Senior Director, Program Director, Vaccine Development Management
Location: Pearl River, New York, United States
Job Type: Full Time
About the Role
Use in-depth experience in Vaccine Development and partnered programs to ensure effective development and management of Vaccine programs that you manage, in addition to ensuring best practices for partnered programs. You will ensure creation of strategic and operational objectives from early (lead) development through Proof of Concept and licensure of the product depending on the program. You will co-lead the program team and provide overall project management expertise for Vaccine Research & Development (VRD) Program Teams and ensure the operational deliverables of the project are achieved on or ahead of schedule and within budget, such that they meet the desired product profile (i.e. quality standard, value), business deliverables and/or key criteria, as required. You will ensure that partnered Vaccine Research and Development (VRD) programs operate under best practices, have effective interactions and governance, and are proactively managed increasing value while ensuring healthy relationships. You will also support organizational portfolio planning and governance processes, as needed.
Role Responsibilities
Program Strategy
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Partners with the Research Lead, Clinical Lead and team members to develop forward thinking programs that maximize medical and commercial value.
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Applies extensive expertise and in-depth knowledge of the vaccine development process and project management tools to drive team alignment in creation of development strategy, plans and budgets of programs from early development through licensure and post- approval commitments
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Analyzes vaccine portfolio and strategy issues. Develops and prepares executive reports and presentations for Pfizer vaccine stakeholders.
Partnered programs
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Lead, implement and manage a best practice operational model for VRD partnered programs.
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For partnered programs managed as Program Director: lead and manage Joint Steering Committee meetings for the partnered programs; attend other Joint Committees between Pfizer and the partner, representing VRD and Partnerships; develop deep understanding of partnered programs including the development objectives and plans, ensure appropriate governance activities are planned, reporting obligations met and progress tracked; develop and ensure detailed understanding of the contract including the strategic intent and obligations; actively supervise said contractual requirements and outcomes for Pfizer and its partners to ensure responsibilities are met; be the internal authority for the organization on established partnership strategies, history, collaboration’s goals, contracts, partnership progress and alliance obligations; manage issues that arise and escalate as appropriate to leadership when needed.
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Establish and maintain close relationships with counterpart at Partner Organizations
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Develop and maintain key relationships with VRD Program Directors, VRD leadership, and other leaders within Pfizer.
Leadership
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Skilled in leading through influence and collaboration.
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Routinely exhibits the courage to confront and quickly resolve difficult issues or conflicts.
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Takes a position in controversial issues when appropriate and expertly challenges the team to reach high-quality decisions that are in the best interests of the program.
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Communicates effectively with VRD senior management and beyond to assure timely decisions are made.
Program Planning and Management
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Uses expertise in project management planning tools to support major program/project milestones.
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Understands how individual project timelines affect an overall program (portfolio of projects).
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Drives program/project issue resolution by working with key stakeholders.
Scientific/ Technical Knowledge
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Clearly understands scientific mechanism of action, disease pathophysiology, unmet needs, standard of care and competitive landscape in relation to the program.
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Assimilates new and emerging disease area, program-specific and competitive data and applies this to ongoing and future development programs
Team Effectiveness
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Ensures that teams work effectively to move the program forward. Highly skilled at developing trust and collaboration with team members and partner lines.
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Develops effective and collaborative working relationships with key functional stakeholders including senior management.
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Experienced in managing difficult situations and conflict management.
Cross-Program Activities
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Working with other internal Pfizer organizations help facilitate the vaccine portfolio prioritization process, as needed.
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Support long-term planning for the development management function by forecasting future workload, resource demands, etc. to ensure high-quality, effective program management support for vaccine development programs.
Process Knowledge
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Has extensive knowledge of drug development in the industry.
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Understands the vaccine drug development process at Pfizer and internal governance procedures and expectations. Uses knowledge of Pfizer processes to achieve program objectives.
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Analyzes and integrates data from across functional areas to provide strategic guidance to the team in developing and executing projects.
Qualifications
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Advanced degree (MS, Ph.D., MD) in relevant biology, biochemistry or related discipline preferred.
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10+ years of biotechnology experience with vaccine/drug development expertise.
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Sustained and proven success in vaccine development, including with partnered programs/working directly with partners and as part of joint program cross-disciplinary teams; works well across boundaries in a highly matrix-based organization.
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Successful experience in interacting with and influencing thought leaders, including the development and rationalization of scientific and business strategies.
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Has demonstrated the ability to have a positive impact on others
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Highly effective in communication skills both verbal and written; listens and understands well.
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Excellent interactive skills with people with diverse backgrounds and perspectives.
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Proactively recognizes needs and problems, and independently identifies and implements effective steps and solutions
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Training and/or academic background in one of the disciplines related to drug (vaccine) R&D and/or knowledge/training in business management.
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Extensive knowledge and experience in project management discipline and its application to drug (vaccine) R&D.
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Breadth of demonstrated diverse leadership experiences and capabilities including: the ability to influence and collaborate with peers, develop and coach others, oversee and guide the work of other colleagues to achieve meaningful outcomes and create business impact.