Associate Director, Development Program Manager
Encoded Therapeutics
Summary
Encoded is seeking an Associate Director, Development Program Manager to drive the cross-functional planning and execution of a development program within our AAV gene therapy platform, focused on central nervous system (CNS) indications. Reporting to the Director, Development Program Management, this role is for an experienced program management professional who combines strong organizational and project-management expertise with a solid understanding of the drug development process, ideally including gene therapy or other advanced modalities.
Job description
Responsibilities
Program Strategy & Core Team Leadership
- Facilitate development and implementation of program strategy, ensuring alignment with company goals, timelines, and budgetary constraints
- Organize Development Core Team activities that foster cross-functional collaboration, effective communication, and strategic discussion
- Ensure cross-functional teams are properly prepared for internal meetings, communications to management, and engagement with external partners
- Partner with the Director of PMO to ensure portfolio and cross-program considerations alignment
Program Planning & Execution
- Develop and maintain the integrated program plan, timeline, and budget across all functional areas
- Track deliverables resulting from Core Team meetings, ensuring timelines are met and objectives are achieved
- Identify program risks and dependencies early, and develop and track mitigation plans in partnership with functional leads
- Support scenario planning and contingency planning for key program decision points
- Contribute to the development and refinement of program management processes, templates, and best practices
Cross-Functional Coordination
- Serve as the primary point of integration across functional areas for the program
- Partner with functional leads to coordinate cross-functional projects related to CMC, Regulatory, Clinical, Medical, Patient Advocacy, and Nonclinical
- Facilitate internal communication to identify risks and mitigations, escalating unresolved issues to the Director PM as needed
Budget & Resource Management
- Partner with Finance and functional leads on budget forecasting
- Support resource planning and capacity analysis across functions
Communication & Reporting
- Monitor and report program progress, providing regular updates to cross-functional teams, the PM Director, and other stakeholders
- Utilize formal communication protocols and tools, including dashboards, reports, and weekly/monthly updates
- Support maintenance of program documentation in alignment with internal quality and compliance standards
Ad Hoc Projects
- Demonstrate flexibility and adaptability to contribute to ad hoc functional projects across various departments
- Collaborate with team members to address challenges and find innovative solutions
- Support Quarterly Business Review (QBR) and Board of Directors (BoD) meetings as needed
Requirements
- Minimum of 8 years of related experience with a bachelor's degree; or 6 years and a master's degree; or a PhD with 3 years' experience; or equivalent experience
- Advanced degree in life sciences, pharmacology, or a related field preferred
- MBA or project management certification is a plus
- Demonstrated experience in program or project management within the biotech, pharmaceutical, or related life sciences industry
- Working knowledge of the drug development process, including preclinical, clinical, regulatory, and commercial requirements
- Experience supporting gene therapy, AAV vectors, or other advanced modality programs, and/or rare disease programs, strongly preferred
- Proven track record of successfully leading and managing cross-functional teams in the development and execution of complex development programs
- Up to 20% travel may be required
- Self-starter with the ability to work independently and take initiative
- Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage a complex, multi-functional program
- Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills
- Strategic thinker with the ability to prioritize and make informed decisions in a fast-paced environment
- Strong problem-solving abilities and a proactive, critical-thinking approach
- Excellent written and oral communication skills
- Proficient in Smartsheet, Office Timelines and/or other project management tools and software
- Proven ability to evaluate existing PMO tooling, workflows, and delivery frameworks
- PMP certification or equivalent program/project management credential preferred
- Experience supporting rare disease or CNS-focused gene therapy programs preferred
- Familiarity with gene therapy-specific regulatory considerations preferred
- Experience leveraging AI-assisted features within modern program and portfolio management tools preferred
- Experience with governance processes in a biotech or pharmaceutical organization preferred
- Familiarity with IND submission preferred
Benefits
- Competitive employer premium contributions
- Stock option grants
- PTO, sick time & holiday pay
- Generous Parental Leave
- Pre-tax medical & dependent care
- STD, LTD, Life & AD&D
- Professional development opportunities
- Team-building events
- Fully stocked micro-kitchen
- Fitness center
Company overview
Encoded Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering precision genetic medicines for severe central nervous system (CNS) disorders. Founded in 2014 and headquartered in South San Francisco, California, the company is developing potentially disease-modifying gene therapies for pediatric CNS conditions using its proprietary vector engineering platform. Encoded's innovative approach combines novel regulatory elements and payloads with AAV vectors to achieve unprecedented gene specificity and cell selectivity, enabling targeted expression of therapeutic transgenes in specific cell types. The company's flagship program, ETX101, targets Dravet syndrome and has received RMAT designation from the FDA. Encoded's pipeline also includes programs for Angelman syndrome, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, STXBP1-related disorders, Alzheimer's disease, and neuropathic pain. With a team of 51-200 employees and significant venture backing including a $135 million Series D round, Encoded is advancing potentially transformative one-time gene therapies that could address significant unmet medical needs in neurological disorders.