Head of Global Portfolio and Program Management

Gates Foundation•Cambridge, MA

3d•$480,000 - $700,000

About The Position

Delivering on the pipeline is the single greatest priority for Gates MRI, ensuring the optimized progression of product candidates by applying innovative approaches and best practices in pharmaceutical development to the Gates MRI portfolio. The Head of Global Portfolio and Program Management is a key senior leader who will be responsible for execution of product development strategies, and portfolio planning for Gates MRI. The successful candidate will be an anticipatory leader who can rapidly assimilate the needs of the pipeline, the inherent complexity of the Gates MRI programs and platforms, and ensure the organizational focus needed to drive development. Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer and as part of the Leadership Team, the Head of Global Portfolio and Program Management is a significant role where credibility with senior stakeholders and an ability to constructively challenge, influence and set direction is of paramount importance. As such, we are seeking an established executive leader with a robust understanding of product development who will partner peers on the Gates MRI leadership team and a wide range of global health partners to deliver on the promise of our important pipeline of product candidates.

Requirements

15+ years of relevant industry experience in portfolio and cross-functional project management of product development teams including extensive experience with the planning and execution of strategies for drug / vaccine product development
Advanced relevant scientific degree preferred (E.g., MS, Pharm.D or PhD. in a related scientific field)
Project management experience through all phases of product development from translational medicine including early product development through late stage/pivotal trials.
Sufficient skill and technical understanding of product development to be a recognized product development leader/expert within the global health community.
Proven strength in structured problem solving across teams and functions, strategic business planning, with the ability to synthesize disparate information and critically analyze complex situations.
Experience with portfolio management and project management tools and ability to seek out and evaluate new tools as they become available.
Excels in strategy development both short- and long-term.
Hires, retains and coaches project leaders to develop and lead cross-functional teams in drug development.
Proven ability to analyze, integrate, recommend, contribute to development of conceptual plans for and lead implementation of strategic, process and team improvements and change initiatives across the organization.
Influencing without authority across the functions in Gates MRI, our partners and vendors.
Effective at energizing others, establishing clear goals, delegating responsibility, mentoring, and coaching within a team setting and managing complex and highly dynamic, technical organizations to work collaboratively toward a common vision.
Capacity to make budget tradeoffs and decisions that drive resource allocation decisions, including both financial and human resources.
Demonstrated passion for the Gates MRI’s values with a commitment to deliver results against our mission.

Responsibilities

The Head Global Portfolio and Program Management will be responsible for leading a group of Global Project Leaders and Managers, who lead cross-functional project teams, supporting a portfolio of product candidates from early preclinical development to late-stage clinical development and potentially through product registration.
Working closely with peers on the LT, this role will manage the overall portfolio including evaluating progress and tracking resource requirements.
He/she will set priorities and re-evaluate as needed, identifying resource gaps and management options (i.e., trade-offs, delays, additional resources).
He/she will also help to make decisions on the overall operations of the Gates MRI.
This role involves hiring and mentoring Global Project Leaders who can lead complex development programs in Global Health including budget and strategic resource planning.
Additionally this role will provide mentorship to the program teams and ensure MRI programs are operating effectively in a partnership model and integrated ecosystem.
This role will be expected to seek out and embrace innovative approaches to project management (e.g., use of electronic systems for “real time” data transfer & visualization across partners) including seeking out best practices from other industries and applying them to global health applications.
He/she will support collaborations with a diverse set of partners including academia, biotech, pharma, governments, CROs, and global health product development partners, many of whom may be located in low-income countries.
This role has responsibility for project/portfolio governance, including the monthly Portfolio Review Committee (PRC), Asset Strategy Team Charter, transitioning projects into the Gates MRI from the Foundation or other external partners, and the annual refresh of the 4 Year Strategic Plan.
He/she will act as a strategic advisor to the CEO and partner with Sr. Executives for internal and external strategic initiatives and efforts such as Board Meeting preparation as well as enabling and operationalizing the Board supported strategy for the MRI
This position will work with MRI Leadership to translate CEO priorities into clear KPIs and success indicators, visualize and monitor progress and risks, including a clear decision-making framework for MRI