Role Level:                   Manager

Location:                      London

Reporting to:               Executive Director – Global Program Lead

Job summary

Orchard Therapeutics, a Kyowa Kirin company, is a global biotechnology gene therapy company dedicated to transforming the lives of people affected by rare diseases through the development of innovative, potentially curative gene therapies. Our ex vivo autologous gene therapy approach harnesses the power of genetically modified blood stem cells and seeks to correct the underlying cause of disease in a single administration. Orchard has its global headquarters in London and U.S. headquarters in Boston.

Reporting to the Executive Director, Global Program Lead, the successful candidate will have the opportunity to work on cutting edge Gene Therapy programs, supporting cross-functional teams across all stages of the development process phases from research to commercial, enabling the achievement of program milestones and goals.

We are seeking a Program Manager who has a good understanding of the pharma/biotech development process, who is goal-driven, proactive, meticulous and highly collaborative and who seeks an opportunity to take the next career step to grow and learn in a fast-moving, pioneering and dynamic environment.

Key Elements and Responsibilities

·         Partner with the Program Leader to manage all aspects of assigned gene therapy development programs of varying degrees of complexity.

·         Work with the functional members of the PST to translate asset strategy into a realistic operational project plan captured in Smartsheet.

·         Track progress of projects against plan. Collect metrics to track project progression and measure key deliverables, to ensure all projects are completed on time and within budget.

·         Define productive, decision-making focused agendas for team meetings capturing minutes and following up on actions to ensure on time resolution.

·         Highlight project risks and facilitate problem-solving, contingency planning, and decision-making to resolve problems and minimize delays.

·         Leverage cross-functional relationships to ensure coordination, communication and integration within the Program Strategy Team by sharing information and holistic program updates.

·         Consolidate program metrics to support portfolio progress reporting.

·         Work within Program Leads, Program Management and Alliance Management team and wider Business Operations Team to drive departmental process improvement initiatives.

Required knowledge

The ideal candidate for this position will possess:

• Minimum of five years of experience within the biotechnology or pharma industry. With two of those in project/program management.
• Understanding of the overall pharmaceutical development process including CMC, clinical, research and market access/commercial.
• Experience gained in a consulting role or similar professional services environment is preferred.
• Experienced in working in a matrix organization.

Skills & Abilities

• Proven experience in project or program management within the biotech/pharma industry.
• Ability to build and maintain relationships internally and externally and at all levels.
• Excellent organizational, task prioritization and communication skills.
• Proficiency in using Project Management tools, Smartsheet, Excel and PowerPoint.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to operate in a fast-paced, multi-disciplinary industrial environment.
• Highly self-motivated and able to take initiative with minimal supervision.
• Willing to work at least 2 days from the London office (Hammersmith).
• Willing and able to step outside their comfort zone to take on new challenges.

Education

A minimum BSc or equivalent in Biological Sciences, Bioengineering, Chemistry or an associated discipline.