Head of Program Management

About Alltrna 

Alltrna is the world’s first tRNA platform company to decipher tRNA biology and pioneer tRNA therapeutics to treat thousands of diseases. Alltrna unlocks tRNA biology to correct disease. The company's platform incorporates AI/ML tools to learn the tRNA language and deliver diverse programmable molecules with broad therapeutic potential. Alltrna has an unprecedented opportunity to advance a single tRNA medicine to unify treatment across a wide range of diseases with the same underlying genetic mutation. Alltrna was founded in 2018 by Flagship Pioneering. For more info, visit www.alltrna.com. 

Position Summary:

Alltrna is seeking a talented and highly motivated Head of Program Management, reporting to the CEO.  The successful candidate is a proven leader with extensive experience in leading research and early drug development program teams from development candidate selection to IND filing and ultimately into clinical trials.  This role is accountable for leading cross-functional teams to integrate best thinking to create robust development and strategic plans from lead discovery through human proof of concept as well as to drive teams (internal and external) to execute on program deliverables and initiatives required to meet the goals of the organization. They will be a valued member of the Alltrna leadership team and contribute to overall portfolio strategy,  

Key Responsibilities:

The Head of Program Management will:

• Provide high quality program management to an innovative portfolio of exploratory and drug discovery programs from lead identification through to IND and clinical entry
• Possess a comprehensive understanding of the drug discovery process to guide program teams to define the key scientific questions, program strategy and objectives, translating these into optimal deliverables, cross-functional plans, timelines and budgets
• Partner with the Program Leader to drive and lead the program team, instilling a culture of scientific rigor, open debate, collaborative teamwork, sense of urgency and accountability
• Use drug development expertise to identify bottlenecks, risks, issues and proactively develops appropriate mitigation proposals with input from team members
• Ensure all key decisions are identified and properly assessed as to their impact and alternative scenarios developed and evaluated, where appropriate
• Work closely with finance, program and functional teams to develop the operational plans with realistic timelines, budget, and resource planning and monitor performance against plans
• Interface with and drive collaboration between the various functional teams: Platform Discovery, Medicinal Chemistry, CMC, Disease Biology/Pharmacology, DMPK/ Preclinical Drug Safety, Regulatory & Medical Affairs and Clinical and with the Leadership Team on program-related matters.
• Be the key accountable person for communicating matters related to the programs to management including strategy, work product, updates and issues; producing the one “source of truth” for program-related topics and timelines
• Develop & deliver impactful presentations that effectively distill complex issues to the critical points, and lead to increased understanding and optimized strategic planning & decision-making
• Monitor and complete deliverables with project team for partnered programs, as needed
• Collaborate with Leadership Team in development of company goals, long range planning assumptions, and portfolio-level reports and analyses to support business processes & strategic discussions
• Lead and/or manage strategic or platform development projects as required.
• Proactively seek out opportunities for organizational improvement (e.g. team structure, processes, communication, etc.)

Key Competencies:

• This is a highly visible leadership role that requires exceptional interpersonal skills, creative thinking, and early drug development experience that allows one to recognize opportunities/challenges and modify strategy accordingly
• The individual will need to have the self-confidence and poise to manage complicated programs with multiple stakeholders

• The individual will need a sense of urgency and can-do attitude to develop therapies for patients with significant unmet medical needs

Minimum Qualifications:

• BS/MS Degree in a scientific discipline, ideally life science or chemistry
• At least 15 years relevant experience in pharma or biotech drug discovery and development, as well as a comprehensive understanding of drug discovery (preclinical and clinical)
• 10+ years of Program Management experience, preferably in early-stage drug discovery and development
• Experience in the development of advanced therapies to treat rare genetic disease is a plus
• Demonstrated experience with cross functional leadership and stakeholder influencing Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Scientific curiosity and passion for discovering new, innovative medicines.
• Openness to embrace new technologies and digital approaches in drug discovery
• Proven track record in driving successful, collaborative drug discovery teams
• Ability to provide clear direction and drive decisions, manage risk 
• Sense of urgency with the ability to work in a dynamic, fast paced environment 
• Flexibility and the ability to deal with uncertainty 
• Commitment to achieving corporate objectives while maintaining the highest ethical standards 

What We Will Offer You  

• A dynamic early-stage work environment and highly interdisciplinary, talented, and collaborative team
• Participation in an unprecedented opportunity to advance a single tRNA medicine to restore disrupted protein production, regardless of target, for thousands of diseases with the same underlying genetic mutation
• Opportunity to build and develop a high-performing and impactful team within the next 2 years 
• Comprehensive, competitive healthcare and dental coverage through Blue Cross Blue Shield, vision coverage through VSP, family leave, flexible paid time off, 401k retirement plan, disability and life insurance, and fully covered parking/commuter benefits
• Professional growth opportunities through mentoring, training, immersion in cross-functional projects, and opportunities to learn and try new things

Our Core Values   

• PATIENTS DESERVE BETTER. We are transforming medicine, boldly building a new future for patients.  
• CURIOSITY SPARKS DISCOVERY. We ardently explore the unknown, catalyzing new scientific breakthroughs. 
• COURAGE PROPELS US FORWARD. We take thoughtful risks without fear of failure, growing with each experience.  
• OUR PURPOSE FUELS US. We each lead and work with focus and passion to design groundbreaking tRNA medicines. 
• WE ARE ONE TEAM. We are united on trust and collaboration, embracing all voices and experiences. 

WE GIVE IT OUR ALL, EVERYDAY, FOR PATIENTS EVERYWHERE. WE ARE ALLTRNA.

Flagship Pioneering and our ecosystem companies are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. 

Flagship Pioneering and our ecosystem companies are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status.

Recruitment & Staffing Agencies: Flagship Pioneering and its affiliated Flagship Lab companies (collectively, “FSP”) do not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than candidates. The submission of unsolicited resumes by recruitment or staffing agencies to FSP or its employees is strictly prohibited unless contacted directly by Flagship Pioneering’s internal Talent Acquisition team. Any resume submitted by an agency in the absence of a signed agreement will automatically become the property of FSP, and FSP will not owe any referral or other fees with respect thereto.