VP, Program Management

Cambridge, MA, United States

At Alnylam, the Program Management team is responsible for partnering with all areas of the business to help advance programs into and through the clinic, as well as onto the market and beyond. Program Managers (PMs) work directly with Research colleagues to identify Development Candidate (DC) molecules to bring into the clinic. Once a Development Candidate has been declared, a Program Leader (PL) is named and the Program Manager partners with the Program Leader to identify, build, and manage a multi-disciplinary leadership team. The Program Manager is responsible for understanding all aspects and interdependencies of the program strategy and is accountable for managing timelines and key deliverables by working with each of the expert area functional representatives to coordinate operational activities. Program Managers lead the process to ensure all program goals and stage gates are met, identifying and elevating risks and opportunities to achieve success.

The Vice President, Program Management will report to the Chief Corporate Development and Strategy Officer and lead the team responsible for all Research, Development and Commercial Program Management efforts across Alnylam. This individual will help identify, develop, and implement best practices within the Program Management team and ensure consistency across the entire group so all Programs receive the same level of best in class support. As a member of the Corporate Development and Strategy (CDS) organization's leadership team, this individual will have a range of responsibilities including communicating progress on program objectives to Alnylam's senior leadership, partnering with peers for CDS initiatives, and creating a sense of community and positive engagement for PMs.

This individual will provide subject-matter expertise to actively monitor and make recommendations to optimize portfolio and cross-functional team performance. The successful candidate will have a proven track record in program and portfolio management including implementing standardization and consistent use of operational planning tools and techniques. The candidate will possess a strong understanding of the research and development process, along with leadership skills to help upskill the PM team so they are able to thrive in uncertainty, lead confidently, and provide expert advice by anticipating the needs of the organization.

The role requires an ability to multi-task, prioritize multiple initiatives, and utilize prior experience within Program Management to develop solutions that are fit for purpose at Alnylam. Familiarity with various organization process frameworks to develop plans that include the What, How, and Why will be required.

Key Responsibilities

Lead, develop, and mentor the group of Program Management professionals spanning research, development, and commercial parts of the business while also being a steward of Alnylam's core values: Purposeful Urgency, Passion for Excellence, Commitment to People, being Fiercely Innovative, and promoting Open Culture

Leverage extensive drug development experience and strong interpersonal skills to drive operational excellence and establish the value of an effective Program Management function to the company's success

Establish a proactive and out-reaching approach across Program Leads, department heads, and executive team to facilitate communication channels and ensure all programs operational efficiency

In collaboration with department heads and Program Leads, develop an integrated resource plan for each program; conduct analyses, identify gaps, and make recommendations on resource allocation across programs

Assess current Program Management organizational design, infrastructure, and work tools to make recommendations on proficiency, standardization, and investments required.

Work with the Chief Corporate Development and Strategy Office to align corporate strategy with R&D programs and corporate initiatives to ensure proper prioritization, resourcing, communications of objectives, challenges and successes, and transparency across the organization

Lead and influence within a global matrixed organization and impact decision-making at the highest levels of the organization, while aligning across corporate and business lines

Contribute to, enable, and facilitate the development of Program specific annual and long-range corporate objectives, ensuring regular, audience-appropriate communications on status, progress, risks, and mitigation efforts to facilitate appropriate discussions

Strategize with program team leadership and other necessary stakeholders to formulate positions and drive alignment process, including in key processes such as the Long-Range Plan and Budget Setting process

Drive overall improvement of and operational consistency across the Program Management team through skill building, best practice development, and applying consistent frameworks across the group

Partner with Alliance Management to coordinate activities and business requirements in support of partnered programs

Provide expertise on organizational effectiveness initiatives including alignment of processes, tools, and technologies that aid in portfolio management across the organization

Qualifications Minimum of 15+ years' experience in pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry program management, including work on pre-clinical and clinical stage programs

Bachelor's degree in sciences or related field required, with an Advanced degree (PhD or MBA)

Demonstrated proficiency in program management tools (e.g., Smartsheet, Microsoft Project) and methodology. Knowledge and ability to improve project management tools and skillset through best practices

Strong leadership, problem-solving, management, and communication skills

Ability to understand program objectives and risks across the entire development and commercialization landscape, to provide effective guidance and training to program managers

Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively with multiple functions

Ability to lead and influence cross-functional teams

Self-starter who can manage through ambiguity, learn on the fly, handle multiple priorities, and perform job responsibilities accurately while working in a high-energy, deadline-driven, and fast-paced environment

Possess the ability to generate enthusiasm, the ability to quickly gain the trust and respect of peers and senior leadership, and have a track record of successfully driving results through strong partnerships with others

About Alnylam: Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: ALNY) has led the translation of RNA interference (RNAi) into a whole new class of innovative medicines with the potential to transform the lives of people afflicted with rare and more prevalent diseases. Based on Nobel Prize-winning science, RNAi therapeutics represent a powerful, clinically validated approach to treating diseases at their genetic source by "interfering" with mRNA that cause or contribute to disease. Since our founding in 2002, Alnylam has led the RNAi Revolution and continues to turn scientific possibility into reality.

Our culture: Our people-first culture is guided by our core values: fiercely innovative, open culture, purposeful urgency, passion for excellence, and commitment to people, and these values influence how we work and the business decisions we make. Thanks to feedback from our employees over the years, we've been fortunate to be named a top employer around the world. Alnylam is extremely proud to have been recognized as the #1 Large Employer by Boston Globe Top Places to Work in 2023 for the third consecutive year, one of Science Magazine's Top Biopharma Employers, one of America's Most Responsible Companies for 2024 by Newsweek, a Fast Company Best Workplace for Innovators, and a Great Place to Work in Canada, France, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, and UK - among others.

At Alnylam, we commit to an inclusive recruitment process and equal employment opportunity. We are dedicated to building an environment where employees can feel that they belong, can bring their authentic selves to work, and achieve to their full potential. By empowering employees to embrace their unique differences at work, our business grows stronger with advanced and original thinking, allowing us to bring groundbreaking medicines to patients. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ethnicity, marital status, protected veteran status, disability, or any other characteristics prohibited by law.

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