Senior Director, Program Management

Career Opportunities with Rigel Pharmaceutical

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The Senior Director, Program Management is a senior cross-functional leader responsible for helping move complex drug development programs from strategy to execution.

This role works across clinical, regulatory, CMC, nonclinical, commercial and other functions to connect plans, build and maintain the integrated program timeline, identify risks and trade-offs, prepare for key decisions, and drive follow-through.

The Senior Director must understand drug development well enough to contribute meaningfully to program discussions, challenge assumptions, and help the team understand the implications of different choices. At the same time, this person must be strong in the core mechanics of program management, including timelines, dependencies, risks, decisions, actions and execution.

The role reports to the Vice President, Program Management.

Employees designated as onsite or hybrid are expected to be onsite at Rigel’s South San Francisco headquarters during business hours on Wednesdays and Thursdays each week. Employees designated as remote are expected to be onsite during business hours on Wednesdays and Thursdays at least twice per month, and more frequently as business needs require.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Program Planning and Leadership

• Develop a strong understanding of the program’s objectives, development strategy and key scientific, clinical, regulatory, CMC and commercial considerations.
• Partner with functional leaders to translate agreed program strategy into an integrated and executable plan.
• Lead integration of functional plans, assumptions and dependencies across the program.
• Build, own and maintain the integrated program timeline, including key milestones, decision points, critical paths and cross-functional dependencies.
• Work with functional leaders to obtain, challenge and confirm the assumptions, durations and dependencies underlying the timeline.
• Identify gaps, conflicts and trade-offs across functional plans and help drive them to resolution.
• Develop integrated scenarios and timelines when alternative development paths are being considered.

Execution and Risk Management

• Monitor progress against the integrated plan and identify material changes in timing, scope, resources or assumptions.
• Assess and communicate the impact of changes on the broader program.
• Identify major program risks early and work with accountable functions to ensure mitigation or contingency plans are in place.
• Drive clear actions, owners and timelines following key discussions and decisions.
• Ensure decisions are reflected in updated plans and follow-through.
• Escalate unresolved issues when they cannot be addressed within the program.

Decision Support

• Anticipate upcoming program decisions and ensure the right information is available to support them.
• Help clearly define the decision needed, relevant assumptions, options, risks and execution implications.
• Distinguish between facts, assumptions, risks and unresolved questions.
• Ensure functional input is aligned and areas of disagreement are clear before major decisions are brought forward.
• Prepare concise program updates for senior leadership and governance discussions.

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Build strong working relationships across functions and levels.
• Facilitate productive discussion when priorities, timelines or perspectives differ.
• Ask informed questions and challenge assumptions constructively.
• Maintain focus on the overall program rather than any one functional perspective.
• Drive cross-functional execution while keeping functional accountability clear.
• Ensure material changes are communicated to affected stakeholders.
• When assigned broader program leadership responsibility, lead the cross-functional development program and advance integrated program recommendations for decision.

Financial and Resource Planning

• Partner with Finance and functional leaders to connect development plans with budgets and forecasts.
• Ensure planning assumptions used for financial work are consistent with the current program timeline.
• Identify changes in scope, timing or resources that may materially affect program cost or investment needs.
• Highlight resource constraints and their potential impact on program execution.
• Apply consistent Program Management practices across assigned programs.
• Identify practical ways to improve planning, execution, decision-making and communication.
• Mentor and provide guidance to Program Management colleagues and consultants.
• Contribute to broader portfolio, alliance and cross-functional work as needed.
• Support the continued development of the Program Management function.

Role Accountability

• Leading integration of the cross-functional development plan.
• Building, owning and maintaining the integrated program timeline.
• Connecting functional assumptions and dependencies across the program.
• Driving cross-functional planning, execution and follow-through.
• Identifying and communicating major risks, trade-offs and changes.
• Preparing the team and leadership for key decisions.
• Ensuring decisions are reflected in updated plans and actions.
• Providing clear and concise program-level communication.
• Resolution of broader organizational issues that extend beyond an individual program.
• Understand the development context, not just the project mechanics.
• Connect strategy with execution.
• Bring structure and clarity to complex or ambiguous situations.
• Anticipate risks and decision needs.
• Challenge assumptions constructively.
• Communicate clearly with senior scientific, medical, technical and business leaders.
• Drive accountability without taking ownership away from accountable functions.
• Exercise sound judgment in a dynamic biotechnology environment.
• Be capable of leading a cross-functional development program when needed.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILL REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor's degree in a scientific, technical, business or related discipline required; advanced degree preferred.
• Typically, 12+ years of relevant biotech or pharma industry experience.
• Significant experience in cross-functional drug development and Program Management.
• Demonstrated experience independently managing complex development programs across multiple functions and development stages.
• Strong understanding of the drug development process and the relationships among clinical, regulatory, CMC, nonclinical, commercial and operational activities.
• Demonstrated experience building and managing integrated development timelines.
• Experience supporting major development decisions, scenario planning and senior leadership or governance reviews.
• Ability to contribute credibly to complex drug development discussions beyond project management mechanics.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, facilitation and communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with senior functional leaders without relying on positional authority.
• Experience mentoring or guiding other Program Management professionals preferred.
• Prior experience serving in a Program Team Lead, development team lead or equivalent cross-functional leadership role preferred.

Measures of Success

Success in this role means the program has a clear integrated plan, a credible timeline, visible risks and dependencies, timely decisions, clear accountability and disciplined follow-through. Success means the program team and senior leadership have a clear view of where the program stands, what has changed, what decisions are coming, what could affect execution and who owns the next step.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

The anticipated salary range for this position is $270,000 to $325,000. The actual salary offered will depend on several factors, including experience, qualifications, geographic location, internal equity, and business needs.

This position is eligible to participate in Rigel's annual bonus program and is eligible for equity incentive awards, subject to the terms of the applicable plans. This position is not commission-based.

Rigel offers eligible employees a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision coverage; life and disability insurance; flexible spending accounts; a 401(k) plan; paid time off; paid company holidays; and other benefits.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• PHYSICAL DEMANDS: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to stand, walk; sit; talk and hear. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.
• WORK ENVIRONMENT: The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Some travel may be required.

Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by the law.