Director, Program Team Lead

About the Role

The Director, Program Team Lead (PTL) provides strategic and cross-functional leadership for one or more development programs at Tarsus. In this role, you will serve as a strategic leader responsible for integrating development, regulatory, commercial, and operational perspectives to maximize long-term molecule value.

You will lead a cross-functional Program Team to define and execute an integrated molecule strategy aligned with corporate priorities, ensuring programs advance with clarity, discipline, and strong decision-making. This role requires the ability to navigate scientific and business considerations while driving alignment across matrixed teams and senior leadership.

This role is ideal for a strategic leader who thrives in dynamic environments, exercises strong judgment under uncertainty, and enjoys driving clarity and impact across complex cross-functional initiatives. This is a unique opportunity to help shape the evolution of program leadership at Tarsus while advancing innovative therapies for patients.

Let’s talk about some of the key responsibilities of the role:

• Lead the cross-functional Program Team to define and execute an integrated molecule strategy aligned with long-term corporate strategy and enterprise priorities
• Own and evolve the Target Product Profile (TPP) and Integrated Development Plan (IDP) to optimize molecule value
• Drive key program decisions by defining strategic options, risks, and recommendations in collaboration with functional leaders
• Serve as the enterprise voice of the molecule, aligning stakeholders around program strategy, priorities, and decisions
• Drive excellence in day-to-day Program Team execution, ensuring program milestones, timelines, and deliverables progress in alignment with strategy
• Shape molecule-level inputs to annual budgeting, portfolio, and long-range planning processes, clearly articulating key assumptions, risks, and value drivers
• Proactively identify strategic and executional risks, including competitive, regulatory, and market shifts, and develop scenario-based mitigation strategies
• Prepare and deliver high-quality program updates, strategic recommendations, and decision materials to Executive Team, Board, and other key governance forums.
• Foster a collaborative, accountable, and high-performing team environment
• Contribute to the evolution of program leadership practices and governance processes as the organization scales

Factors for Success:

Education & Experience

• Advanced degree in life sciences, medicine, pharmacy, or a related discipline preferred; MBA or equivalent business training is a plus
• 15+ years of experience in the biopharmaceutical industry with demonstrated progression into strategic leadership roles
• Experience leading or meaningfully contributing to cross-functional drug development programs across multiple stages of development and/or launch planning, commercial strategy, and lifecycle management for commercial products
• Strong understanding of global drug development, regulatory strategy, and the broader ecosystem influencing pharmaceutical product development
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams in highly matrixed environments without direct authority
• Must be willing to be “hands on” and delve into details
• Experience with key regulatory filings (IND through NDA) and/or new product planning experience a plus

Leadership Competencies - This role requires proficiency in the Tarsus Leadership Competencies for Leading People, including:

Strategic Thinking & Business Acumen

• Ability to connect functional and program strategy with broader business objectives, synthesizing diverse inputs into clear strategic perspectives that guide decision-making
• Make recommendations clearly linked to the organization's strategy and financial goals, reflecting an awareness of internal and external dynamics, including competitive environments and industry trends

Decision-Making

• Applies structured decision-making to complex, cross-functional challenges, weighing competing priorities and longer-term trade-offs

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Promotes collaboration by aligning diverse teams around shared goals, fostering healthy debate to advance outcomes, and building strong networks that strengthen organizational effectiveness
• Skilled at building strong relationships with functional leaders and senior stakeholders to foster alignment, trust, and shared accountability

Outcome Driven Execution

• Demonstrates strong outcomes focus