Director/Sr. Director, Program Management

Here at Kelonia Therapeutics, we aren’t just a clinical company; we’re trailblazers in viral engineering, pushing the boundaries of in vivo lentiviral gene and cell therapy. We're not just a team; we're dreamers on a mission to bring the promise of cell and gene therapy to every patient in need.

What You will Do:

• Partner closely with the Development team and Chief Development Officer to define and refine oncology program strategy, stakeholder engagement plans, and overall program leadership priorities.
• Translate clinical development strategy into a comprehensive, functionally integrated project plan incorporating goals, key objectives, deliverables, assumptions, timelines, budgets, and resource requirements.
• Drive structured, transparent decision-making processes, cross-functional alignment and timely communication of outcomes across Clinical, Regulatory, CMC, Nonclinical, Quality and other enabling functions.
• Ensure identification, assessment, and proactive management of program risks; collaborate with subject matter experts to develop and execute mitigation strategies.
• Evaluate alternative development scenarios (costs, timelines, risks, strategic tradeoffs) and use pattern recognition to support data-driven decision-making at stage gates and governance reviews and enable early identification of emerging risks.
• Support advancement through key oncology milestones such as regulatory interactions, data readouts, and late-stage clinical planning as applicable.
• Lead global cross-functional team meetings and governance interactions, including agenda setting, preparation of materials, facilitation, documentation of decisions, and follow-up on action items.
• Ensure effective information flow within the cross-functional program team and across advisory and executive governance bodies.
• Serve as the owner of core program documentation including integrated project plan, budget, timelines, and approved program assumptions that support financial forecasting, portfolio analyses, and business planning processes.
• Apply oncology drug development expertise to coach and mentor team members, strengthening cross-functional understanding and execution effectiveness.
• Identify and implement opportunities to streamline processes, enhance operational rigor, and improve cross-functional collaboration.

• Monitor and assess partnership performance, ensuring timely achievement of milestones and contractual agreements while also implementing corrective measures as needed.
• Act as primary point of contact for partner organizations as well as develop and manage operational aspects of the alliance, including governance, committees, research plans, and budgets.

• Demonstrates strategic foresight by anticipating emerging risks and opportunities before they materialize.
• Support corporate/portfolio development initiatives, diligence activities, and broader portfolio strategy efforts as needed.

What You will Bring:

• Bachelor’s degree in Life Sciences or related field required; advanced degree (MS, PhD, PharmD, MD, or MBA) strongly preferred.
• Minimum 10+ years of experience in the biotechnology or pharmaceutical industry.
• At least 5+ years of direct development program management experience leading cross-functional global drug development teams.
• Demonstrated oncology drug development experience is required; CAR-T, Myeloma and Lymphoma experience a plus.
• Proven track record advancing oncology programs through IND and into clinical development; experience supporting later-stage milestones.
• Broad knowledge of clinical drug development processes, regulatory frameworks, and oncology-specific development considerations including biomarker-driven strategies.
• Strong expertise in integrated program planning, resource forecasting, risk management, and scenario modeling.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complexity, synthesize diverse inputs, and guide teams through strategic decision-making.
• Exceptional communication skills with the ability to distill complex information into clear, actionable insights for senior leadership and Board of Director level meetings.
• Experience using program management tools (e.g., MS Project, Smartsheet, Office Timeline, OnePager Pro) and strong proficiency in MS Office suite and document management systems.
• Proven ability to influence without direct authority and drive alignment in a matrixed organization.
• Experience supporting global development programs and external partnerships preferred.