Vice President, Global Program Head

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Job Title:

Vice President, Global Program Head

Location:

San Diego, CA

Position type:

FLSA:

Full time

Exempt

Department:

Strategy

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Strive to Bring a Profound Difference to our Patients

At Avidity Biosciences, we are passionate about the impact of every employee in realizing our vision of improving people’s lives by delivering a new class of RNA therapeutics. Avidity is revolutionizing the field of RNA with its proprietary AOCs, which are designed to combine the specificity of monoclonal antibodies with the precision of oligonucleotide therapies to address targets and diseases previously unreachable with existing RNA therapies. If you are a committed, solution-oriented thinker, join us in making a difference and become part of our growing culture that is integrated, collaborative, agile and focused on the needs of patients. 

Avidity Biosciences, Inc.'s mission is to profoundly improve people's lives by delivering a new class of RNA therapeutics - Antibody Oligonucleotide Conjugates (AOCs™). Utilizing its proprietary AOC platform, Avidity demonstrated the first-ever successful targeted delivery of RNA into muscle and is leading the field with clinical development programs for three rare muscle diseases: myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1), Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD). Avidity is broadening the reach of AOCs with its advancing and expanding pipeline, including programs in cardiology and immunology through internal discovery efforts and key partnerships. Avidity is headquartered in San Diego, CA. For more information about our AOC platform, clinical development pipeline, and people, please visit www.aviditybiosciences.com and engage with us on LinkedIn and Twitter.

The Opportunity

The Vice President, Global Program Head (GPH) provides strategic leadership and oversight by defining and delivering an aligned program vision, developing strategy and organizational goals for the global FSHD program.  They will be accountable for leading the Global Program Team (GPT) and ensuring optimal collaboration across all functions.  They will drive proactive partnering with governance committees and senior leadership to maximize engagement and awareness.  They will be a champion and role model for the BeAvid values and contribute actively to broader Avidity initiatives to build community and purpose.

What You Will Contribute

• Lead the FSHD program in setting vision, strategy, goals, priorities and long-term plans and schedules through global commercialization.
• Align strategy, goals, resources, and plan cross-functionally to ensure success of development and launch.
• Partner with regulatory affairs to develop strategy and participate in interactions with the FDA and global regulatory authorities.
• Communicate program vision and develop relationships with Key Opinion Leaders.
• Link Global Program cross-functional sub-teams to the GPT through functional sub-team leaders to align and execute the FSHD strategy.
• Proactively report on progress of projects, plans/plan changes, critical path, possible scenarios, and issues/risks/impact to governance committees, senior leadership, and the BOD. 
• Ensure appropriate awareness, engagement, and involvement of all stakeholders and teams.
• Provide strategic leadership and oversight of internal and external resources in support of the GPT’s operational objectives, ensuring resources are properly allocated to align with corporate goals.
• Proactively and regularly identify/monitor program risks before they transform into issues; develop contingency plans; communicate timely and proactively project related issues to senior leadership and own issues to resolution.
• Actively monitor and respond proactively to the dynamics of a changing external environment, e.g. marketplace; direct adjustments in functional plans in response to changes in strategic direction.
• Partner with human resources and other functions to serve as a key change management agent.
• Through a high performing Program Manager (PM), ensure fully informed strategic, process, and operational insights (KPIs, best practices, tracking, etc) to enable improved decision making within and beyond the GPT.
• Partner with program management leadership to build strong working relationships to develop team program managers.
• Provide mentorship to the members of the Global Program Team.  Partner with functional leaders to advise on technical and professional development opportunities.
• Lead the GPT and its members utilizing our matrix structure.  Guide the team both at strategic and tactical levels to ensure program success.
• Provide functional leaders feedback on individual GPT team member contributions to the Program Team’s strategic and operational objectives; collaborate on emerging opportunities to improve individual performance.
• Work with cross-functional leadership to develop program goals, budgets, and GPT membership.
• Perform other duties as required.

 

What We Seek

• Masters or higher degree in science and/or business
• Minimum of 20 years of life sciences industry experience, with working knowledge of research, development and commercial operations
• Minimum 8 years interdisciplinary experience with complex global projects including strategy, execution and matrix team management
• Success operating in multiple organizational models.
• Prior collaboration with Key Opinion Leaders and investigators.
• Proven track record of developing talent and being a culture champion.
• Recognized subject matter expert in all aspects of drug development processes including experience managing global clinical development programs from IND/CTA through registrational trials
• Experience with key aspects of BLA/NDA/MAA filings
• Experience in rare disease clinical development
• Multiple experiences working in late-stage development programs through regulatory approvals and launch
• A background in antibody delivery or siRNA is a plus
• Demonstrated excellent communication (oral and written), matrix leadership, stakeholder engagement, change management, leadership, integration, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills
• Ability to work from our La Jolla office at least 50%
• Ability to travel as needed up to 30%

 What We will Provide to You:

• The base salary range for this role is $ $307,000 - $340,000. The final compensation will be commensurate with such factors as relevant experience, skillset, internal equity and market factors.
• Avidity offers competitive compensation and benefits, including annual and spot bonuses, stock options and RSUs, and a 401(k) with an employer match. In addition, the comprehensive wellness program includes coverage for medical, dental, vision, and LTD, and four weeks of time off.
• A commitment to learning and development which includes a variety of programming internally developed by and for Avidity employees, opportunities for job-specific training offered by industry, and an education reimbursement program.