Senior Program Manager, Small Molecule Drug Development

Intuitive Surgical, Inc.; Sunnyvale (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

Intuitive Surgical, Inc. seeks an experienced Senior Program Manager to oversee cross-functional development programs for small molecule therapeutics within the Fluorescence Imaging Team.

You will drive programs from preclinical through NDA, coordinating CMC, non-clinical, clinical, and regulatory activities to ensure timely, budget-conscious delivery. The role requires broad drug development expertise, exceptional organizational skills, and the ability to influence diverse stakeholders to

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in life sciences, pharmaceutical sciences, or related field (PhD, PharmD, MS, or equivalent strongly preferred).
• Minimum of 8 years of experience in the pharmaceutical/biotech industry, with at least 5 years in program management.
• Proven track record managing small molecule development programs through IND-enabling studies and clinical phases to NDA Submission.
• Experience with CMC, regulatory submissions, clinical operations, and non-clinical activities.
• Strong understanding of the drug development lifecycle, from discovery through commercialization.
• Familiarity with global regulatory requirements (FDA, EMA, ICH guidelines) and compliance standards (GxP).
• Advanced program management skills with experience in budgeting, forecasting, and scenario planning.
• Ability to communicate complex issues clearly to both technical teams and executive leadership.
• Strategic thinker with excellent problem-solving, organizational, and risk management capabilities.
• Strong interpersonal skills with a demonstrated ability to influence without authority to deliver broad impact
• Experience working with senior leadership and presenting to executive stakeholders
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; able to synthesize complex topics into clear, actionable plans
• Highly motivated, detail-oriented, and adaptable in fast-paced, dynamic environments

Responsibilities

• Lead cross-functional teams through all stages of small molecule drug development, from preclinical through late-stage clinical studies
• Drive end-to-end program lifecycle - initiation to closure - ensuring stakeholder alignment and objective clarity
• Oversee CMC timelines and deliverable completion for activities that include process development, manufacturing, analytical methods, formulation, stability, and clinical supply readiness across multiple suppliers to ensure that materials are delivered on time and within budget
• Coordinate with Nonclinical activities such as toxicology, PK/PD, safety pharmacology, and ADME studies to enable on time regulatory submissions
• Partner with Regulatory Affairs to develop and implement regulatory strategy toward NDA completion and submission
• Develop and maintain integrated project plans covering scope, timelines, budgets, resources, and risk management strategies
• Track progress against milestones, anticipate issues, and implement corrective actions when necessary
• Provide clear, concise updates and presentations to executive leadership, governance committees, and external stakeholders
• Identify and mitigate program risks across technical, regulatory, operational, and financial dimensions

Skills

Cross-functional leadership

Regulatory understanding

Budgeting & forecasting

Communication to executives

Risk management

Education

Advanced degree in life sciences, pharmaceutical sciences, or related field

Job description

Intuitive Surgical, Inc. seeks an experienced Senior Program Manager to oversee cross-functional development programs for small molecule therapeutics within the Fluorescence Imaging Team.

You will drive programs from preclinical through NDA, coordinating CMC, non-clinical, clinical, and regulatory activities to ensure timely, budget-conscious delivery. The role requires broad drug development expertise, exceptional organizational skills, and the ability to influence diverse stakeholders to