Head, Program Management

POSITION SUMMARY

As Amylyx Pharmaceuticals continues to scale, there is a need for a Head, Program Management to join our R&D organization, initially reporting to our Co-CEO’s.  This newly established role will lead and organize Amylyx's programs from discovery to approval and commercialization. 

The Head, Program Management will be responsible for building our program management infrastructure and governance with a goal to enhance leadership’s visibility into program progress and empower the cross-functional teams managing each pro.   This is a hands-on, roll-up your sleeves position where you will be need to oversee multiple programs as we build out the Amylyx pipeline. As the pipeline continues to expand and mature, the Head, Program Management will also build the Program Management function and build the team.  

The Head, Program Management will have exceptional project management, communication and facilitation skills to coordinate activities across the organization to support Amylyx's business goals and team objectives.  This individual will play an integral role in building and leading efficient and collaborative cross-functional teams to achieve program goals. This is a critical and highly visible role, making a substantial contribution to the growth and scaling of the company.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead team(s) to establish project milestones, manage work plans and vendors, develop budgets, and ensure resources are aligned to meet project objectives. Manage long- and short-term program activities, including schedule development, project communication, status reporting, and resource interactions.
• Plans and sets weekly and monthly agendas, including for executive reviews, working in partnership with team members to ensure program updates are covered and key decisions are discussed and made in a timely manner.
• Working in a matrix structure identify and resolve programmatic issues, proactively assess risks and develop mitigation, and communicate program status and issues to the governance bodies and/or management teams.
• Drives decision-making and issues resolution within the team and through the governance process.
• Ensures cross-functional alignment and organizational support for the execution of the operational plan by facilitating internal and external stakeholder meetings.
• Collaborate with and support team members and functional managers to assure integration of project and functional goals towards achieving project milestones and timetables.
• Work with project team to proactively identify risks, contingencies, and alternatives.
• Communicate program objectives, work plans issues, and resource needs to teams, functional departments, and senior management via routine and ad hoc meetings, minutes, and action items.
• Participate in the vendor selection process and ensure that all appropriate parties ae at the table when assessing and selecting vendor partners
• Recommend processes or procedures that facilitate program and department operations.
• Provide input into company resource planning, project management processes, and budgets.
• Working with finance, oversee the program budget forecasting and reporting and participate in identification and selection of external resources.
• As needed, provide status reports and proposals for decision to executive management, and participate in strategic discussions regarding the program(s).
• Initiate and escalate strategy changes to senior management as needed

REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s Degree required.
• 20+ years' experience in a pharmaceutical or biotechnology environment, including hands on experience in leading program management activities in early and/or full clinical development is required. Strong preference for experience building Program Management from the ground up.
• Outstanding proven team leadership skills and experience in a global matrix environment.
• Experience of pre-clinical and clinical program leadership required; experience leading a team through a regulatory filing strongly preferred.
• Excellent relationship building skills and ability to influence to achieve desired outcome.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills for bridging between scientific and business participants, for negotiating timelines and for effective collaboration
• Documented success in achieving goals and deliverables in functional or programmatic activities.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills; scientifically curious and demonstrated interest in understanding and sharing complex ideas relating to Amylyx's programs, technology, and clinical studies

LOCATION 

• Cambridge, Massachusetts – candidates outside Massachusetts must be willing to travel to Cambridge on a regular basis