Pleased to meet you, we are Galapagos, a biotechnology company with operations in Europe and the U.S. dedicated to developing transformational medicines for more years of life and quality of life.
Focusing on high unmet medical needs, we synergize compelling science, technology, and collaborative approaches to create a deep pipeline of best-in-class cell therapies in oncology. With capabilities from lab to patient, including a decentralized manufacturing network, we are committed to challenging the status quo and delivering results for our patients, employees and shareholders.
We are looking for a Project Management Leader (Director or Senior Director) – Princeton, NJ, US
Scope of the job
Are you ready to lead a groundbreaking clinical program that could change lives worldwide? In this role you will spearhead the development of GLPG5101, a flagship CAR-T therapy moving into pivotal stage clinical studies. This therapy is ground-breaking because of its decentralized manufacturing method of CAR-T cells, enabling the delivery of fresh, fit and early-phenotype cells in a median 7 days vein-to-vein.
In this key role, you’ll act as the operational leader for the project, collaborating closely with the Cell Therapy Development Team Leader and the Clinical Development Leader. You’ll maintain a centralized perspective on the project strategy and translate it into detailed, actionable plans, ensuring smooth execution while playing a key role in balancing speed, quality, and compliance in every program decision.
Your Mission
* You turn the project strategy into a clear plan. You’ll set goals, create and track timelines, manage budgets, and prepare backup plans to solve problems before they happen.
* You work closely with teams from different areas like Clinical Development, Clinical and Technical Operations, CMC, and Quality to make sure everything runs smoothly and stays on track.
* You lead important project meetings. This means setting the agenda, guiding discussions, supporting and capturing decisions, and following up to ensure everyone knows what to do next and executes accordingly.
* You build strong relationships with all stakeholders and keep everyone aligned on priorities. You’ll make sure decisions are made quickly and efficiently without sacrificing quality.
* You spot potential risks early and take action to fix or avoid them so the project keeps moving forward.
* You use modern tools and data to improve the way the team works, helping them make smarter and faster decisions.
* You own and maintain the core KPIs/dashboards/timelines and other project information used to track project progress, and ensure these are used for key decisions and progress reviews with senior management.
* You review key milestones with the team, share lessons learned, and look for ways to improve how the project is managed.
* You serve as a change agent in an evolving and learning organization, as an accountability partner to your peers, and as coach to junior colleagues.
What You Bring
* Expertise: 7+ years in pharmaceutical/biologic product development project management, with a strong background in cross-functional leadership and risk management.
* You have a relevant experience in later stage (phase 2 and 3) pharmaceutical development, with expertise in cell therapy as a strong plus.
* You are familiar with the ATMP-specific CMC and Regulatory context, ideally in cell therapy or with a relevant connection to the decentralized manufacturing approach of Galapagos.
* Strong PMO/Project management experience and toolkit, combined with proven ability to manage stakeholders, lead change, and steer high-performing teams in complex environments.
* Hands-on approach: You thrive in dynamic settings, balancing strategic thinking with a practical, day-to-day execution mindset.
* Technical acumen: Familiarity with tools like MS Project or Smartsheets, and the ability to use analytics for smarter decision-making.
* Communication prowess: Excellent verbal and written skills, with the ability to distill complex ideas into actionable steps.
What’s in it for you?
At Galapagos, we prioritize your continuous growth and development, fostering a culture of empowerment. Our employees are the driving force behind our mission to lead in pharmaceutical research and innovation.
We offer a competitive compensation package and a supportive work environment with strong focus on your health and well-being. Join us in our journey towards sustainability, as we strive to make a lasting impact on both the industry and the planet.
Galapagos is dedicated to ensuring equal employment opportunities. Our hiring decisions are based on merit, considering qualifications, skills, performance, and achievements. We strictly prohibit discrimination against any employee or job applicant based on personal characteristics that are unrelated to their job.
We are Galapagos: together we can make it happen…!
Base compensation for this position ranges from $142,450 to $322,400. Actual base compensation will be determined based on a variety of factors including experience, qualifications, job-related knowledge, demonstrated skills and geographic location. The company reserves the right to modify base salary ranges at any time.
In addition, this position is eligible for participation in both Galapagos’ performance bonus plan and long-term incentive program. We offer comprehensive and generous benefits and programs to help our colleagues lead healthy lives and to support important moments in life.
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