Sr. Associate/Manager Project Management & Operations

Oruka Therapeutics; Waltham (MA); Hybrid; USD 130,000 - 161,000; Full time

Job summary

Oruka Therapeutics in Waltham, MA is seeking a Sr. Associate/Manager to lead Project Management & Operations. The role focuses on developing and managing systems to support early-stage and clinical development efforts, coordinating across preclinical, pharmacology, translational, and clinical teams.

Hybrid work with onsite collaboration three days per week is expected. The ideal candidate has a technical background and 2-4 years of experience in cross-functional project execution, contract

Qualifications

• 2-4 years of relevant experience in nonclinical, clinical pharmacology, translational, or clinical development functions in pharma/biotech.
• Technical background and experience in operational execution across cross-functional projects.
• Ability to work independently while knowing when to elevate risks, issues, or delays.
• Excellent written and verbal communication to prepare clear meeting summaries and trackers.

Responsibilities

• Support Clinical Pharmacology and Nonclinical program execution by assisting the Program Manager with development and operational activities.
• Leverage project management best practices to track and execute key Pharmacology and Nonclinical initiatives.
• Interface with preclinical vendors and service providers to keep projects on track with timelines and budgets.
• Organize and facilitate internal and external project meetings, including agendas and action tracking.
• Build and maintain project timelines, deliverables, and activities aligned with strategic objectives.
• Coordinate with Legal to track and manage contracts related to project activities.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of PM tools, templates, trackers, and information management.

Skills

Project management

Contract negotiation

Vendor management

Education

BS in scientific or technical field

PhD, MBA, MS preferred

Tools

SharePoint

Smartsheet

MS Project

Job description

Sr. Associate/Manager Project Management & Operations

Waltham, Massachusetts, United States

About Us:

Oruka Therapeutics (Nasdaq: ORKA) is developing novel biologics designed to set a new standard for the treatment of chronic skin diseases. Oruka’s mission is to offer patients suffering from chronic skin diseases like plaque psoriasis the greatest possible freedom from their condition by achieving high rates of complete disease clearance with dosing as infrequently as once or twice per year. Oruka is advancing a proprietary portfolio of potentially best-in-class antibodies that were engineered by Paragon Therapeutics and target the core mechanisms underlying plaque psoriasis and other dermatologic and inflammatory diseases. For more information, visit www.orukatx.com

As we build our core team, we're seeking top talent in different functional areas who are not just looking for a job, but an opportunity to be part of something bigger. Someone who is passionate about making a difference and eager to contribute to establishing an engaged, inclusive, and positive company culture.

Job Title: Sr. Associate/Manager – Project Management & Operations

Location: Waltham, MA – Hybrid, onsite 3 days/week is required

Position Overview:

We are seeking a highly motivated Sr. Associate/Manager to join our dynamic, growing team as we work to set a new standard in treating chronic skin diseases. This role will be pivotal in developing and managing systems to support critical early-stage and clinical development efforts.

The ideal candidate will have a technical background and experience in operational execution across cross-functional projects. This individual has the ability to work collaboratively to streamline a variety of activities, including project execution, contract negotiation, and vendor management. They should be highly organized, able to manage multiple priorities, and comfortable working in a fast-paced environment. Some experience in drug development in functions such as clinical pharmacology, translational, clinical development, or a related scientific field is preferred.

Our team values in-person collaboration, and we expect this role to work from our Waltham office three days per week. We're looking for someone who shares our passion for developing innovative medicines and is eager to make a meaningful impact.

Key Responsibilities

• Support Clinical Pharmacology and Nonclinical program execution by assisting the Program Manager with managing development and operational activities across multiple programs.
• Leverage project management best practices to track and execute key Clinical Pharmacology and Nonclinical initiatives.
• Interface with preclinical vendors and service providers, to ensure projects stay on track with planned timelines and budgets.
• Organize and facilitate internal and external project meetings, including agenda development, meeting documentation, and action item tracking.
• Build and maintain project timelines, tracking deliverables, and key activities against strategic objectives.
• Facilitate analysis plans, reports and other documents’ reviews and approvals in support of Clinical Pharmacology and Nonclinical program deliverables.
• Coordinate with Legal to track and manage contracts related to project activities.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of project management tools and processes, including templates, trackers, and information management

Qualifications

• BS in scientific or technical field; advanced degrees (PhD, MBA, MS) preferred
• 2-4 years of relevant experience, preferably within a nonclinical, clinical pharmacology, translational, or clinical development function in the pharmaceutical or biotech industry
• Proficiency with standard business and project management tools, such as SharePoint, Smartsheet, MS Project, or similar
• Ability to work independently while knowing when to elevate risks, issues, or delays
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to prepare clear meeting summaries, trackers, and cross-functional messages
• Ability to operate in a fast-paced, timeline-driven environment and to adapt to changing program priorities
• Collaborative, team-focused, and skilled at working across various disciplines within and outside the company

Compensation

• An appropriate financial package will be developed for the successful candidate to include a competitive base salary and equity, with a performance-related bonus opportunity.
• The anticipated salary range for Sr. Associate is $130,000 - $146,000 and the anticipated salary range for Manager is $146,000 - $161,000. The final salary offered to a successful candidate will be dependent on several factors that may include but are not limited to the type and length of experience within the job, type and length of experience within the industry, education, etc.

Location: Waltham, MA, Hybrid – onsite 3 days/week is required.

Salary Range for the Role

$130,000 - $161,000 USD

What We Offer

• A chance to be part of a vibrant startup culture where your work can directly impact bringing new medicines to patients.
• Competitive salary and benefits package.
• A supportive and inclusive team environment where everyone is encouraged to bring their authentic selves to work.
• Opportunities for professional growth and development.

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