Director, Head of Program Management

Tessera Therapeutics•Somerville, MA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

This role is responsible for building and leading a fit-for-purpose Program Management function that enables strong execution, transparent communication, and effective decision-making across the organization. The Director will guide and empower Program Managers to drive the development and management of integrated program plans, including timelines, assumptions, scenarios, risks, critical path, decision maps, goals, and budget drivers. This position involves establishing and continuously improving program management capabilities, tools, and practices, partnering with Finance and Corporate Development for Portfolio Reviews, and facilitating goal setting and tracking. The role also includes systematically monitoring program risks and trends, ensuring timely escalation of issues and mitigation strategies, fostering an enriching and positive work environment, and promoting crisp, transparent, and timely communication. The Director will evolve their role over time to meet Tessera’s business needs.

Requirements

Bachelor’s in life sciences, engineering, business, or a related field with 15 years related experience or Masters with 13 years related experience or PhD with 10 years of related experience.
Significant experience in program management, program operations, or cross-functional development teams in a dynamic biotech or pharmaceutical environment.
Strong understanding of drug development from research through preclinical development, IND-enabling activities, regulatory submissions, and clinical development.
Demonstrated ability to bridge science and business interests.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Being well-versed in program management principles, practices, and tools (including Office Timeline, Think-Cell, and Smartsheet/Microsoft Project).
Thriving in a dynamic and rigorous work environment, coaching and mentoring.
Strategic thinking, operational discipline, and a collaborative leadership style.
Ability to translate scientific and development strategy into clear, executable plans.
Comfortable working with senior leaders while staying close enough to the details to understand risks, dependencies, tradeoffs, and the critical path.
Ability to influence without authority, build trust across functions, and create alignment in a matrixed environment.
Active listener and clear communicator who can synthesize complex information into practical recommendations.
Positive energy and a continuous-improvement mindset.
Motivated by the opportunity to build and lead a Program Management function that enables innovation, accountability, and high-quality execution.
Empathetic and transparent coach with a strong sense of integrity.
Committed to the growth and development of their teams, the organization and themselves.

Nice To Haves

Commercial experience.
Project Management Professional (PMP®) certification.
Experience in genetic medicines.

Responsibilities

Building and leading a fit-for-purpose Program Management function that enables strong execution, transparent communication, and effective decision-making across the organization.
Guiding and empowering Program Managers to drive the development and management of integrated program plans (including timelines, assumptions, scenarios, risks, critical path, decision maps, goals, and budget drivers).
Establishing and continuously improving program management capabilities, tools, and practices.
Partnering with Finance and Corporate Development to prepare for Portfolio Reviews.
Facilitating and contributing to the Programs/Portfolio goal setting & tracking, in line with enterprise goals.
Systematically monitoring program risks and trends across the portfolio.
Ensuring timely escalation of issues and proposed mitigation strategies as appropriate.
Fostering an enriching and positive work environment, maximizing impact.
Promoting crisp, transparent, and timely communication, clear decision-making in accordance with Tessera’s decision-making model, and high‑performing program/alliance teams.
Evolving your role over time to meet Tessera’s business needs.