Sr. Director, Program Management

Neurocrine Biosciences; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 219,000 - 298,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Retirement plan with company match

Paid vacation

Paid holidays and personal days

Health benefits

Job summary

Neurocrine Biosciences in San Diego seeks a Senior Director to lead a team of program managers and translate therapeutic-area strategy into executable development plans. You will drive portfolio prioritization, investment trade-offs, governance, and cross-functional execution from discovery through registration, launch, and lifecycle management.

The role requires deep scientific fluency, strategic vision, and the ability to engage senior R&D and commercial leaders to align priorities and deliver

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in pharmaceutical drug development.
• Ability to translate strategy into executable development plans.
• Experience in governance, decision quality and portfolio analytics.
• Proven leadership of program management teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead portfolio strategy & cross-functional program leadership from discovery through registration, launch, and lifecycle management.
• Coordinate cross-functional disease-area and portfolio lifecycle strategy and drive alignment from strategy through execution.
• Develop and review program strategies, evaluate trade‑offs, and advise senior leadership.
• Oversee governance structures and ensure decision quality for portfolio initiatives.
• Manage program quality across the portfolio including integrated development plans and budgets.
• Recruit, develop, and retain program management talent; drive standards and coaching.
• Provide second-line leadership and succession planning as the organization scales.
• Carry financial and human-resource accountability for the function and represent PM in governance.

Skills

Program leadership

Portfolio strategy

Cross-functional collaboration

Executive communication

Decision analytics

Education

BS/BA in life sciences

Masters in relevant field

PhD/PharmD/MD + 10+ years

Tools

Planisware

Job description

Who We Are

Neurocrine Biosciences is a leading biopharmaceutical company with a simple purpose: to relieve suffering for people with great needs. We are dedicated to discovering, developing and commercializing life-changing treatments for patients with under-addressed neurological, psychiatric, endocrine and immunological disorders. The company's diverse portfolio includes FDA-approved treatments for tardive dyskinesia, chorea associated with Huntington's disease, classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia, hyperphagia in Prader-Willi syndrome, endometriosis* and uterine fibroids*, as well as a robust pipeline including multiple compounds in mid- to late-phase clinical development across our core therapeutic areas. For more than three decades, we have applied our unique insight into neuroscience and the interconnections between brain and body systems to treat complex conditions. We relentlessly pursue medicines to ease the burden of debilitating diseases and disorders, because you deserve brave science. For more information, visit neurocrine.com, and follow the company on LinkedIn, X, Facebook and YouTube. (*in collaboration with AbbVie)

About the Role

The Senior Director will lead a team of program managers with varying levels of experience and will translate therapeutic area and disease-area strategy into integrated, executable development plans. This role drives portfolio prioritization and investment trade‑off decisions and leads cross-functional program teams from discovery through registration, launch, and lifecycle management. The successful candidate combines deep scientific fluency in drug development with expert program and portfolio management capabilities and demonstrates the judgment to independently engage in scientific, clinical, development, and portfolio strategy discussions at the most senior levels of the organization. Drive team performance and communication to ensure cross-functional alignment on goals, priorities, and timelines and that teams are equipped to deliver milestones on or ahead of schedule. Connect cross-functional partners and develop strong relationships with key functional stakeholder groups and their leadership across the organization. Provide strategic and operational leadership across assigned therapeutic areas and programs, translating portfolio and development strategy into executable plans. Identify barriers, risks, and cross-functional dependencies early and work with teams and leadership to develop pragmatic solutions.

Your Contributions (include, but are not limited to)

• Portfolio Strategy & Strategic Partnership Serve as an operating partner to therapeutic area and program leadership, coordinating cross-functional, disease-area, and portfolio lifecycle strategy and driving alignment from strategy through execution
• Lead portfolio prioritization, scenario planning, and investment and resource trade‑off analyses; identify asset and portfolio inflection points, acceleration opportunities, and critical risks
• Independently develop and review program strategies and development plans, evaluate trade‑offs, and recommend enterprise‑minded actions to senior leadership
• Connect integrated development across the value chain, including product design, CMC and manufacturing, biomarkers, clinical endpoints, regulatory gates, and commercial readiness
• Governance & Decision Quality Structure therapeutic area council and asset-team discussions to enable robust, agile decision-making; prepare teams for governance readiness and help them navigate decision bodies effectively
• Own portfolio reviews, executive reporting, and decision‑ready communications to R&D and executive leadership
• Apply decision analytics, including probability‑of‑success frameworks, capacity and budget modeling, and integrated portfolio data, to improve decision speed and quality and surface issues early
• Program & Portfolio Operations Ensure program quality across the portfolio, including integrated development plans, critical paths, risk and issue management, recovery plans, budgets, and resource health
• Oversee program management assignments and resource allocation, driving consistency and shared standards across asset and disease-area teams
• Maintain accountability for major portfolio milestones, including first‑in‑human, proof‑of‑concept, pivotal study starts, submissions, approvals, and commercialization
• Evolve the program‑team operating model, operating cadence, and program management standards as the portfolio and organization grow
• People Leadership Recruit, develop, and retain program management talent; raise program management standards through coaching, mentoring, and shared learning in a player‑coach model
• Lead a team of program managers with varying levels of experience and provide appropriate coaching, oversight, and development to strengthen overall team capabilities
• Provide second‑line leadership as the organization scales, including succession planning and development of future program management leaders
• Carry financial and human‑resource accountability for the function and represent Program Management & Portfolio Strategy in governance forums and with senior leaders
• Other duties as assigned

Requirements

• BS/BA degree in a life science
• 14+ years of multi‑disciplinary experience in the pharmaceutical/biotechnology industry
• Master’s degree AND 12+ years of experience in biopharmaceutical drug development, including substantial cross‑functional program leadership experience in a matrix environment
• PhD, PharmD, MD AND 10+ years with the scientific depth to independently engage in development, clinical, and regulatory strategy highly preferred
• End‑to‑end development lifecycle experience spanning discovery or early development through registration, launch, and lifecycle management, including late‑stage and global program experience
• Expert program and portfolio management capabilities, including integrated development planning, scenario planning, risk management, governance, resource and budget planning, and portfolio analytics
• Direct people leadership experience with a demonstrated track record of building, developing, and retaining high‑performing program management talent
• Demonstrated executive presence and the ability to influence, communicate, and drive alignment with senior R&D and commercial leadership
• Advanced knowledge of the drug development process and the interdependencies among key functions, including research, pharmaceutical development, nonclinical, clinical pharmacology/PK, metabolism, clinical development, regulatory, manufacturing, and commercial
• Advanced knowledge of early‑ and late‑phase pharmaceutical program management, including IND/CTA and NDA/MAA submissions
• Acts as a trusted advisor across the company and may be recognized as an external expert
• Provides strategy, vision, and direction regarding issues that may have company‑wide impact
• Requires in‑depth knowledge of the functional area, business strategies, and the company’s goals
• Possesses industry‑leading knowledge of pharmaceutical development and program and portfolio management
• Outstanding written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to effectively interact with individuals at all levels across the organization
• Demonstrated ability to drive consensus and decision-making in complex cross‑functional environments
• Strong leadership, coaching, and employee development skills
• Ability to influence others with or without direct authority at all levels of the organization
• Proactive and innovative, with excellent problem‑solving skills
• Ability to work effectively in a cross‑functional team and matrix environment
• Demonstrated ability to lead a complex, enterprise‑critical asset through Phase3, successful commercialization, and lifecycle management
• Excellent team member with a strong willingness and ability to work across projects at different stages of development in a fast‑paced, entrepreneurial environment

Strongly Preferred

• Therapeutic area experience in neuroscience, psychiatry, immunology, metabolic disease, or endocrinology
• Experience across multiple modalities, including both small molecules and biologics
• Experience with portfolio management systems and analytics platforms, such as Planisware, and building decision‑ready dashboards

Neurocrine Biosciences is an EEO/Disability/Vets employer. We are committed to building a workplace of belonging, respect, and empowerment, and we recognize there are a variety of ways to meet our requirements.

The annual base salary we reasonably expect to pay is $218,700.00-$298,000.00. Individual pay decisions depend on various factors, such as primary work location, complexity and responsibility of role, job duties/requirements, and relevant experience and skills. In addition, this position offers an annual bonus with a target of 35% of the earned base salary and eligibility to participate in our equity based long term incentive program.

Benefits offered include a retirement savings plan (with company match), paid vacation, holiday and personal days, paid caregiver/parental and medical leave, and health benefits to include medical, prescription drug, dental and vision coverage in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable plans.

We are a top place to work.

Neurocrine Biosciences was named one of the FORTUNE Best Workplaces in Biopharma 2025. We were also named a Great Place to Work Certified company.

2025 Fortune Media IP Limited. All rights reserved. Used under license.

OUR VALUES

PASSION: We are driven and love what we do. We are committed to our goals and to making a difference.

INTEGRITY: We do the right thing for patients and our community. We take accountability. We speak up.

COLLABORATION: We trust one another. We are inclusive. We are respectful. We are transparent. Together we succeed.

INNOVATION: We seek and create optimal solutions.

TENACITY: We do not quit. We adapt. We accomplish what others cannot.

Come join our team during this exciting time of growth and opportunities!