Vice President, Program Management - Pharma

About Varda

Low Earth orbit is open for business. Varda is accelerating the development of commercial space infrastructure, from in-orbit pharmaceutical processing to reliable and economical reentry capsules. 

From life-saving pharmaceuticals to more powerful fiber optics, there is a world of products used on Earth today that can only be manufactured in space. Varda is accelerating innovation in the orbital economy by creating both the products and infrastructure needed so space can directly benefit life on Earth. Our mission is to expand the economic bounds of humankind. 

Our team is uniquely suited to accomplishing this goal, with leadership and staff comprised of veterans from SpaceX, Blue Origin, major pharmaceutical companies and Silicon Valley. Varda was founded in January 2021 by Will Bruey and Delian Asparouhov with significant backing from world class investors including Khosla Ventures, Lux Capital, Founders Fund, Caffeinated Capital, General Catalyst, and Also Capital. 

Varda is headquartered in El Segundo, California, where we have offices and a production facility where our vehicles, equipment, and materials are built, integrated, and tested. Varda also has offices in Washington, DC and Huntsville, AL (coming soon).

Join Varda, and work to create a bustling in-space ecosystem.

 

About This Role

Our pharmaceutical team is looking for a highly motivated and effective Vice President of Program Management who will support our efforts in improving therapeutics with microgravity. This is an opportunity in an exciting area of growth for Varda, where you will get to shape Varda’s pharma culture and play a significant role in establishing the low Earth orbit economy. In this role, you will report to the Chief Science Officer.

Responsibilities

• Manage external programs, from early-stage development through production of clinical trial materials
  • Ensure project deliverables meet expectations for quality, cost, and schedule
  • Facilitate and organize programmatic reviews and external-facing presentations
  • Travel as needed to support external programs
  • Partner with subject matter experts and technical leads to overcome challenges and programmatic risks as they arise
• Own overall pharmaceutical program management efforts
  • Establish streamlined project and program planning processes
  • Monitor, report, and forecast program schedule, while managing key risks
  • Ensure programs accurately track and forecast budgets
  • Enforce and maintain high standards for quality of documentation and program execution
• Recruit, coach, and lead program/project managers to drive pharma program execution
• Ensure alignment of projects and programs to Varda’s strategic initiatives

Basic Qualifications

• PhD in biology, chemistry, chemical engineering, materials science or related fields and 8+ years of relevant industry experience or MS and 12+ years of experience
• Track record of successfully managing pharmaceutical services projects and programs, especially in the context of formulation development on a new technology platform
• Experience in external-facing roles in pharmaceutical industry
• Demonstrated expertise in new technology development (platform, modality, or process) 
• Exceptional communication (verbal and written), organizational and program management capabilities in a collaborative environment.

Preferred Skills And Experience

• PhD in biology, chemistry, chemical engineering, materials science or related fields and 12+ years of relevant industry experience or MS and 15+ years of experience
• Experience developing teams and processes from a blank slate
• Excellent negotiation, conflict resolution, and leadership skills
• Expertise in small molecule and biologics crystallization, including for formulation of high-concentration biologics
• Experience interfacing with regulatory agencies and authoring regulatory data packages and filings (IND, NDA, BLA)

Pay Range

• Salary Range: $210,000.00 - $240,000.00/per year
• This role is on-site in El Segundo, CA
• Leveling and base salary is determined by job-related skills, education level, experience level, and job performance
• You will be eligible for long-term incentives in the form of stock options and/or long-term cash awards

ITAR Requirements

• Varda, like all employers, must ensure that its employees working in the United States are lawfully authorized to work in the U.S.  Add