Senior Director, Program Management Lead - Commercial
Taysha Gene Therapies
Summary
The Senior Director, Program Management Lead for Commercial is responsible for leading integrated program management across the Commercial organization and ensuring Commercial priorities, milestones, dependencies, risks, and decisions are effectively coordinated with the broader enterprise program. This role will partner closely with Commercial leadership and functional leads across Commercial, Market Access, Patient Services, Marketing, and other relevant functions, as well as key cross-functional partners such as Medical Affairs and the PMO.
Job description
The Commercial Program Management Lead will own the integrated Commercial program and workstream plan and drive the planning, coordination, governance, and execution required to support commercialization and launch readiness. The role will also oversee program management of launch-readiness activities, including management of external launch-readiness support as applicable, while Commercial and functional leaders retain accountability for commercial strategy, functional decisions, and deliverables. As a senior member of the PMO organization, this individual will report to the Head of PMO and serve as the primary PMO partner to the Commercial organization.
Essential Duties
- Own the integrated Commercial program and workstream plan, including key milestones, timelines, dependencies, risks, decisions, and critical-path activities across Commercial functions.
- Lead integrated Commercial program management, connecting activities across Marketing, Market Access, Patient Services, Commercial Operations, and other relevant Commercial functions and cross-functional partners.
- Drive launch-readiness program management and execution, ensuring readiness activities, decision points, dependencies, risks, and deliverables are integrated and actively managed across the organization.
- Oversee external launch-readiness program management support and vendors, as applicable, to ensure alignment with company priorities, readiness criteria, timelines, and governance.
- Integrate Commercial milestones and dependencies with the enterprise Integrated Program Plan, partnering with the Head of PMO and other Program Management Leads to maintain alignment across the broader program.
- Establish and facilitate Commercial program governance, including leadership and cross-functional forums required to drive decisions, resolve issues, monitor readiness, and maintain execution against priorities.
- Identify, manage, and escalate key program risks, dependencies, resource constraints, and decisions requiring Commercial or executive leadership attention.
- Partner with Commercial leadership and functional leaders to translate strategic priorities and decisions into clear, executable plans while maintaining appropriate functional accountability.
- Drive cross-functional coordination with key partner functions outside Commercial, including Medical Affairs and others, to ensure Commercial requirements and dependencies are identified and incorporated into program planning.
- Provide clear and concise program reporting to senior leadership, including progress against critical milestones, launch readiness, emerging risks, decisions required, and areas requiring escalation.
- Lead and/or oversee Commercial project management resources or other relevant vendors, as the organization evolves, ensuring consistent program management standards, tools, and ways of working.
- Partner with the broader PMO organization to strengthen program governance, planning processes, tools, reporting, and execution discipline across Taysha.
Skill & Education Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree such as an MBA, M.S., or other relevant graduate degree preferred.
- 10+ years of experience in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or life sciences industry, with level commensurate with Senior Director or Executive Director responsibilities.
- Significant experience in program/project management, commercialization, launch readiness, commercial operations, or a closely related cross-functional leadership role within the biopharmaceutical industry.
- Demonstrated experience supporting late-stage development through commercialization and product launch, preferably within specialty, rare disease, advanced therapy, or similar complex therapeutic areas.
- Strong understanding of the activities and interdependencies required for commercialization, including Marketing, Market Access, Patient Services, Commercial Operations, Medical Affairs, and related functions.
- Demonstrated ability to lead complex, cross-functional programs in which functional leaders retain decision-making and deliverable accountability.
- Experience developing and managing integrated program plans, including critical paths, milestones, dependencies, risks, decisions, and launch-readiness criteria.
- Strong executive presence and demonstrated ability to work effectively with senior and executive leadership, facilitate decision-making, and appropriately escalate issues.
- Demonstrated success operating in a fast-paced, dynamic, and evolving organization, with the ability to create structure, establish priorities, and drive execution through ambiguity.
- Exceptional communication, facilitation, organizational, and stakeholder-management skills.
- Ability to influence effectively across organizational boundaries and build strong partnerships across functional teams without relying on direct authority.
- Experience managing project/program management personnel and/or external program management or commercialization vendors preferred.
- PMP or other relevant program management certification preferred but not required.
This role can be performed remotely or based from Chicago IL. Expected travel 25%.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree required
- 10+ years of experience in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or life sciences industry
- Significant experience in program/project management, commercialization, launch readiness, commercial operations, or a closely related cross-functional leadership role within the biopharmaceutical industry
- Demonstrated experience supporting late-stage development through commercialization and product launch, preferably within specialty, rare disease, advanced therapy, or similar complex therapeutic areas
- Strong understanding of the activities and interdependencies required for commercialization, including Marketing, Market Access, Patient Services, Commercial Operations, Medical Affairs, and related functions
- Demonstrated ability to lead complex, cross-functional programs in which functional leaders retain decision-making and deliverable accountability
- Experience developing and managing integrated program plans, including critical paths, milestones, dependencies, risks, decisions, and launch-readiness criteria
- Strong executive presence and demonstrated ability to work effectively with senior and executive leadership, facilitate decision-making, and appropriately escalate issues
- Demonstrated success operating in a fast-paced, dynamic, and evolving organization, with the ability to create structure, establish priorities, and drive execution through ambiguity
- Exceptional communication, facilitation, organizational, and stakeholder-management skills
- Ability to influence effectively across organizational boundaries and build strong partnerships across functional teams without relying on direct authority
- Experience managing project/program management personnel and/or external program management or commercialization vendors preferred
- PMP or other relevant program management certification preferred but not required
Benefits
- Individual Stock Option awards
- ESPP program
- Performance bonus program
- 401(k) with matching contribution
- Medical, Dental & Vision
- Prescription drug benefits
- Generous vacation/holiday schedule
Company overview
Taysha Gene Therapies is a clinical-stage biotechnology company headquartered in Dallas, Texas, that specializes in developing and commercializing adeno-associated virus (AAV)-based gene therapies for the treatment of monogenic diseases of the central nervous system. Founded in 2020, the company focuses on addressing severe unmet medical needs in rare neurodevelopmental disorders through innovative genetic medicine approaches. Taysha's lead clinical program, TSHA-102, targets Rett syndrome, one of the most common genetic causes of severe intellectual disability in females, and represents the first gene therapy in clinical development for this devastating condition. The company's pipeline also includes TSHA-120 for giant axonal neuropathy (GAN) and several other CNS-focused programs. Taysha leverages a clinically and commercially proven AAV9 capsid platform and maintains strategic collaborations with academic institutions like The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. With a management team that includes pioneers responsible for the first FDA-approved gene therapy for a monogenic CNS disorder, Taysha combines scientific expertise with a patient-first approach to advance transformative treatments for patients and families affected by rare genetic diseases.