Program Manager, Preclinical Programs

Neurocrine Biosciences • San Diego, CA

8d • $130,800 - $179,000

About The Position

The Program Manager role supports the planning, execution, and operational effectiveness of Preclinical programs and initiatives. Provides program management leadership across multiple Preclinical functional sub teams, partnering with scientific and functional leads to translate cross-functional program strategies into integrated plans and coordinated execution spanning early research through Development Candidate selection, IND/CTA readiness, and First-in-Human development.

The Program Manager partners closely with subject matter experts across Toxicology, DMPK/ADME, Bioanalytical Sciences, Clinical Pharmacology, Clinical Pharmacology Bioanalytical, and Pharmacometrics, and interacts with stakeholders across Research, CMC, Clinical Development, Regulatory Affairs, Finance, and Program Management to facilitate alignment on program strategy, milestones, risks, timelines, resources, and critical-path activities.

The role also supports broader early-development portfolio visibility, ensuring that emerging program information, risks, dependencies, and decisions are appropriately communicated across functional, asset, portfolio, and leadership governance forums.

Requirements

• 6+ years of applicable experience AND Bachelor’s degree OR 4+ years of applicable experience AND Master’s degree OR 2+ years of applicable experience AND PharmD, or PhD
• Working knowledge of drug discovery and development processes spanning early research, Development Candidate selection, IND/CTA readiness, and First-in-Human development
• Understanding of Preclinical & Clinical Pharmacology disciplines and their role in integrated drug development, including Toxicology, DMPK/ADME, Bioanalytical Sciences, Clinical Pharmacology, Clinical Pharmacology Bioanalytical, and Pharmacometrics
• Ability to integrate plans, milestones, dependencies, risks, and deliverables across multiple PCCP disciplines and development programs
• Understanding of the cross-functional dependencies among PCCP, Research, CMC, Clinical Development, Regulatory Affairs, and other development functions
• Knowledge of key preclinical and early clinical development milestones and the planning and operational activities required to support progression through major program decision points
• Familiarity with IND/CTA readiness and submission activities, including coordination and tracking of functional reports, data, documentation, dependencies, and timelines supporting regulatory submissions
• Ability to partner effectively with scientific and functional subject-matter experts and translate complex scientific and technical activities into integrated program plans, milestones, risks, and execution priorities
• Ability to identify and communicate scientific and operational dependencies, risks, and decisions that may affect program timelines or development objectives
• Understanding of portfolio and program governance practices and the information required to support effective program, portfolio, and leadership decision-making
• Familiarity with budgeting, forecasting, resource planning, and financial tracking associated with preclinical and early-development program activities and external development spend
• Previous experience working in a scientific role within a preclinical or research environment is required
• Experience supporting Preclinical/PCCP, Clinical Pharmacology, Toxicology, early-stage drug development, or related functions is preferred
• Strong program and project management skills, with demonstrated ability to manage multiple complex programs, projects, or workstreams with competing priorities and deadlines
• Strong planning and organizational skills, with the ability to develop and maintain integrated plans, timelines, milestones, dependencies, critical paths, risks, and deliverables
• Strong cross-functional collaboration and influencing skills, with the ability to build alignment, facilitate productive discussions, and drive execution in a matrixed environment
• Strong analytical, critical-thinking, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to evaluate complex information, identify risks and dependencies, develop options, and make sound recommendations
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to synthesize complex information and communicate program status, risks, decisions, and recommendations clearly to diverse audiences, including senior leaders
• Demonstrated ability to facilitate meetings, planning sessions, governance forums, scenario discussions, and decision-making processes involving multiple functions and stakeholders
• Ability to operate with a high degree of independence within established objectives, exercising sound judgment regarding when to resolve issues directly and when escalation or broader leadership involvement is appropriate
• Strong understanding of risk, issue, dependency, and decision management practices and their application to complex development programs
• Ability to understand broader organizational objectives and downstream impacts and translate strategic or program objectives into actionable plans, priorities, and execution activities
• Strong continuous-improvement mindset, with the ability to identify and recommend improvements to processes, workflows, governance, tools, reporting, and ways of working

Responsibilities

• Provides program management leadership for 6 or more Preclinical functional sub teams representing defined segments of the preclinical portfolio and partners with scientific leads and subject matter experts to coordinate execution across multiple assets and development stages
• Facilitates team alignment and execution against integrated program plans, including management of key milestones, dependencies, risks/issues, critical-path activities, budgets, resources, and governance requirements from early development through IND/CTA and FIH readiness
• Partners with subject matter experts across Toxicology, DMPK/ADME, Bioanalytical, Clinical Pharmacology, Clinical Pharmacology Bioanalytical, and Pharmacometrics to integrate functional plans, identify cross-disciplinary dependencies, and proactively surface risks or decisions that may affect program timelines
• Develops and maintains integrated project plans, timelines, risk and action trackers, meeting documentation, dashboards, and program status updates. Monitors program performance and facilitates issue resolution and appropriate escalation to maintain progress toward development objectives
• Supports preparation for key portfolio and development milestones, including Portfolio Entry, Development Candidate selection, IND/CTA readiness, and First-in-Human activities, ensuring appropriate functional planning and visibility ahead of major decision points
• Partners with the designated Preclinical Representative to support effective representation of the integrated Preclinical perspective within cross-functional Asset/Core Teams, ensuring that relevant scientific considerations, functional risks, dependencies, and recommendations are appropriately aligned and communicated
• Partners with Cross-Functional Program Management, CMC Functional Program Management, Regulatory Affairs, and other stakeholders to ensure that asset-level strategic decisions are effectively translated into coordinated functional execution and that emerging Preclinical risks and dependencies are appropriately communicated into broader asset governance
• Supports IND Operations and regulatory readiness activities, including tracking of critical Preclinical reports and deliverables, cross-functional dependencies, submission timelines, and other activities required to support IND/CTA submissions
• Supports portfolio-level tracking and communications, including dashboards, portfolio updates, milestone tracking, and leadership reporting to provide timely visibility into early-development program progress, emerging risks, and upcoming decisions
• Partners with Finance and functional stakeholders to support long-range planning, annual budgeting, forecasting, and financial tracking for Preclinical program activities and external development spend
• Identifies opportunities to improve processes, workflows, governance, information flow, and team effectiveness and recommends and contributes to continuous-improvement initiatives that enhance execution and collaboration across R&D
• Assists with adoption and optimization of new systems, tools, dashboards, and digital capabilities that improve portfolio visibility, program management, knowledge management, and R&D operational effectiveness
• Builds collaborative relationships across Research, Preclinical, CMC, Clinical Development, Regulatory Affairs, Finance, Portfolio Management, and Cross-Functional Program Management to support effective coordination and progression of programs through the development lifecycle

Benefits

• retirement savings plan (with company match)
• paid vacation, holiday and personal days
• paid caregiver/parental and medical leave
• health benefits to include medical, prescription drug, dental and vision coverage

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level