishing clear objectives, priorities, responsibilities, and decision‑making processes
• Develop and drive the integrated program strategy, including the target product profile, development plan, key milestones, decision points, and value‑creation opportunities
• Translate corporate and portfolio priorities into executable cross‑functional integrated development plans, timelines, and budgets
• Integrate scientific, clinical, regulatory, CMC, commercial, operational, and competitive perspectives into program strategy and decision‑making
• Ensure program teams and functional subteams deliver high‑quality work against agreed objectives, timelines, budgets, and corporate commitments
• Lead scenario planning and proactively identify program risks, dependencies, and trade‑offs; develop mitigation and contingency plans and elevate significant issues as appropriate
• Guide the program through critical development milestones, including clinical data readouts, regulatory interactions, indication prioritization, and advancement decisions
• Serve as the primary program representative to R&D, portfolio, and executive governance bodies, presenting program status, strategic options, risks, and recommendations
• Maintain an integrated program plan and appropriate documentation, including milestones, decision logs, risk registers, budgets, and governance records
• Promote accountability, scientific rigor, collaboration, and timely decision‑making across program teams; coach and develop team members and direct reports, as applicable
• Perform other program and portfolio leadership responsibilities as assigned

Skills & Experience

• Advanced degree required (i.e., PhD, PharmD, MD) and 10-15+ years of Program Leadership experience in the Biotech/Pharmaceutical industry.
• Thorough understanding of the Program Lead discipline and drug development at all stages
• Demonstrated ability to lead the development of complex drug development project strategy and deliver on project plans, timelines, progress, and outcomes.
• Demonstrated experience leading and motivating cross‑functional teams and managing direct reports
• Outstanding leadership skills including excellent verbal and written communication skills, an innovative approach to problem‑solving, and an integrated view of business and scientific issues.
• Strong knowledge of Microsoft Project and Microsoft PowerPoint.

Base Compensation for this role will depend on a number of factors including a candidate's qualifications, skills, competencies, and experience, and may fall outside of the range shown. Base pay is only one component of the company's total rewards package, all regular employees are also eligible for the corporate bonus program or the incentive compensation program (if applicable), as well as equity. Additional benefits include health care, vision, dental, retirement, PTO, etc.

Targeted Base Salary

$249,811 - $308,590 USD

Are you an Akebian?

An Akebian is curious, empathetic, and values making connections to people and ideas. Akebian's aren't afraid of diving in and owning a process or a problem, because we all want to deliver a great solution. Akebian's believe that we are better together because we are all working toward a common purpose - to better the life of each person impacted by kidney disease. Want to learn more about what it means to be an Akebian? Visit our website: www.akebia.com

Akebia is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes all job applicants. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other factors prohibited by law.