Associate Director, Early Drug Development Project Manager
ExecutiveEarly-Stage Drug DevelopmentOncology
From $142K/yr(estimated)
Description
<div class="content-intro"><p style="line-height: 1.2;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Legend Biotech is a global biotechnology company dedicated to treating, and one day curing, life-threatening diseases. Headquartered in Somerset, New Jersey, we are developing advanced cell therapies across a diverse array of technology platforms, including autologous and allogenic chimeric antigen receptor T-cell, T-cell receptor (TCR-T), and natural killer (NK) cell-based immunotherapy. From our three R&amp;D sites around the world, we apply these innovative technologies to pursue the discovery of safe, efficacious and cutting-edge therapeutics for patients worldwide.</span></p>
<p style="line-height: 1.2;">&nbsp;</p>
<p style="line-height: 1.2;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Legend Biotech entered into a global collaboration agreement with Janssen, one of the pharmaceutical companies of Johnson &amp; Johnson, to jointly develop and commercialize ciltacabtagene autolecuel (cilta-cel). Our strategic partnership is designed to combine the strengths and expertise of both companies to advance the promise of an immunotherapy in the treatment of multiple myeloma.</span></p>
<p style="line-height: 1.2;">&nbsp;</p></div><p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Legend Biotech is seeking an <strong>Associate Director, Early Drug Development Project Manager&nbsp;</strong>as part of the <strong>Early Drug Development</strong> team based in <strong>Somerset, NJ</strong>.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Role Overview</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">We are seeking a seasoned Project Manager to support preclinical and early clinical development at Legend. The successful candidate will be responsible for driving cross-functional planning, execution, and delivery of early-stage development programs at Legend. This role provides project leadership across late-discovery, IND-enabling, and early clinical development stages, ensuring programs advance efficiently, on time, and in alignment with regulatory and quality standards.</span><br><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The Project Manager will serve as a strategic partner to Research, Translational Science, CMC, Regulatory Affairs, Clinical Operations, Quality, and external stakeholders. The role influences decision-making, ensures alignment across stakeholders, and maintains high execution rigor while supporting portfolio-level needs within the Preclinical and Early Drug Development organization..</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Key Responsibilities</strong></span></p>
<p><strong><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Program &amp; Project Management</span></strong></p>
<ul>
<li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Working closely with project lead, develop and maintain integrated project plans for Project team covering preclinical, CMC, regulatory, and early clinical activities.</span></li>
<li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Drive the strategic planning of early-stage programs, ensuring alignment with portfolio priorities and organizational objectives.</span></li>
<li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Drive execution of program timelines, milestones, budgets, and resource plans.</span></li>
<li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Track deliverables, identify risks, and implement mitigation strategies.</span></li>
<li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Facilitate governance meetings, project team meetings, and decision-making forums.</span></li>
<li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Prepare clear project status updates, dashboards, and executive-level reports.</span></li>
</ul>
<p><strong><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Preclinical &amp; Translational Development</span></strong></p>
<ul>
<li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Coordinate in vitro and in vivo studies, including pharmacology, toxicology, biodistribution, and tumorigenicity (as applicable).</span></li>
<li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Manage interactions with CROs and academic collaborators conducting preclinical studies.</span></li>
<li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Ensure studies are conducted in alignment with regulatory expectations for IND submissions.</span></li>
<li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Support data integration and readiness for regulatory filings and internal reviews.</span></li>
</ul>
<p><strong><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Early Clinical Development Support</span></strong></p>
<ul>
<li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Support planning and execution of first-in-human and early-phase (Phase 1/1b) clinical studies.</span></li>
<li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Coordinate cross-functional inputs for clinical trial readiness (clinical operations, CMC, QA, regulatory).</span></li>
<li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Assist with clinical timelines, site activation planning, and investigational product readiness.</span></li>
</ul>
<p><strong><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Regulatory &amp; Quality Interface</span></strong></p>
<ul>
<li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Support preparation of IND-enabling documentation and regulatory submissions.</span></li>
<li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Track regulatory commitments within EDD.</span></li>
<li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Ensure project activities align with GxP and internal quality systems.</span></li>
</ul>
<p><strong><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Vendor &amp; Stakeholder Management</span></strong></p>
<ul>
<li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Manage external vendors, CROs, and consultants, including scope, timelines, and deliverables.</span></li>
<li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Foster effective collaboration across internal teams and external partners.</span></li>
<li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Serve as a central point of communication for program execution.</span></li>
<li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Has the ability to drive project timeline.</span></li>
</ul>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Requirements</strong></span></p>
<ul>
<li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Ph.D. degree in life sciences, bioengineering, or related field required.</span></li>
<li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">7 to 10 years of project/program management experience in biotechnology or pharmaceutical development including 3+ years directly supporting preclinical and/or early clinical development.</span></li>
<li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Prior experience in cell therapy, gene therapy, or other advanced therapies strongly preferred.</span></li>
<li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Experience driving execution of IND-enabling studies, coordinating external CROs, and preparing teams for first-in-human or early-phase clinical trials.</span></li>
<li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Strong understanding of drug development processes, including toxicology, nonclinical study design, CMC readiness, regulatory pathways, and early clinical operations.</span></li>
<li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Demonstrated track record managing complex, cross-functional programs spanning Research, Translational Science, CMC, Regulatory Affairs, and Clinical Operations.</span></li>
<li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Excellent organizational, communication, and stakeholder-management skills.</span></li>
<li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Experience with project management tools (e.g., MS Project, Smartsheet, Planisware).</span></li>
<li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Ability to identify risks early and drive pragmatic solutions.</span></li>
<li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Excellent English skills in written and oral.</span></li>
</ul>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">#Li-JR1</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">#Li-Hybrid</span></p><div class="content-pay-transparency"><div class="pay-input"><div class="description"><p>The base pay range below is what Legend Biotech USA Inc. reasonably expects to offer at the time of posting. Actual compensation may vary based on experience, skills, qualifications, and geographic location. The company reserves the right to modify this range as needed and in accordance with applicable laws.</p>
<p>Other Types of Pay: Performance-based bonus and/or equity is available to employees in eligible roles.</p>
<p>Benefits and Paid Time Off: Medical, dental, and vision insurance as well as a 401(k) retirement plan with a company match that vests fully on day one. We offer eight (8) weeks of paid parental leave after just three (3) months of employment, and a paid time off policy that includes vacation time, personal time, sick time, floating holidays, and eleven (11) company holidays. Additional voluntary benefits include flexible spending and health savings accounts, life and AD&amp;D insurance, short- and long-term disability coverage, legal assistance, and supplemental plans such as pet, critical illness, accident, and hospital indemnity insurance. We also provide voluntary commuter benefits, family planning and care resources, well-being initiatives, and peer-to-peer recognition programs; demonstrating our ongoing commitment to building a culture where our people feel empowered, supported, and inspired to do their best work.</p></div><div class="title">Pay Range (Base Pay): </div><div class="pay-range"><span>$142,146</span><span class="divider">&mdash;</span><span>$186,567 USD</span></div></div></div><div class="content-conclusion"><p><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Please note: These benefits are offered exclusively to permanent full-time employees. Contractors are not eligible for benefits through Legend Biotech.</strong></span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p style="line-height: 1.2;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><strong>EEO Statement</strong></span></p>
<p style="line-height: 1.2;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">It is the policy of Legend Biotech to provide equal employment opportunities without regard to actual or perceived race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, related medical conditions and lactation), gender identity or gender expression (including transgender status), sexual orientation, marital status, military service and veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other protected characteristic under applicable federal, state or local laws or ordinances.</span></p>
<p style="line-height: 1.2;">&nbsp;</p>
<p style="line-height: 1.2;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Employment is at-will and may be terminated at any time with or without cause or notice by the employee or the company.</span></p>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">For information related to our privacy notice, please review:&nbsp;<a href="https://legendbiotech.com/privacy-notice/" target="_blank">Legend Biotech Privacy Notice</a>.</span></div></div>
Legend Biotech
BIOTECHNOLOGY
Cell Therapy
LocationNJ - Piscataway
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Gene TherapyCell Therapy
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