Associate Director, Project Management

ABOUT LAKEFRONT BIOTHERAPEUTICS

Lakefront Biotherapeutics is a global biotech with offices in Belgium, Chicago and San Francisco, focused on building a differentiated immunology and inflammation pipeline to address serious diseases with high unmet medical need. Our pipeline is anchored by T‑cell engager programs, led by a potential first‑in‑class clinical asset and complemented by an exciting preclinical portfolio in autoimmune disease.

Our lead asset is being developed for severe immune‑mediated diseases, while additional preclinical programs expand the long‑term potential of our R&D pipeline. At Lakefront, we focus on advancing programs with strong biological rationale, clear clinical proof of concept and large commercial opportunities.

Are you ready to transform lives and be part of a journey like no other? We are building a company where science, execution, and accountability matter. Rather than layers of hierarchy, we operate with small, empowered teams that work hands‑on across development stages to move programs forward efficiently and thoughtfully.

We are looking for people who want to contribute directly, who are motivated by solving real problems, collaborating across disciplines, and taking ownership from idea to impact. At Lakefront, every role plays a part in shaping the future of medicines that have the potential to make a meaningful difference for patients.

If you are driven to improve the lives of patients, energized by execution, and excited to help build a growing company with a strong balance sheet, we look forward to meeting you.

THE OPPORTUNITY

Lakefront Biotherapeutics is looking for a collaborative Associate Director, Project Management to help drive early development programs, with an expected focus on Phase I/II clinical development in autoimmune diseases. This role will partner closely with Clinical Development and Clinical Operations and will integrate inputs across CMC, Research/Preclinical, Translational Medicine, Regulatory, Safety, Biometrics, Finance, and external partners. The ideal candidate brings strong clinical project management experience and exceptional soft skills: emotional intelligence, structured communication, sound judgment, and the ability to guide teams with diverse personalities and priorities through ambiguity and decision-making. This is a hands-on matrix leadership role for a practical PM who can create clarity, maintain momentum, and help teams translate strategy into integrated plans and timely execution.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

• Drive day-to-day project management planning and coordination for one or more early development programs, with primary emphasis on Phase I/II clinical development activities.
• Partner with Clinical Development, Clinical Operations, and functional leads to build and maintain integrated development plans, program timelines, milestone maps, critical path analyses, risk/issue logs, action trackers, and decision logs.
• Facilitate cross-functional program and study team meetings, including agenda-setting, pre-read coordination, decision capture, action follow-up, and escalation of key issues.
• Guide cross-functional teams through competing priorities and ambiguity by building trust, clarifying ownership, encouraging balanced input, and driving alignment around decisions and next steps.
• Coordinate with CMC, Research/Preclinical, Translational Medicine, Regulatory, Safety/Pharmacovigilance, Biometrics, Data Management, Quality, Finance, and external partners to ensure program plans are integrated and interdependencies are visible.
• Support clinical execution planning and governance activities, including study team coordination, vendor and CRO milestone tracking as appropriate, key deliverables, and readiness for internal decision points.
• Proactively identify risks, bottlenecks, and resource constraints; partner with the Sr. Director, Project Management and functional leaders on mitigation options and timely escalation.
• Prepare concise program updates, dashboards, and materials for leadership, governance, partnership, and board discussions as requested.
• Contribute to fit-for-purpose PM processes, templates, and tools that support a lean startup environment without adding unnecessary complexity.

WHAT YOU BRING

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field such as Life Sciences, Biotechnology, Business Administration, or a related discipline. Advanced degree (Master’s, PhD, PharmD, or MBA) is a plus but not required if relevant experience is present.
• 8+ years of biotechnology or pharmaceutical industry experience, including 5+ years in project/program management or closely related drug development roles.
• Hands-on experience supporting clinical development programs is required; early clinical development experience, including Phase I/II programs, is strongly preferred.
• Experience in autoimmune diseases is preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and influence matrix teams without direct authority, with strong emotional intelligence, listening skills, facilitation, conflict resolution, and written/verbal communication skills.
• Proven ability to create alignment among diverse stakeholders, manage competing priorities, and keep teams focused on high-impact activities and timely decisions.
• Working knowledge of clinical development, clinical operations, and development governance, with the ability to understand and integrate cross-functional inputs into practical program plans.
• Cross-functional experience across CMC, Research/Preclinical, Translational Medicine, Regulatory, Safety/Pharmacovigilance, Biometrics/Data Management, Quality, Finance, and/or external partners is a plus.
• Background in biologics or antibody-based therapeutics is a plus.
• Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, early-stage company environment where priorities may evolve and processes must be appropriately scaled.
• Highly organized and detail-oriented, with the ability to balance rigorous project management discipline with pragmatic execution and team flexibility.
• Skillful in relevant project management tools and methodologies, such as Gantt charts, MS Project, PowerPoint, SharePoint, OnePager, Power BI, integrated portfolio management, and/or PPM platforms.
• Prior direct people management experience is helpful but not required; successful matrix leadership and team facilitation are essential.

Base compensation for this position ranges from $180,000 – $200,000. Actual base compensation will be determined based on a variety of factors including experience, qualifications, job-related knowledge, demonstrated skills and geographic location. The company reserves the right to modify base salary ranges at any time. In addition, this position is eligible for participation in Lakefront Biotherapeutics’ performance bonus plan. We offer comprehensive and generous benefits and programs to help our colleagues lead healthy lives and to support important moments in life.

At Lakefront Biotherapeutics, we are committed to attracting individuals who bring strong expertise, integrity, and a collaborative mindset. We value people who take ownership, work effectively across teams, and want to contribute to meaningful progress.

You will join a highly motivated and supportive team working together to advance our pipeline and strengthen how we operate. As we continue to build and grow, we offer an environment where individuals can develop, take on responsibility, and make a tangible impact.

Lakefront Biotherapeutics is dedicated to ensuring equal employment opportunities. Our hiring decisions are based on merit, considering qualifications, skills, performance, and achievements. We strictly prohibit discrimination against any employee or job applicant based on personal characteristics that are unrelated to their job.