Rapport is seeking an experienced Program Manager, who will play a critical role in achieving our goals to progress small molecule candidates through discovery, to IND, and through Phase 1. You will report to the Chief Operating Officer, working collaboratively with Program Leaders on the assigned projects and strategic initiatives to manage and integrate diverse drug discovery and development activities spanning all phases of discovery and early clinical development. You will empower team members, integrate perspectives, enable flexibility, streamline operations, and accelerate programs. This is a great opportunity for an individual with a discovery mindset that is motivated and detailed oriented with exceptional communication skills and has a track record of proven success managing cross-functional discovery programs in biotech. The role will be based out of our West Coast office in La Jolla, California and candidates must be able to work from this location office while seamlessly partnering with our teammates on the East Coast. This role will serve as the Program Manager for our Discovery-stage programs as well as early clinical development programs.

Responsibilities:

Overall accountability for program operations, including:

• Driving the program team to achieve program team goals by partnering closely with the Program Leaders and other program team members to manage all operational aspects of the program.
• Managing and integrating program plans and cross-functional deliverables (e.g., timelines, budgets, resource allocation, identification of risks/barriers and mitigation plans, development of development scenarios, and own key documents like Target Product Profiles and Integrated Development Plans).
• Scheduling and running program team meetings including developing agendas, publishing meeting minutes and decision log, and tracking follow up actions to completion.
• Lead cross-functional scenario planning to inform the overall integrated program plan.
• Ensuring cross-functional alignment and organizational support for the program plan by facilitating internal and external stakeholder management, as well as communicating program updates in partnership with the Program Leaders at internal forums, including the Rapport Leadership Team meetings.
• Develop a robust data and file storing architecture to organize and maintain records of meetings, key decisions, and scientific data in a secure manner that provides ready access to team members.
• Drive cross-functional initiatives that support operational excellence.
• Supporting governance via the appropriate committees by developing agendas, dashboards, and other supportive content to ensure productive conversations and tracking action items to completion post meeting.
• Supporting key portfolio activities such as long-range planning and budgeting by partnering with finance and development functions on portfolio plans and resourcing demands.
• Gathering ongoing feedback across the program team to identify areas for improvement, partner with functional leaders to implement improvements.
• Support the CSO in the collection of external inputs and advice from the Scientific Advisory Board, the Science & Technology Committee by organizing agendas, capturing meeting minutes, and summarizing key takeaways and action items.
• Work in collaboration with the COO to build the Rapport PMO including defining, establishing, and maintaining the program management tools and systems to enable efficient and effective management, tracking and reporting of the research programs.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree required. Advanced degree (MS/MBA or PhD) in biomedical sciences, business or other discipline related to drug development preferred.
• Minimum of 7 years of relevant biotech or pharmaceutical industry research and drug discovery experience
• At least 3-5 years in program/project management at a pharma/biotech company
• Experience in small molecule discovery is required; experience in neuroscience therapeutic area is preferred
• Drug discovery knowledge, with understanding of other functions relevant to the position, which may include Discovery, Preclinical Research, Clinical Development, Manufacturing; experience in neuroscience or small molecule therapeutics a plus
• Scientific curiosity and passion for discovering new, innovative medicines.
• Proven ability to drive change and challenge to status quo to move programs forward to achieve defined goals
• Experience managing programs across preclinical and clinical stages; experience leading cross functional activities through IND submission preferred
• Experience leading and facilitating program team meetings, cross-functional communication and decision making, and ensuring ongoing alignment with internal stakeholders
• Experience setting and maintaining budgets; experience preparing presentations at the executive level
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills
• Experience with project management tools is required
• Strong business acumen and judgment; ability to articulate project objectives and priorities and work efficiently and resourcefully to move projects forward
• Ability to work full time at our LaJolla location in San Diego