Executive Director, Early-Stage Program Team Leader

Company Overview

Position Overview

The Executive Director, Early-Stage Program Team Leader provides enterprise-level leadership for three or more strategically critical early-stage development programs spanning preclinical through early clinical development (Phase I/II). This role is accountable for defining and driving integrated program strategy, ensuring alignment with corporate objectives, portfolio priorities, and long-term value creation.  

This person will serve as the strategic and operational leader of cross-functional program teams, with authority to drive decisions, manage trade-offs, and escalate key investment considerations to executive governance forums. They will partner closely with senior functional leaders across Research, Clinical Development, CMC, Regulatory, and Commercial to ensure cohesive execution and disciplined portfolio advancement.  

This role represents the program(s) at executive leadership reviews and plays a key role in shaping portfolio strategy, resource allocation, and development prioritization.  

Responsibilities

Enterprise Program Strategy & Portfolio Leadership  

• Define and drive integrated, end-to-end program strategy across preclinical and early clinical development.  

• Ensure alignment of program objectives with corporate strategy, long-range portfolio planning, and value inflection milestones.  

• Shape development scenarios, investment cases, and risk-adjusted plans to support portfolio prioritization decisions.  

• Represent the program(s) in executive governance forums, providing strategic recommendations and clear decision frameworks.  

• Contribute to broader portfolio strategy discussions, including sequencing, resource allocation, and capital deployment trade-offs.  

Cross-Functional Executive Leadership  

• Lead senior cross-functional leaders in the development and execution of integrated program plans.  

• Drive alignment across R&D, Clinical, CMC, Regulatory, Commercial, and other key stakeholders to ensure coordinated execution.  

• Establish clear accountability, decision rights, and governance structures within the program team.  

• Foster a high-performance team culture emphasizing transparency, urgency, and scientific rigor.  

• Mentor and influence senior leaders within and beyond the program team.  

Integrated Development Planning & Execution  

• Oversee development of integrated program plans, budgets, and long-range forecasts.  

• Ensure robust transition of programs from discovery through IND and into early clinical development.  

• Guide early clinical strategy, including key design considerations that optimize probability of technical and regulatory success.  

• Drive scenario planning to proactively address potential inflection points and development risks.  

• Maintain accountability for program timelines, scope, and financial stewardship.  

Executive Stakeholder Engagement  

• Serve as the primary program representative to executive leadership and, as appropriate, to Board-level discussions.  

• Present program strategy, data, risks, and value drivers in executive forums.  

• Partner with Business Development on external collaborations, due diligence, and alliance strategy when applicable.  

• Interface with external stakeholders, including CROs, academic collaborators, and strategic partners.  

Risk Management & Strategic Problem Solving  

• Identify and proactively manage scientific, clinical, regulatory, CMC, and operational risks at a strategic level.  

• Drive structured risk assessments and contingency planning.  

• Lead resolution of complex cross-functional conflicts and high-impact program challenges.  

• Ensure disciplined decision-making informed by data, probability of success, and value creation considerations.  

Organizational & Operational Leadership  

• Contribute to the evolution of early-stage development governance, processes, and best practices.  

• Drive continuous improvement across program management and cross-functional execution models.  

• Serve as a role model for enterprise leadership behaviors and cross-functional collaboration.  

• May mentor Program Team Leaders or senior program managers.  

Qualifications

• PhD, MD, PharmD, MBA,  or equivalent advanced degree in Life Sciences, Drug Development, Business Administration or a related field.  

• 10+ years of experience in biotechnology or pharmaceutical development, with significant leadership responsibility in early-stage programs.  

• Demonstrated success leading cross-functional teams through IND and early clinical milestones.  

• Experience presenting executive leadership and participating in governance decision-making forums.  

• Strong strategic thinking, financial acumen, and portfolio mindset.  

• Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders and drive enterprise-level alignment.  

• Deep understanding of early drug development, regulatory strategy, and translational considerations.  

Knowledge and Skills

• Leadership and team-building capabilities to drive cross-functional collaboration.  

• Strategic thinking and ability to synthesize scientific and business information to make informed decisions.  

• Strong organizational and time management skills.  

• Ability to navigate complexity and ambiguity in early drug development.  

• Proficiency in project management tools and methodologies.  

E/E/O

Immunome, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

E-Verify

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