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Associate Director Biologics Project Team Leader siRNA

Novartis Group Companies
parental leave, paid time off, sick time, 401(k)
United States, Massachusetts, Cambridge
Feb 01, 2025

Job Description Summary

Position onsite in Cambridge or San Diego

The Biologics Research Center (BRC) is accommodated within the BR. BRC, in collaboration with the disease areas (DA) and technical expert groups, builds 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 Biologics Research Center (BRC) at our site in Cambridge or San Diego. We are looking for experience in early research project leadership in the field of siRNA therapeutics, for treatment of various diseases in NS, CVM and other fields. Our group is driving successful execution of a wide range of traditional biologics projects, including cell and gene therapies and siRNA therapies. This starts with early strategic and operational discussions on therapeutic concept and drug candidate generation, assembly of internal teams and execution of desired strategy, up to technical leadership of early process development and the developability assessment of candidate compounds. You will be reporting to the Head of BRC's Project and Portfolio Management.

Job Description

What you'll be doing (key responsibilities, but not limited to):

  • Work collaboratively with cross-functional and multidisciplinary teams, spanning multiple NVS global sites to discover and develop efficient siRNA-based therapies.
  • Co-lead projects with DA project lead; formulate and execute on project strategy, manage interfaces with DAs, including timelines, priority, board presentations.
  • Build and lead internal BRC teams of experimental scientists. Seek technical and operational input from key BRC / BR / Novartis stakeholders to build the project execution plan.
  • Lead BRC internal project meetings. Collect and interprets data to advance project, adapts strategy, and addresses the right scientific questions. Ensure team discussions and decisions are summarized in minutes. Ensure that key milestones and go / no go criteria are data driven and clearly defined. Own quality of project information and make sure project information is accurate and included in the system(s) in a timely matter.
  • Guide projects with respect to biotherapeutic approaches for discovery, formats, modalities and technologies, and leads corresponding efforts. Lead developability assessment, manufacturing cell line development and early process development. 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 aim to manage/mitigate risks.
  • Aligns with BRC LT and BRC DA rep on project strategy and resourcing. Regular project/portfolio updates to BRC LT.
  • Represent BRC in and actively contribute to BR core project team. Represent BRC in TRD CMC sub-team up to Gate 2. Manages interfaces to TRD TPLs, BRC and EPD LFs on aspects of project management (timelines, strategy, priority). Conducts planning and resource alignments (e.g. from final vector onwards).
  • Manages and communicates project status, issues, and options for resolution to ensure optimal and timely information flow to all stakeholders (BR and TRD).
  • Foster effective, proactive and open communication within and across project teams, build trust among team members to achieve transparency and clarity of program goals, progress and issues. Mentor less experienced team members.
  • 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 our team members.

Minimum requirements:

  • PhD with a strong background in Biotherapeutics or siRNA.
  • 5+ years of relevant biotech/pharma experience, including focus on biotherapeutic/ siRNA therapeutic design, production, characterization and delivery.
  • Previous track record of success in leadership position, working with international and multidisciplinary drug development teams.
  • Ambitious, yet highly collaborative and fully committed to team's and project success.
  • Result- and quality oriented. Able to deal with conflicting interests and willing to make compromises to ensure project progress.
  • Excellent project management skills, organizational and team management skills, interpersonal communication, strong verbal and written communication.
  • Creativity with demonstrated critical thinking and problem-solving skills, ability to pay attention to detail but also see a bigger picture.
  • Comfortable with ambiguity and change, eager and fast learner willing to adopt new tools and processes.
  • Ability to operate in a fast-paced dynamic environment and effectively process multiple avenues of communication and requests in parallel.

Why Novartis: Helping people with disease and their families takes more than innovative science. It takes a community of smart, passionate people like you. Collaborating, supporting and inspiring each other. Combining to achieve breakthroughs that change patients' lives. Ready to create a brighter future together? https://www.novartis.com/about/strategy/people-and-culture

Benefits and Rewards: Read our handbook to learn about all the ways we'll help you thrive personally and professionally: https://www.novartis.com/careers/benefits-rewards

Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion: The 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.

Novartis Compensation and Benefit Summary: The pay range for this position at commencement of employment is expected to be between $138,600-$257,400/year; however, while salary ranges are effective from 1/1/25 through 12/31/25, fluctuations in the job market may necessitate adjustments to pay ranges during this period. Further, final pay determinations will depend on various factors, including, but not limited to geographical location, experience level, knowledge, skills, and abilities. The total compensation package for this position may also include other elements, including a sign-on bonus, restricted stock units, and discretionary awards in addition to a full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits (including 401(k) eligibility and various paid time off benefits, such as vacation, sick time, and parental leave), dependent on the position offered. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment. If hired, employee will be in an "at-will position" and the Company reserves the right to modify base salary (as well as any other discretionary payment or compensation program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, Company or individual department/team performance, and market factors.

Join our Novartis Network: Not the right Novartis role for you? Sign up to our talent community to stay connected and learn about suitable career opportunities as soon as they come up: https://talentnetwork.novartis.com/network

EEO Statement:

The Novartis Group of Companies are Equal Opportunity Employers who are focused on building and advancing a culture of inclusion that values and celebrates individual differences, uniqueness, backgrounds and perspectives. We do not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion or other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status. We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace that reflects the world around us and connects us to the patients, customers 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 to perform the essential functions of a position, please send an e-mail to us.reasonableaccommodations@novartis.com or 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.

Salary Range

$138,600.00 - $257,400.00

Skills Desired

Adaptive Strategy And Innovation, Clinical Research, Cross-Functional Teams, Drug Development, Financial Management, Interpersonal Communication Skills, Microsoft Project, Npd (New Product Development), Pmi (Project Management Institute), Pmp (Project Management Professional), Program Management, Project Delivery, Project Execution, Project Life Cycle, Project Planning, R&D (Research And Development), Resource Allocation, Risk Management, Senior Management, Stakeholder Management, Time Management Skills, Waterfall Model
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