Director, Program Management

About GlycoEra

GlycoEra is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company based in Zurich and Boston, advancing novel autoimmune therapeutics built on a proprietary biologics expression platform. Well-funded and scientifically rigorous, we are translating breakthrough science into medicines for diseases with significant unmet need — and building a world-class team to match our ambition.

The Director of Program Management is a key leadership role that helps drive alignment and execution across the organization. This individual translates complex scientific objectives into clear, actionable program plans and works closely with the executive team and functional leaders to keep priorities coordinated and moving forward. They play an essential role in ensuring the company operates with focus, urgency, and clarity as it advances toward its clinical milestones. This is not simply an administrative position. The ideal candidate brings a strong foundation in science, paired with exceptional organizational and interpersonal skills. They are equally comfortable engaging in thoughtful discussions with research scientists as they are collaborating with the executive team—bridging perspectives and helping teams stay aligned and on track.

Key Responsibilities

Program Planning & Execution

• Build and maintain cross-functional integrated development plans with clearly defined milestones, critical path activities, dependencies, and resource requirements.
• Proactively identify and manage program risks, maintain a live risk register with mitigation strategies and clear ownership.
• Track progress with rigor; surface delays or trade-offs to leadership early with recommended courses of action.
• Facilitate scenario planning and contingency analysis at key program inflection points.

Cross-Functional Alignment and Governance

• Design and run effective governance – program team meetings, steering committee reviews, and decision logs – that create accountability across Research, Clinical, Regulatory, Manufacturing & Tech Ops, Finance and BD.
• Partner directly with C-suite and senior functional leaders to resolve cross-functional dependencies, conflicts, and resource gaps.
• Support technical teams in managing interactions with external vendors and partners – including scheduling, meeting facilitation, capturing minutes and action items, and holding all parties accountable for deliverables between meetings.
• Drive follow-through outside of formal meeting settings; comfortable picking up the phone, engaging 1-on-1, and moving work forward through relationships rather than waiting for the next scheduled touchpoint.
• Prepare concise, high-quality program updates for senior leadership and the Board, translating complex multi-workstream status into clear narratives and actionable recommendations.

Budget, Communication & Scientific Engagement

• Develop and manage program-level budgets with Finance: cost forecasting, actuals tracking, and variance reporting to senior leadership.
• Engage substantively with Research, Process Sciences, and Clinical teams to understand scientific objectives and technical risks – and reflect these accurately in plans and communications.
• Draft Program updates, decision memos, and Board materials that distill scientific and operational progress with precision and clarity.

Qualifications

Required

• MS or PhD in a life sciences discipline (biology, biochemistry, pharmacology, immunology, or related field); scientific credibility is essential for this role.
• 10+ years of cross-functional program management in biopharma or biotech, with demonstrated ownership of complex, multi-workstream clinical programs.
• Proven ability to engage and drive alignment with C-suite executives and senior functional leaders across organizational boundaries.
• Experience developing and managing program budgets: forecasting and financial reporting.
• Strong command of integrated timeline development, critical path analysis, and risk management.
• Exceptional written and verbal communications skills
• Experience at a clinical-stage biotech navigating early clinical development, ideally with novel biologics or differentiated platform programs.
• PMP certification and proficiency with standard planning tools (e.g., Smartsheet, Microsoft Project).

Additional Information

Benefits

• Competitive salary and annual target bonus based on goals and performance.
• Comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision insurance, 401(k) retirement plan with company match, and more.

Applying

Candidates are encouraged to submit a CV and a brief cover letter. Please include the Job Code: B26013_DPM in the subject of your email and send to ***email_hidden***

Equal Employment Opportunity Information

GlycoEra is committed to equal employment opportunity and values diversity. All information submitted will be treated confidentially. We are committed to making all hiring decisions and other employment decisions on a non-discriminatory basis.

Agency & Recruiter Disclaimer

We do not accept unsolicited resumes from staffing agencies, search firms, or third-party recruiters. Resumes submitted without a prior written agreement and approval will be considered the property of the company, and no fees will be paid.