Executive Director - Program Development Lead, Autoimmune

Location of role Gaithersburg, MD

Conshohocken, PA

Department Development Strategy

Key Responsibilities The AI Program Lead will lead the development and execution of the product strategy for autoimmune pipeline projects in early development.

• Lead a cross-functional team to develop a range of strategic and tactical recommendations for program d development, secure governance and budget approval, and secure resource for the projects
• Articulate the project goals, strategy, and underlying science to internal and external audiences with clarity and credibility to enable effective program execution
• Be accountable for cross-functional program execution, including reporting of progress/issues
• Partner with other program leaders, scientific and clinical leaders, and external experts to develop integrated project plans & sound portfolio strategy
• Drive the broader autoimmune strategy
  
  

This onsite position can be located at either our Gaithersburg, MD or Conshohocken, PA offices.

Key Responsibilities:

Defines and articulates autoimmune program and portfolio strategy

• Leads cross-functional product development teams responsible for novel autoimmune therapies in early-stage clinical development
• Creates strategic and integrated product development plans aligned with business objectives and are differentiated from competitor products
• Derives and communicates recommendations for program strategy at governance meetings, and aligns with key stakeholders
• Ensures there are robust processes, plans and data to enable senior leadership to make investment decisions and prioritise projects across the portfolio
• Facilitate strategic scenario planning discussions, and in partnership with project management, work to identify critical issues, develop contingency plans
• Collaborates with other program leaders to ensure sound portfolio strategy and recognizes synergy across programs
• Owns and drives planning for programs from late-preclinical through early-stage development
• Supports pull-through from preclinical to clinical for new portfolio programs – works closely in partnership with head of autoimmune research to build robust data packages to support IND-filing and development
• Owns the larger autoimmune portfolio strategy including planning and championing therapeutic area growth and driving business development or collaboration
• Builds autoimmune capabilities within the company and is seen as a subject matter expert
  
  

Accountability for overall program execution

• Effectively manages/mitigates/communicates project risks, makes decisions, and manages conflict and change
• Serves as the single point of accountability for the program team, and drive key program decisions through a appropriate governance forums, where appropriate
• Builds high performing teams, ensuring adequate resources in place to support program strategy, and in partnership with Functional Leadership resolve any team performance issues, working with line managers to d develop team members
• Ensures that the program team implements its plans and adheres to key development milestones
• Develops solutions for barriers to executing program strategy, taking into account specific functional needs and fills in gaps to execute programs
• Uses good judgement to ensure program moves forward swiftly – making decisions for program as needed, and raising issues when appropriate
• Drives team objective setting for program-related activities
• Collaborates effectively with functional leaders to ensure program alignment and develops an understanding of functional issues affecting the program, and then partners to create solutions
• Works with Business Development to effectively manage collaborations/ partnerships when appropriate & champions new collaborations that are important to the strategy of the program and return value to the business
• In collaboration with project management, monitors program financials, ensuring resources in place to support program goals, and escalate resource needs, where appropriate
  
  

No direct supervisory responsibility is expected. However, leader is expected to lead through a matrix framework across a broad range of R&D functions.

Education, Experience and Knowledge:

Essential Qualifications:

• PhD or MD highly preferred
• 20 years’ experience in pharma/biotech or related industry
• Prior experience in the autoimmune area in R&D leadership positions in pharma/biotech required
• Excellent analytical and strategic abilities
• Deep understanding of the drug development process
• Broad understanding of the evolving autoimmune development landscape
• Experience leading in a global matrix environment across a range of functions, seniority, and locations.
• Demonstrated ability to collate and structure information from multiple sources to form a clear narrative and distil key issues
• Demonstrated ability to influence and establish and maintain credibility with senior audiences
• Demonstrated organizational and project management skills
  
  

Essential Competencies:

• Excellent communication and presentation skills
• Track record of good decision-making that is fact-based
• Self-motivated, able to work autonomously
• Ability to challenge, influence, and support senior leadership
• Ability to bring structure to vaguely defined problems and solve them with creative yet pragmatic approaches
• Ability to formulate cohesive strategic arguments
• Resourceful, motivated, and proactive – strong drive for excellence
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a rapidly changing organization
• Must demonstrate high integrity
  
  

About the Company Immunocore (NASDAQ: IMCR) is a pioneering, commercial-stage T cell receptor biotechnology company whose purpose is to develop and commercialize a new generation of transformative medicines which address unmet patient needs in oncology, infectious diseases and autoimmune disease. Our leaders in R&D are internationally recognised as some of the biotech industry’s most successful drug developers. We are creating not just an environment where great minds can interact but an innovation powerhouse answering the big questions.

Focused on delivering first-in-class biological therapies to patients, we have developed a highly innovative soluble TCR platform. Our ImmTAX molecules underpin a new generation of precision engineered drugs that harness the immune system to treat a broad spectrum of diseases with high unmet medical need, including oncology, infectious diseases and autoimmune diseases.

At Immunocore, we recognize that our employees are our greatest asset. We value the unique contributions each person brings to our team. By embracing Science, Trust, Respect, Integrity, Diversity, and Entrepreneurship (STRIDE), we create an environment where collaboration thrives, ideas flourish, and transformative changes happen. STRIDE represents more than just letters; it embodies our shared identity and drives our mission. We are dedicated to developing breakthrough therapies that transform patients’ lives, advancing medicine, and supporting one another in these pursuits.

Immunocore is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. As such, we are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered. We encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by law.