At Kelonia Therapeutics, our ambitions are bold: to dramatically expand the benefit and reach of genetic medicines. Our goal is to change what’s possible for genetic medicine by building the capabilities, experience, and commitment to bring life-saving medicine to every patient in need. We are a human-first company, driven by a mission to develop transformative genetic medicines for patients and their loved ones.
We have brought together pioneers in cell and gene therapy, guided by extraordinary scientific founders and a team committed to turning breakthrough science into real-world impact. As we grow, we are building a culture that values rigor, collaboration, and care for one another.
Are you ready to be a part of our remarkable journey? We're looking for someone exceptional to join our growing team as a Director/Sr. Director, Clinical Program Management in the Development group who will serve as the operational leader and strategic partner to the Development Team, translating program strategy into an integrated, executable development plan. This is an exciting, high-profile, and highly visible opportunity to advance a first-in-class oncology asset through clinical development.
This isn't just a job; it's an opportunity to contribute to groundbreaking therapies, to be part of a company's inception, and to make a transformative impact on patients' lives. If you're passionate about scaling a company from the ground up, making a real difference, and shaping the inclusive culture we're proud of, this opportunity is tailor-made for you. Join us and be a driving force in achieving excellence in viral engineering.
What You'll Do:
- Partner closely with the Development team and Chief Development Officer to define and refine oncology program strategy, stakeholder engagement plans, and overall program leadership priorities.
- Translate clinical development strategy into a comprehensive, functionally integrated project plan incorporating goals, key objectives, deliverables, assumptions, timelines, budgets, and resource requirements.
- Drive structured, transparent decision-making processes, cross-functional alignment and timely communication of outcomes across Clinical, Regulatory, CMC, Nonclinical, Quality and other enabling functions.
- Ensure identification, assessment, and proactive management of program risks; collaborate with subject matter experts to develop and execute mitigation strategies.
- Evaluate alternative development scenarios (costs, timelines, risks, strategic tradeoffs) and use pattern recognition to support data-driven decision-making at stage gates and governance reviews and enable early identification of emerging risks.
- Support advancement through key oncology milestones such as regulatory interactions, data readouts, and late-stage clinical planning as applicable.
- Lead global cross-functional team meetings and governance interactions, including agenda setting, preparation of materials, facilitation, documentation of decisions, and follow-up on action items.
- Ensure effective information flow within the cross-functional program team and across advisory and executive governance bodies.
- Serve as the owner of core program documentation including integrated project plan, budget, timelines, and approved program assumptions that support financial forecasting, portfolio analyses, and business planning processes.
- Apply oncology drug development expertise to coach and mentor team members, strengthening cross-functional understanding and execution effectiveness.
- Identify and implement opportunities to streamline processes, enhance operational rigor, and improve cross-functional collaboration.
- Monitor and assess partnership performance, ensuring timely achievement of milestones and contractual agreements while also implementing corrective measures as needed.
- Act as primary point of contact for partner organizations as well as develop and manage operational aspects of the alliance, including governance, committees, research plans, and budgets.
- Demonstrates strategic foresight by anticipating emerging risks and opportunities before they materialize.
- Support corporate/portfolio development initiatives, diligence activities, and broader portfolio strategy efforts as needed.
What You'll Bring:
- Bachelor’s degree in Life Sciences or related field required; advanced degree (MS, PhD, PharmD, MD, or MBA) strongly preferred.
- Minimum 10+ years of experience in the biotechnology or pharmaceutical industry.
- At least 5+ years of direct development program management experience leading cross-functional global drug development teams.
- Demonstrated oncology drug development experience is required; CAR-T, Myeloma and Lymphoma experience a plus. Proven track record advancing oncology programs through IND and into clinical development; experience supporting later-stage milestones.
- Broad knowledge of clinical drug development processes, regulatory frameworks, and oncology-specific development considerations including biomarker-driven strategies.
- Strong expertise in integrated program planning, resource forecasting, risk management, and scenario modeling.
- Demonstrated ability to manage complexity, synthesize diverse inputs, and guide teams through strategic decision-making.
- Exceptional communication skills with the ability to distill complex information into clear, actionable insights for senior leadership and Board of Director level meetings.
- Experience using program management tools (e.g., MS Project, Smartsheet, Office Timeline, OnePager Pro) and strong proficiency in MS Office suite and document management systems.
- Proven ability to influence without direct authority and drive alignment in a matrixed organization.
- Experience supporting global development programs and external partnerships preferred.
The anticipated salary range for candidates for this role if hired at Director Level will be $190,000 - $252,000.
The anticipated salary range for candidates for this role if hired at Sr. Director Level will be $228,000 - $286,000.
The final salary offered will depend on several factors, which may include, but is not limited to, relevant years of experience, skills, qualifications, job knowledge, and educational background
$190,000 - $286,000 a year
At Kelonia, we’re serious about balance and growth. We offer Flexible Time Off and flexible scheduling aligned with team objectives, a competitive benefits package (health, commuter, and more), and on-site perks including free parking, a state-of-the-art gym, and a food hall, all within a collaborative, inclusive team that invests in your development.
Kelonia Therapeutics is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, religion, national or ethnic origin, disability, protected veteran status or any other basis protected by applicable law.
Kelonia does not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than directly from candidates.
We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.
