Head, Project and Portfolio Management (PPM)

Position Description

Job Title:       Head, Project and Portfolio Management (PPM) 
Location:      NY, New York Preferred; US-Remote; Nairobi, Kenya; Amsterdam, Netherlands; Cape Town, South Africa, Remote-South Africa; Remote-UK considered
Reports to:    Chief Development Officer

Position Summary:

IAVI is seeking a dynamic Head of Project and Portfolio Management to lead a team of Project Managers responsible for facilitating IAVI’s cross-functional product development teams to effectively strategize, plan, and execute on IAVI’s pipeline from development candidate selection through clinical development, regulatory submission & approvals, and commercial launch.  The Head of Project & Portfolio Management will drive portfolio-level activities such as management of product & portfolio governance committees, resource planning, activity modeling, as well as setting and reporting corporate goals.

If you are an innovative Project and Portfolio Management Leader experienced in establishing best practices and tools for key program team processes like planning, decision making, communication and risk management in a development organization, learn more and apply below!

Key Responsibilities:

• Coach and manage a team of project managers supporting global, cross-functional program teams for early and late-stage clinical assets.
• Ensure program team operational excellence in terms of meeting conduct, decision making, risk assessment and management, and lessons-learned processes with a commitment to continuous improvement.
• Identify and champion best practices, including the use of dashboards, templates, tools, and processes to drive efficiency, alignment, and effective planning and communication.
• Leverage strong project and organizational knowledge, leadership and facilitation skills to enable IAVI program managers to drive alignment, collaboration and accountability within the program teams resulting in achievement of significant business goals.
• Focus on continuous improvement of team capabilities by ensuring that team members have the opportunity for training and development to excel in their role as functional leaders and cross-functional team members.
• Manage governance committees across the product development portfolio in partnership with the Chair.
• Drive portfolio level program planning, including cross-functional resource planning, financial, and capacity assessments; contribute to long-range and budgetary planning.
• Work in close partnership with functional leaders to develop and present pipeline content including monthly dashboards and program and portfolio reviews to the Executive Team, key business partners, and the Board of Directors.
• Work with other strategic management functions to ensure that hand-offs across the continuum of research and interactions with partners are efficient and effective.
• Facilitate decision-making, collaboration, and problem-solving with people at all levels of the organization to accomplish shared program goals.
• Support the development of the long-term strategy and the identification on new Business Development opportunities.
• Build and manage strategic relationships with funders and key stakeholders.
• Oversee staff and consultants as required to achieve project milestones.

Education and Work Experience:

• BS in a scientific discipline required; advanced degree (MS, PhD, MBA), PMP or advanced project management training/certificate preferred.
• Minimum 15 years of experience with progressive responsibility in vaccine or pharmaceutical development, including a minimum of 10 years’ experience in a project management role in a pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or related environment is required.
• Previous people management experience is required, along with a passion for employee development.

Qualifications and Skills

• In-depth understanding of the drug development process, including hands-on experience managing cross-functional development teams across all stages of development (pre-IND, clinical development, global regulatory filings, approvals, and post-marketing).
• Ability to work collaboratively and productively with colleagues and multiple stakeholders within complex management matrices and in different geographical locations.
• Demonstrated skills in negotiation and facilitation.
• Adaptive leadership style and ability to influence teams without formal authority.
• Proactive and strategic thinker with strong facilitation, problem-solving and issue resolution skills.
• Excellent verbal, written and executive presentation skills.
• Experience with developing and managing budgets.
• Excellent verbal, written and communication skills.
• Ability to lead by example and mentor staff and promote continual learning.
• Demonstrated skills in negotiation and facilitation.
• Knowledge of change management.
• Excellent verbal, written and executive presentation skills.
• Must be willing and able to perform both tactical, operational work (agendas, minutes, timelines) as well as engage and drive strategic dialogue across all stages of development and all levels of leadership.

Organizational Overview: 

IAVI is a nonprofit scientific research organization dedicated to addressing urgent, unmet global health challenges including HIV and tuberculosis. Our mission is to translate scientific discoveries into affordable, globally accessible public health solutions. Through scientific and clinical research in Africa, India, Europe, and the U.S., IAVI is pioneering the development of biomedical innovations designed for broad global access. We develop vaccines and antibodies in and for the developing world and seek to accelerate their introduction in low-income countries. IAVI programs and partnerships are grounded in the regions of the world where the disease burden is the greatest, and our approach emphasizes sustainability. Our network of clinical research center partners in Africa and India helps strengthen in-country research capacity and supports the training and education of the next generation of scientists. The global impact of our science includes fundamental contributions to understanding the biology of HIV infection, which IAVI and others are applying toward advancing vaccine science and immunology. IAVI accelerates scientific discovery and development by fostering unique collaborations among academia, industry, local communities, governments, and funders to explore new and better ways to address public health threats that disproportionately affect people living in poverty. Our global reach, including a clinical research network in five countries in sub-Saharan Africa and in India, has allowed us to make fundamental contributions to understanding the epidemiology, transmission, virology, and immunology of HIV. This work played a key role in facilitating the design of promising HIV vaccine candidates, as well as the discovery of broadly neutralizing antibodies that are now being advanced as promising approaches for HIV prevention. Our integrated capabilities in vaccine and antibody discovery, development, and clinical research take advantage of bio-pharmaceutical industry expertise to accelerate the development and testing of prevention methods for HIV and other diseases. Through the Product Development Center, we support external researchers with technical and scientific expertise to accelerate the development of their own products.  

IAVI CORE VALUES: 

• Dedication to the Mission: We are committed to the translation of scientific discoveries into affordable, globally accessible public health solutions. 
• Innovative Evolution: We are committed to solving complex problems in creative and innovative ways, learning from our mistakes and successes and never giving up 
• Integrity: We are committed to meeting the highest ethical and professional standards in everything we do and to taking responsibility for our actions to earn respect 
• Collaboration: We are committed to embracing diversity, the power of global teamwork and the belief that by working as one we can make a difference

Disclaimer: Nothing in this job description restricts management's right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities and skills required of personnel so classified. This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at-will” relationship. IAVI is an equal opportunity employer and applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.  

IAVI IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER actively committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive global organization. IAVI believes that diversity and inclusion among our teammates is critical, and we seek to recruit, develop and retain the most talented people from a representative candidate pool. At IAVI, we celebrate the spectrum of colleagues’ experiences and believe that dedication to our mission above all is essential to our success as a scientific global non-profit. IAVI upholds these principles through IAVI’s Global Diversity and Inclusion Committee.  

IAVI has zero tolerance for discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, caste, national origin, home language, ancestry, religion, marital or civil partnership status, age, physical or mental disability, HIV status and any other medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, and veteran status, in addition to any other status protected under the law in any of our locations worldwide. 

Compensation and Benefits Information for US-Based Candidates:   

Annual base salary for this position is: $250,000.00 - 290,000.00 

Compensation And Benefits Information for NON-US Based Candidates: 

Salary is paid in local currency, and is commensurate and competitive with the local labor market 

Please note, there may be some variation based on experience level. In addition, this position offers competitive benefits such as annual bonus, generous retirement savings plan, competitive health insurance benefits, and other benefits.