Associate Director, Research Program Management

The Role: 

We seek an experienced and driven Associate Director of operations program management to support our Platform Science organization focusing on the continued development and advancement of Moderna’s mRNA and delivery technologies.  The successful candidate will be highly organized, exceptionally collaborative, able to comprehend the scientific subject matter and its applications, and effective at working broadly and cross-functionally with internal stakeholders across multiple project teams.  The Associate Director, Operations Program Manager will be responsible for coordination of concurrent efforts and project teams to ensure delivery on a variety of technology advancement objectives.  The individual in this role will need to exhibit excellent communication, interpersonal and collaboration skills, and the ability to navigate and influence the organizational structure, dynamics and culture at Moderna. The ability to work in a dynamic, fast-paced environment will be critical to success.

Here’s What You’ll Do:  

• The applicant will work closely with department heads, project leaders and scientists across several scientific disciplines to drive a variety of cross-functional technology objectives and facilitate their advancement to therapeutic implementation.  This position requires exceptional organizational skills, multitasking, great attention to detail, a high degree of collaboration and the ability to manage fearless pivoting when necessary. 

• Responsibilities:

• Support business needs of each department within the Platform Science organization, and through participation in strategic planning and execution phases of technology project development, using project management skills, best practices and digital tools.

• Assist Platform Science department heads, project leaders and project teams in the development, monitoring and adherence to project governance, objectives, workstreams, deliverables, timelines and budgets.

• Collaborate cross-functionally to build, maintain, and execute aligned technology project plans both at a strategic level as well as a hands-on capacity.

• Liaise with Finance team to forecast, develop and monitor alignment to project budgets, and with Strategic Operations team for alignment of projects relative to corporate goals.

• Construct and maintain information sharing teams’ sites for data collection, presentation assembly, and to monitor project progress and milestones relative to timelines.

• Coordinate periodic project review meetings including scheduling, agenda setting, preparation, pre-read and presentation materials, recording minutes, and development and follow up on action items.

• Align and monitor distribution of people resources across projects to position project teams for successful delivery on objectives.

• Coordinate and collate progress reports to assure senior management is apprised of project status, progress, challenges and paths to resolution.

• Interface with Legal, Finance, and Procurement on topics that might impact specific programs.

Here’s What You’ll Bring to the Table: 

• Requires MS in life sciences and 9+ years of advanced training in research operations and program management.

• Candidates with a PMP or other professional project or program management credentials is a plus.

• Track record of accomplishment in biopharmaceutical/biotechnology industry having managed successful programs, as well as a desire and ability to perform both at a strategic level as well as in a hands-on capacity.

• Experience leading multi-disciplinary teams in the planning and execution of projects, ideally across matrix setups.

• Experience in managing direct reports.

• Ability to work independently yet engage with team members proactively and frequently to drive programs forward.

• Capable of planning, organizing, and managing multiple projects/priorities concurrently and efficiently.

• Ability to communicate progress confidently and clearly to at all leadership levels.

• Knowledge of project and program management tools and timeline visualization software (e.g., Smartsheet, MS Project etc.); Smartsheet experience is a plus.

• Experience with external alliances and/or CRO/vendor management is a plus.

• Excellent written, oral communication, interpersonal, administrative, organizational and collaborative skills.

• A desire to be part of a transformational company that is Bold, Relentless, Curious, and Collaborative that aims to deliver the greatest possible impact to patients through mRNA medicines.

• Comfort operating in a fast-paced environment and embracing change.