Senior Project Manager / Program Director

About the role

As a Senior Project Manager / Program Director you will lead the execution of multiple integrated R&D programs for a fast‑growing biotech startup in Zurich. You will translate complex scientific objectives into clear development plans and ensure alignment across internal teams and external partners.

Key responsibilities

• Coordinate execution of R&D programs such as Clevergum, Clicktromics, Project Trident and Neutralize.
• Serve as the central point of contact between scientific teams, CROs, vendors and manufacturing partners.
• Manage timelines, budgets, deliverables and resource allocation across multi‑workstream projects.
• Run governance activities including weekly reviews, milestone tracking and risk management.
• Oversee external vendor and CRO performance, ensuring quality, compliance and timely delivery.
• Support investor reporting, partner communications and strategic program updates.
• Identify risks and implement mitigation strategies across development streams.
• Contribute to portfolio prioritisation and strategic planning with senior leadership.

Required profile

• 10+ years of program or project management experience in biotech or pharmaceutical environments.
• Proven track record managing complex translational R&D programs.
• Strong exposure to peptides, biologics, lipid nanoparticles or advanced formulation technologies.
• Experience working with CROs, CDMOs, vendors and external scientific collaborators.
• Fluent in English; additional European languages are a plus.

Required skills

• Peptides
• Biologics
• Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs)
• Advanced formulation technologies
• Chemistry development
• Formulation development
• Regulatory processes
• Manufacturing scale‑up
• CRO management
• CDMO coordination