The Role
Lead cross-functional project teams to develop and execute integrated development strategies from discovery through clinical stages. Drive decision-making, manage risks, create and track critical-path project plans, facilitate governance, and champion adoption of AI/LLM tools to accelerate drug development.
Summary Generated by Built In
Our mission is to develop therapies that empower the immune system to combat neurodegeneration and our team is focused on developing treatments for some of the most challenging diseases facing our society. By harnessing advancements in genetics, immunology and neuroscience, we are pioneering the development of potential therapies to counteract the devastating progression of neurodegeneration. We are supported in this mission by experienced and accomplished scientists and clinicians, a novel portfolio of programs, leading healthcare investors, and pharma company partners, who share in our commitment to bettering the lives of patients and realizing a world where we make brain disorders history.
As an Associate Director, Project Management, you will serve as a strategic partner to the R&D Leadership Team, helping shape and execute development strategy for Alector’s neurogenerative disease programs. You will bring clarity to ambiguity and complexity by driving cross-functional alignment, enabling timely decision-making, and ensuring disciplined execution across all phases of development.
Reporting to the Head of Clinical Development, you will collaborate with leaders and subject matter experts across Research, Development, Clinical, Regulatory, CMC, and other functions to translate strategy into actionable plans, proactively manage risks, and accelerate program progress. We are looking for someone who thrives in a fast-paced, flexible, evolving biotechnology environment, builds trusted relationships across teams, and enjoys improving how work gets done.
Key Goals & Accountabilities:
- Partner with the Head of Clinical Development to develop, maintain, and execute an integrated global project strategy that advances clinical and preclinical development objectives while aligning cross-functional priorities.
- Lead cross-functional teams to make informed decisions, resolve complex issues, and maintain clear, proactive communication across stakeholders worldwide.
- Design, develop, and manage integrated project plans spanning discovery through clinical development, including critical path management, scenario planning, milestone tracking, and proactive identification of key risks and opportunities.
- Coordinate activities across functions including Biology, Chemistry, DMPK, In Vivo Pharmacology, Toxicology, Formulation/CMC, Clinical Development, Regulatory, Biometrics, and other technical disciplines to ensure seamless program execution.
- Lead project governance by facilitating team meetings, documenting decisions, tracking action items, and ensuring timely completion and quality review of study reports, regulatory documents, and other key deliverables.
- Champion and embrace the thoughtful adoption of innovative technologies, including AI-enabled tools and large language models, to improve planning, decision-making, and operational efficiency while accelerating development programs and maximizing organizational resources!
You will be successful at this role if you:
- Have an advanced degree (MS, PhD, PharmD, or equivalent) in a scientific discipline. You are a technical project manager. PMP certification is preferred.
- Have a minimum of 8 years of relevant biotechnology or pharmaceutical industry experience, including at least 3 years of project management experience supporting drug development programs.
- Bring a strong understanding of drug development processes from discovery through clinical development, including experience supporting preclinical, CMC, IND-enabling, and/or clinical-stage programs to the job.
- Are influential without formal authority and build trusted relationships across scientific and business functions.
- Pride yourself on your organizational, facilitation, communication, and strategic planning skills with exceptional attention to detail.
- Thrive in a dynamic, fast-growing biotechnology environment where priorities evolve and ambiguity is expected. Large companies, overbuilding, and red tape are not for you. Flexibility and efficiency are highly valued here.
- Actively use of large language models (LLMs) and enthusiastic about leveraging emerging AI technologies to improve productivity, collaboration, and project execution. Productivity, streamlining, and adopting new technologies to support these goals are core to your personal working ethos.
At Alector, our vision is bold, people are our priority, and our values are at the core of everything we do. Our dynamic and flexible environment encourages our teams to experiment, take ownership of decisions, and question convention to solve complex problems. We value shared wins, perseverance, and a growth mindset, which drives us forward, together.
Among the things you'll discover at Alector from your very first day are our committed and driven colleagues, a bold company vision, and new, modern offices designed to inspire innovation and collaboration in South San Francisco, right at the heart of Biotech Bay. Our benefits are thoughtfully designed around Alectorians and their loved ones and include flexible hybrid work options, competitive compensation, and comprehensive and unique benefits that enhance your health and well-being. Come join us!
We believe that hard-working teams include people from a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences who can challenge each other’s assumptions with fresh perspectives and bring creative ideas to the table. We are committed to building an open, diverse, and inclusive environment for all employees. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status, or any other characteristics protected under applicable federal, state, or local laws.
We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, perform essential job functions, and receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.
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Skills Required
- Advanced degree (MS, PhD, PharmD, or equivalent) in a scientific discipline
- Minimum of 8 years relevant biotechnology or pharmaceutical industry experience
- At least 3 years of project management experience supporting drug development programs
- Strong understanding of drug development processes from discovery through clinical development, including preclinical, CMC, IND-enabling, and/or clinical-stage programs
- Experience designing, developing, and managing integrated project plans and critical path management across discovery to clinical development
- PMP certification
- Organizational, facilitation, communication, and strategic planning skills with exceptional attention to detail
- Ability to influence without formal authority and build trusted relationships across scientific and business functions
- Active use of large language models (LLMs) and enthusiasm for leveraging AI technologies to improve productivity and project execution
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The Company
What We Do
We have always walked our own path, at Alector. That’s what led us to the bold thinking and fresh, new approach of empowering the body’s immune system to fight disease. Join us in our mission to eliminate neurodegeneration and cancer through immuno-neurology and immuno-oncology. We are developing a broad portfolio of programs, currently in various stages of clinical trials. Alector is based in South San Francisco, CA. We were founded in 2013 by thought leaders in biotechnology, neuroscience, and antibody drug discovery.
