Senior Director/Vice President, Program Team Leader, Neurology and Pipeline Assets
About The Position
The Senior Director/Vice President, Program Team Leader is the single point of accountability for the strategy, value creation, and delivery of a priority BlueRock asset. The initial assignment is expected to be the company’s next-generation cell therapy for Parkinson’s disease, with asset responsibility evolving according to portfolio priorities. The role aligns senior functional experts around an asset vision, integrated development plan, and path to execution in a lean, matrixed environment. The role owns the integrated asset strategy, Target Product Profile, and development plan from IND-enabling work through proof of concept and beyond. It leads the cross-functional Program Team, drives delivery of critical milestones, manages program plans and risks, and represents the asset in executive, Board, Bayer, and external stakeholder settings. The leader also contributes to portfolio strategy, capital allocation, long-range planning, and business development diligence. The position reports to the Chief Executive Officer until the program reaches an established transition point in late-stage development.
Requirements
- Advanced degree (PhD, MD, PharmD) or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
- 12+ years of progressive biotech or pharmaceutical drug development experience across multiple functions and development stages.
- 5+ years leading global cross-functional program, product, or asset teams with accountability for outcomes.
- Demonstrated success advancing an asset through at least one major development transition, such as candidate selection to IND/CTA, first-in-human, proof of concept, or pivotal study initiation.
- Deep understanding of end-to-end development and the interdependencies across research, CMC/technical operations, nonclinical, clinical, regulatory, safety, and commercial disciplines.
- Direct development experience in neurology.
- Experience managing complex budgets, timelines, risks, and external development partners.
Nice To Haves
- Experience with cell therapy, gene therapy, or other advanced therapy medicinal products, including allogeneic platforms.
- Experience with rare disease, orphan, or expedited regulatory pathways.
- Experience with surgically delivered or device-enabled therapies.
- Experience operating within a large-pharma partnership or lean biotech that leverages partner capabilities.
Responsibilities
- Own the integrated asset strategy, Target Product Profile, and development plan from IND-enabling work through proof of concept and beyond.
- Integrate clinical, regulatory, CMC, nonclinical, safety, commercial, and evidence-generation strategies into a coherent value-creation plan.
- Establish decision criteria, scenarios, and off-ramps to enable timely, evidence-based investment decisions.
- Monitor the scientific, competitive, and market landscape and translate relevant developments into program implications.
- Lead the cross-functional Program Team and establish clear accountability for functional deliverables and program outcomes.
- Drive prioritization, resolve barriers, and secure resources to meet critical milestones, including DA02 IND submission and first-in-human readiness.
- Own the integrated timeline, budget, resource plan, and risk profile in partnership with Program Management and Finance.
- Ensure compliant, inspection-ready execution with high standards for scientific rigor, ethics, quality, and patient safety.
- Align senior leaders, make decisions amid uncertainty, and convert program plans into results.
- Represent the program to BlueRock executive and Board governance and Bayer stakeholders with clear, decision-oriented recommendations.
- Represent the asset externally with health authorities, investigators, key opinion leaders, patient organizations, and partners, collaborating with functional leaders.
- Build alignment across BlueRock and Bayer and leverage partner capabilities to accelerate program delivery and value.
- Contribute to portfolio strategy, capital allocation, long-range planning, and business development diligence.
- Capture and transfer program learning, tools, and standards across the portfolio.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
Education Level
Ph.D. or professional degree
