Careers
Program Director (UK/US)
Operations · Full-time
England, UK
Posted on Sep 24, 2026
Position Summary
The Program Director provides enterprise-wide strategic and operational leadership for CellCentric's integrated drug development programme. As the senior integrator across the organisation, this role translates corporate and programme strategy into a coordinated plan spanning late-stage development, regulatory approval, launch readiness and commercialisation.
Working across R&D and the wider business, the Program Director connects Clinical Development, Clinical Operations, Biometrics, Regulatory Affairs, Medical Affairs, Quality, Technical Operations, Finance and emerging Commercial functions. The role owns the integrated programme plan and operating cadence, providing clear visibility of milestones, assumptions, interdependencies, risks, resources and decisions. The Program Director provides program-level leadership and cross-functional coordination, partnering with functional leaders who retain accountability for their respective strategies and deliverables.
Key Responsibilities
- Own and maintain the integrated development and commercialisation programme plan, including milestones, assumptions, interdependencies, critical paths and decision points.
- Translate corporate and programme strategy into coordinated cross-functional priorities, plans and measurable outcomes.
- Establish and lead a systematic programme operating cadence, including governance forums, decision tracking, action follow-up and clear accountability for commitments.
- Assess the cross-functional impact of changes to timelines, assumptions, scope or resources; integrate inputs and communicate implications and options clearly.
- Identify and proactively manage enterprise-level risks, issues, dependencies and resource constraints, escalating decisions promptly where required.
- Partner with functional leaders and the Executive Leadership Team to resolve competing priorities, enable timely decisions and sustain programme momentum while respecting functional ownership.
- Integrate planning across development, regulatory, manufacturing, medical and commercial workstreams to support approval and launch readiness.
- Provide concise programme reporting, dashboards and recommendations to internal governance bodies, senior leadership and, where required, the Board.
Skills and Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in a scientific, engineering, business or related discipline; advanced degree preferred.
- 10+ years of biotechnology or pharmaceutical industry experience, including significant leadership of complex drug development programmes.
- Demonstrated experience integrating cross-functional programmes from late-stage clinical development through regulatory submission, approval and/or commercial launch.
- Broad understanding of the drug development lifecycle and the interfaces among Clinical Development, Clinical Operations, Biometrics, Regulatory Affairs, Quality, Technical Operations, Medical Affairs and Commercial.
- Strong strategic thinking, programme leadership, facilitation and executive communication skills, with the ability to synthesise complex inputs and clarify business implications.
- Proven ability to influence without direct authority, build effective governance and bring structure without unnecessary bureaucracy in a fast-paced biotech environment.
- The successful candidate is an experienced enterprise integrator who connects strategy with execution, anticipates how change in one workstream affects the wider programme, and enables informed, timely decisions. They build alignment across established and emerging functions while reinforcing clear ownership, accountability and collaborative leadership.
Working Behaviors (Core Expectations)
- Trust and Respect: Act with integrity, honesty, and openness to build strong, credible relationships.
- Communication and Feedback: Share information clearly, listen actively, and engage in a culture of constructive feedback.
- Accountability and Reliability: Take ownership for performance, be dependable, and support others to achieve collective goals.
- Objectivity: Align on common objectives and use facts and data to reach fair, effective decisions.
- Team Balance and Enablement: Contribute to balanced roles within the team, support delegation, and help colleagues reach their full potential.
Why Join Us?
At CellCentric, we believe success is built on great teams. By embodying these working behaviors, every member contributes to a high-performing, supportive, and inclusive culture where individuals and the business thrive together.