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Associate Director, Program Management

New York, NY; Boston, MA

About Formation Bio

Formation Bio is a tech and AI driven pharma company differentiated by radically more efficient drug development. 

Advancements in AI and drug discovery are creating more candidate drugs than the industry can progress because of the high cost and time of clinical trials. Recognizing that this development bottleneck may ultimately limit the number of new medicines that can reach patients, Formation Bio, founded in 2016 as TrialSpark Inc., has built technology platforms, processes, and capabilities to accelerate all aspects of drug development and clinical trials. Formation Bio partners, acquires, or in-licenses drugs from pharma companies, research organizations, and biotechs to develop programs past clinical proof of concept and beyond, ultimately helping to bring new medicines to patients. The company is backed by investors across pharma and tech, including a16z, Sequoia, Sanofi, Thrive Capital, Sam Altman, John Doerr, Spark Capital, SV Angel Growth, and others. 

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At Formation Bio, our values are the driving force behind our mission to revolutionize the pharma industry. Every team and individual at the company shares these same values, and every team and individual plays a key part in our mission to bring new treatments to patients faster and more efficiently.

At Formation Bio, our values are the driving force behind our mission to revolutionize the pharma industry. Every team and individual at the company shares these same values, and every team and individual plays a key part in our mission to bring new treatments to patients faster and more efficiently.

About the Position

We are seeking an Associate Director, Program Management to drive the execution of critical drug development programs at Formation Bio. This role requires an experienced program manager who can oversee at least one drug development program, managing multiple workstreams while ensuring seamless cross-functional coordination and execution.

As a key member of the Program Management team, you will be responsible for translating strategy into execution by developing integrated plans, driving cross-functional alignment, and ensuring program goals are met on time and within budget. The ideal candidate has a strong track record of managing ambiguity, mitigating risks, and driving results in a matrixed environment. They should also have a strong propensity and eagerness to incorporate AI into their work, leveraging technology to enhance program management efficiency and effectiveness.

Responsibilities

Strategic Thinking & Problem Solving

  • Propose solutions to common program challenges, including resource constraints and risk mitigation strategies.
  • Develop contingency plans for critical program elements and conduct scenario planning for major program decisions.
  • Synthesize technical, financial, and operational data to drive decision-making.
  • Manage ambiguity by proactively identifying data gaps, engaging stakeholders to clarify priorities, and recommending decisions based on available information.

Planning & Prioritization

  • Develop and maintain comprehensive program roadmaps, integrating multiple workstreams.
  • Manage competing priorities by balancing resources across concurrent activities and making informed trade-off decisions.
  • Facilitate contingency planning and risk mitigation strategies to ensure program continuity.

Operational Excellence & Results Orientation

  • Implement program management best practices, including standardized reporting and review processes.
  • Develop scalable solutions for common program challenges, such as communication protocols and cross-program collaboration tools.
  • Drive execution and ensure program objectives are met despite constraints, maintaining high performance during critical periods.
  • Leverage AI-driven tools and automation to improve efficiency, data integrity, and decision-making processes.

Communication & Cross-Functional Collaboration

  • Gain cooperation and alignment across cross-functional teams, influencing without direct authority.
  • Manage complex stakeholder relationships and balance competing interests.
  • Communicate effectively across all levels of the organization, adapting style to different audiences and simplifying complex information.
  • Lead productive team meetings, fostering collaboration and ensuring clear action items.

Leadership & Evangelism

  • Provide operational leadership, direction, and support to cross-functional teams in a matrixed environment.
  • Partner with the Program Leader to support and/or co-lead the program
  • Drive decision-making and ensure full participation from all team members.
  • Champion program management practices, advocating for process improvements and optimization of cross-functional workflows.
  • Promote the integration of AI-driven methodologies in program execution, ensuring the team stays at the forefront of innovation in clinical trial operations.

About You

  • You're excited about the intersection of AI and program management and eager to explore how technology can streamline and scale operations. You thrive in high-growth, fast-paced environments and understand what operational excellence looks like as a company scales.
  • You're a builder—someone who is capable of developing fit-for-purpose processes from scratch and optimizing existing workflows to enhance efficiency and scalability. You see opportunities where others see obstacles and take a proactive approach to improving systems and driving change.
  • You’re self-aware, understanding your strengths and opportunities for growth, and take initiative to continuously improve. You have the ability to balance high-level strategic thinking with tactical execution—whether that means presenting program strategies to leadership or diving into the details to drive execution.
  • You’re adaptable and comfortable navigating ambiguity, proactively identifying gaps and working across teams to develop solutions. You have a strong bias for action, ensuring progress even in complex or constrained situations.
  • You’ve led high-profile cross-functional programs and have strong project management skills. You know how to drive accountability and alignment across teams without direct authority.
  • You have 6+ years of experience in program or project management within the life sciences, biotech, or pharmaceutical industry and are excited to bring your expertise to a team that is redefining how clinical trials are executed.
  • Experience in the following therapeutic areas preferred: Inflammation & Immunology, Central Nervous System, Cardiovascular / Metabolic, Dermatology
  • Strong technical proficiency in the use of project planning tools and systems (including Smartsheet), resource forecasting, and the use of reporting tools. Smartsheet Certification-preferred, or ability to achieve certification within 30 days of employment.

Formation Bio is prioritizing hiring in key hubs, primarily the New York City and Boston metro areas, with additional growth in the Research Triangle (NC) and San Francisco Bay Area. Please only apply if you reside in these locations or are willing to relocate.

Compensation:

The target salary range for this role is: $168,000 - $210,000.

Salary ranges are informed by a number of factors including geographic location. The range provided includes base salary only. In addition to base salary, we offer equity, comprehensive benefits, generous perks, hybrid flexibility, and more. If this range doesn't match your expectations, please still apply because we may have something else for you. 

You will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.

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