Associate Director, Research Project Management

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Research Strategic Planning & Operations (ReSPO) team serves as a strategic partner to Research, enabling effective portfolio management, operational excellence, and cross-functional execution across Vir Bio's research organization. 

The successful candidate will be a highly collaborative, proactive, and independent leader with strong scientific acumen, excellent communication skills, and demonstrated experience managing complex cross-functional programs in biotechnology or pharmaceutical research environments. 

This role is located in our San Francisco headquarters with an expectation of 3 days per week in office. 

WHAT YOU'LL DO

Research Program Leadership 

• Partner with Research Leads, scientific teams, and functional representatives to drive execution of discovery and preclinical research programs, ensuring alignment on priorities, timelines, deliverables, and decision points.
• Develop and maintain integrated project plans, timelines, milestones, risks, assumptions, and dependencies. 
• Facilitate cross-functional project team meetings and ensure alignment on objectives, priorities, and deliverables. 
• Track program progress and proactively identify, communicate, and mitigate risks that may impact timelines or objectives. 
• Support program governance activities, including preparation of materials for portfolio reviews, stage gates, and leadership discussions. 
• Collaborate with Alliance Management and cross-functional stakeholders to ensure appropriate planning and readiness as research programs advance toward development.
• Coordinate activities and communications with external collaboration partners as appropriate. 

Research Operations & Strategy 

• Contribute to strategic initiatives that enhance Research operations, governance, portfolio visibility, and organizational effectiveness. 
• Support portfolio planning, resource discussions, and operational reporting. 
• Develop materials and analyses to support leadership decision making and strategic planning activities. 
• Partner across functions to implement and sustain operational excellence initiatives 

WHO YOU ARE AND WHAT YOU BRING

• Bachelor’s Degree in scientific discipline with 12+ years of experience in drug development; or advanced degree (MS, PhD, MBA), preferred, with commensurate experience 
• Demonstrated experience leading project management activities for discovery and/or preclinical research programs within a biotechnology or pharmaceutical environment.
•  Project management expertise within drug discovery and research organizations, with the ability to independently drive complex cross-functional activities and deliver results in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability balance tactical execution and strategic leadership, from managing project plans, timelines, and meeting logistics to driving cross-functional alignment and facilitating strategic decision-making across all stages of development and levels of leadership 
• Experience managing projects with remote teams and through external alliances preferred 
• Experience supporting programs through IND-enabling activities or transition into early development is a plus
• Deep knowledge of PM methodologies, concepts, techniques, and tools with significant work in project management roles is required 
• Proficient using MS Office Suite, SmartSheet, and/or other project management software