Senior Manager, External Research Program (ERP)

Kite Pharma; Santa Monica (CA); On-site; USD 154,000 - 199,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, Vision

Life Insurance

Discretionary bonus

Stock-based incentives

Paid time off

Benefits package

Job summary

Kite Pharma, based in Santa Monica, CA, seeks a seasoned program manager for external research initiatives. You will oversee investigator-sponsored and collaborative studies across the ERP portfolio, ensuring timelines, budgets, and regulatory needs are met.

The role requires strong project management, cross-functional collaboration, and the ability to communicate clearly with internal and external stakeholders. The position supports broad oncology research aims and global collaborations.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree with 4+ years in pharma project management.
• Bachelor’s degree with 6+ years in pharma project management.
• Associate degree with 8+ years in pharma project management.
• High School Diploma/GED with 10+ years in pharma project management.

Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day administration and operations for ISRs and clinical studies from concept approval to study closure.
• Plan external project timelines and monitor adherence, metrics, and progress.
• Partner with global, regional, and local Medical Affairs, Translational Medicine, Safety to review protocols and plans.
• Work with Kite & Gilead partners on budget analyses, regulatory submissions and contract negotiations.
• Support clinical demand accuracy, logistics preparation and Tech Ops readiness by tracking startup activities.
• Maintain study data in iEnvision to ensure single source of truth.

Skills

Clinical research

Project management

Communication

Organizational skills

Team collaboration

Education

Master's degree in pharma/related field

Bachelor's degree in pharma/related field

Associate degree

High School Diploma

Tools

Smartsheet

Excel

Word

PowerPoint

Visio

Job description

We’re here for one reason and one reason only - to cure cancer. Every moment is dedicated to developing treatments and every action moves us one step closer to our goal. We’ve made incredible scientific breakthroughs and our pioneering personalized CAR T-cell therapies have changed the paradigm. But we're not finished yet.

Join Kite, as we make even bigger advances in cancer therapies, and help shape where our business and medical science goes next.

We believe every employee deserves a great leader. People Leaders are the cornerstone to the employee experience at Gilead and Kite. As a people leader now or in the future, you are the key driver in evolving our culture and creating an environment where every employee feels included, developed and empowered to fulfil their aspirations. Join Kite and help create more tomorrows.

Job Description

Kite’s External Research Program (ERP) advances our enterprise portfolio through external innovation and data generation. This role will manage operations and track progress for investigator-sponsored and collaborative studies across our evolving portfolio.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day administration and operations for ISRs and clinical collaborative studies from concept approval to study closure:
• Plan the external project timeline and regularly monitor adherence, metrics, and progress throughout the study lifecycle
• Partner with global, regional, and local Medical Affairs teams, Translational Medicine, Safety to review protocols and research plans
• Work with Kite & Gilead partners to carry out budget analyses, regulatory submission support and contract negotiations
• Support clinical demand accuracy, clinical logistics preparation and Tech Ops readiness efforts by tracking institutional start up activities and ensuring timely progress
• Work with institutional contacts to reliably maintain study data in iEnvision platform to ensure single source of truth
• Monitor study milestones (e.g. deliverables, enrollment status, publications) and process monthly invoicing to support financial forecast accuracy
• Ensure effective, accurate, and timely communication to meet the needs of internal and external stakeholders
• Proactively identify gaps in SOP and prepare updates to ERP playbook to address gaps or reflect process improvements and changes
• Contribute to monthly leadership reports to illustrate the evolving ERP portfolio
• Communicate frequently with external institutions to assure compliance with research activities and provides direction for those institutions regarding research, contractual, and milestone compliance, recruitment, and reporting

Basic Qualifications

Master’s and 4+ years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry/project management

OR

Bachelor’s with 6+ years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry/project management

OR

Associate and 8+ years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry/project management

OR

High School Diploma/GED and 10+ years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry/project management

Preferred Qualifications

• Good understanding/experience in clinical and/or pre-clinical research, or experience in Clinical Research/Development, Medical Affairs
• Established communication, project management, problem solving, and organizational skills, including management of multiple priorities and resources while maintaining attention to detail
• Proactive, self-motivated, and resourceful – able to cultivate path forward in ambiguous circumstances and know when to ask for support or escalation
• PMP or equivalent project management qualification an advantage
• Experience of working in an international environment and distributed workforce an advantage
• Affinity for a collaborative, team-oriented environment, and approach; ability to appropriately interact within Global Medical Affairs and across diverse departments, senior management, and external customers/vendors
• Comfortable synthesizing information to support leadership presentations and memos
• Knowledge and skill with Smartsheet, Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Visio, and other reporting and tracking tools

The salary range for this position is: $153,935.00 - $199,210.00. Kite considers a variety of factors when determining base compensation, including experience, qualifications, and geographic location. These considerations mean actual compensation will vary. This position may also be eligible for a discretionary annual bonus, discretionary stock‑based long‑term incentives (eligibility may vary based on role), paid time off, and a benefits package. Benefits include company-sponsored medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans*.

For additional benefits information, visit: https://www.gilead.com/careers/compensation-benefits-and-wellbeing

• Eligible employees may participate in benefit plans, subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable plans.

Kite is a biopharmaceutical company engaged in the development of innovative cancer immunotherapies with a goal of providing rapid, long‑term durable response and eliminating the burden of chronic care. The company is focused on chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) and T cell receptor (TCR) engineered cell therapies designed to empower the immune system's ability to recognize and kill tumors. Kite is based in Santa Monica, CA. For more information on Kite, please visit www.kitepharma.com. Sign up to follow @KitePharma on Twitter at www.twitter.com/kitepharma.

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Kite Pharma is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment, and is dedicated to fostering an inclusive work environment comprised of diverse perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences. Employment decisions regarding recruitment and selection will be made without discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, genetic information or characteristic, gender identity and expression, veteran status, or other non-job related characteristics or other prohibited grounds specified in applicable federal, state and local laws. In order to ensure reasonable accommodation for individuals protected by Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Act of 1974, and Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, applicants who require accommodation in the job application process may contact [e-mail] for assistance.

For more information about equal employment opportunity protections, please view the 'Know Your Rights' poster.

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YOUR RIGHTS UNDER THE FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE ACT

Kite Pharma will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, (c) consistent with the legal duty to furnish information; or (d) otherwise protected by law.

Our environment respects individual differences and recognizes each employee as an integral member of our company. Our workforce reflects these values and celebrates the individuals who make up our growing team.

Kite Pharma provides a work environment free of harassment and prohibited conduct. We promote and support individual differences and diversity of thoughts and opinion.

For Current Kite Pharma Employees and Contractors: