Associate Director, Project Management-Biologics (San Diego/Boston)

Company: Novartis
Location: Cambridge
Posted on: June 20, 2022

Job Description:

6000! This is the number of associates in the Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research (NIBR). This division is the innovation engine of Novartis, focusing on new technologies that have the potential to help produce therapeutic breakthroughs for patients.

The Novartis Biologics Center (NBC) is housed within NIBR and works in collaboration with the disease areas and technical expert groups. We build the future biologics therapy pipeline of Novartis through the discovery and creation of new antibody, protein, nucleic acid and virus-based molecules.

We are seeking a highly motivated scientist and leader to join the Project and Portfolio Management group within NBC. In this role, you will bring expertise in early research project management in the field of siRNA and cell and gene therapies, with an emphasis in AAV and CART or siRNA technologies. You will join the team to drive successful execution of a wide range of biologics projects which starts with early strategic and operational discussions in drug candidate generation, assembly of internal teams, and includes technical leadership of early process development and the developability assessment of candidate compounds. You will report to the Head of NBC's Project and Portfolio Management.

What you'll be doing: responsibilities include, but not limited to:

• Work collaboratively with cross-functional and multidisciplinary teams, spanning multiple global sites to discover and develop efficient siRNA or AAV and lentiviral therapies.
• Build and co-lead internal NBC teams of experimental scientists. Seek technical and operational input from key NBC / NIBR / Novartis stakeholders to build the project execution plan. Track and oversee projects by maintaining an overview of the project goals, activities and commitments and timelines of project teams, in line with strategic priorities. Manage and optimize project plans and resource assignments with the goal to manage/mitigate risks.
• Responsible for the project from initiation through handover to technical development.
• Lead early process development and developability efforts.
• Network with DAs and downstream development partners to bring lead candidates towards full development. Lead in a matrix environment by influencing and effectively facilitating cross-functional decision making.
• Support teams in preparation and presentation at various governance boards.
• Manage day-to-day team communication, periodically report project progress to key stakeholders and escalate concerns when necessary.
• Represent NBC at multiple cross-functional teams and/or project management / portfolio-related initiatives around portfolio strategies and operational process improvement.
• Contribute to vendor/CRO evaluations, coordination of outsourcing requests, budget monitoring and communication, evaluation of external collaborations and due diligence.
• Ensure best practices, knowledge exchange and continuous mentoring and training of team members.
  EEO StatementThe Novartis Group of Companies are Equal Opportunity Employers and take pride in maintaining a diverse environment. We do not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion or other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status. We are committed to building diverse teams, representative of the patients and communities we serve, and we strive to create an inclusive workplace that cultivates bold innovation through collaboration and empowers our people to unleash their full potential.Minimum requirementsWhat you'll bring to the role:
  
  • PhD with 5+ years of relevant experience or M.S. with equivalent experience and a strong background in siRNA or AAV and/or lentiviruses.
  • 5+ years of relevant biotech/pharma/academia experience with a focus in AAV / lentivirus / siRNA therapeutic design, production, characterization and delivery.
  • Ambitious, highly collaborative and fully committed to team and project success; result and quality oriented. Ability to navigate conflicting interests while making compromises to ensure project progress.
  • Excellent project management, organizational and team management skills, interpersonal communication, strong verbal and written communication.
  • Creativity with demonstrated critical thinking and problem-solving skills, detail oriented but able to see the picture.
  • Thrives in an environment with high ambiguity, challenges and change; an eager and quick learner willing to adopt new tools and processes.
  • Ability to operate in a fast-paced dynamic environment and be able to effectively process multiple avenues of communication and requests in parallel.
  • This is a site-based position based out of our Cambridge, MA or San Diego, CA site with flexibility for remote work a few days a week.
    Desirable:
    
    • Familiarity with more traditional biotherapeutics (mAbs, therapeutic proteins) is a plus.
      Why Novartis?
      766 million lives were touched by Novartis medicines in 2021, and while we're proud of this, we know there is so much more we could do to help improve and extend people's lives.
      
      We believe new insights, perspectives and ground-breaking solutions can be found at the intersection of medical science and digital innovation. That a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment inspires new ways of working.
      
      We believe our potential can thrive and grow in an unbossed culture underpinned by integrity, curiosity and flexibility. And we can reinvent what's possible, when we collaborate with courage to aggressively and ambitiously tackle the world's toughest medical challenges. Because the greatest risk in life, is the risk of never trying!
      Imagine what you could do here at Novartis!
      
      Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion:
      Novartis is committed to building an outstanding, inclusive work environment and diverse teams representative of the patients and communities we serve.
      
      Accessibility and Reasonable Accommodations: The Novartis Group of Companies are committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process, or in order to perform the essential functions of a position, please send an e-mail to tas.nacomms@novartis.com call +1 (877)395-2339 and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Please include the job requisition number in your message.
      
      While Novartis does not require vaccination at this time, for certain Novartis sites in the US all associates and candidates may be required to either upload an image of their COVID-19 vaccine card demonstrating proof of full vaccination for COVID-19 (or other similar evidence of vaccination) or proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken by the associate or candidate within the past seven days to enter any of our sites and/or customer office or healthcare facility, as well as prior to participating in other work related off-site meetings. Employees working in customer-facing roles must adhere to and comply with customers' (such as hospitals, physician offices, etc.) credentialing guidelines, which may require vaccination. As required by applicable law, Novartis will consider requests for reasonable accommodation for those unable to be vaccinated. This requirement is subject to applicable state and local laws and may not be applicable to employees working in certain jurisdictions. Please send accommodation requests to Eh.occupationalhealth@novartis.com.DivisionNIBRBusiness UnitBIOTHERAPEUTIC AND ANALYTICAL TECHNOLOGIES - NIBRCountryUSAWork LocationCambridge, MACompany/Legal EntityNIBRIFunctional AreaResearch & DevelopmentJob TypeFull TimeEmployment TypeRegularShift WorkNoEarly TalentNo

Keywords: Novartis, Cambridge , Associate Director, Project Management-Biologics (San Diego/Boston), Executive , Cambridge, Massachusetts