PURPOSE OF THE FUNCTION
At argenx, distinction is made between project teams driving asset (molecule) strategy development and high level execution and those driving indication strategy development and execution within boundaries set by the former.
Early Development Strategy Teams (EDST) focus on asset development until a decision to enter Clinical Phase 2A, proof of concept in patients.
Thereafter, the teams are referred to as Asset Strategy Teams (AST). Clinical Development Teams (CDT) focus on a single clinical indication and may share subject matter expert (SME) Leads with other CDTs e.
g., across a franchise, a combination of indications within a given medical specialty. Once the CDT starts launching this indication into the market, the team is referred to as Indication Development Team (IDT) and the team leadership shifts from clinical operational to more commercial orientation.
The Drug Development Project Manager (DDPM) oversees the high-level plans and progress of all aforementioned teams working on the asset, end-to-end from pre-clinical into commercial.
In addition, they add indication overarching activities and milestones for which they document downstream impact and justification of change to include project budget and resourcing.
They partner with the Asset Strategy Lead and the function Leads constituting the EDST or AST. The DDPM compiles and owns the integrated cross-functional project plan, translating the corporate strategy.
Like all PMs at PMO, DDPM champion project management techniques and processes, coach team members on their consistent utilization, including mapping and mitigation of project risks, and applying and logging lessons learned.
DDPMs act as primary point of contact when concerning integrated cross-functional project planning and status. They closely collaborate with stakeholders who own, contribute to, and / or manage the project and the impact of decisions and changing circumstances.
This to drive timely availability of documents as planned.
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
When a people manager, develops the DDPM, as individuals growing confidence, skills, experience that sets them up for personal growth in their preferred direction and in line with corporate and Development strategy.
Controls the agreed upon scope and ensures the team stay within the agreed scope.
- To agree the project lifetime plan with stage-driven level of detail, to proactively indicate and mitigate risk and resolve issues.
- Continued maintenance and communication of the project planning of timeline, budget, and resourcing. This includes the flagging of delays, underspending / overspending, and insufficient or inadequate resourcing where they may liaise with governance, Finance, and Function Heads on behalf of the team.
- High performing team’s effectiveness e.g., through proactively addressing stakeholders and partnering with the project leadership to ensure effective project team and governance meetings.
- Partnering with the different teams and function Leads to translate team strategies into fully integrated functions-overarching project plans.
They take ownership of the plans and derive and share insights that influence project strategy.
- Pursue positive team dynamics (e.g., works with HR to organize team building or to seek general advice; with team leadership to ensure safe sharing of thoughts) and organize consistent storage of (working) documents and easy access for team members and stakeholders as appropriate.
- Promptly communicates substantial acceleration or delay on the project and downstream impact to project leadership and corporate management and proactively drives corrective actions to be put in place as needed.
- At project level, partner with internal and external stakeholders (teams, functions, governance, alliance partners, licensees as needed) set up effective project communications and manage change towards common goals while championing conflict resolution.
On behalf of the project team, reach out for updates, guidance, and / or endorsement at governance meetings and ad-hoc meetings :
Find, develop, and deploy methods and frameworks to inform prompt, quality decision-making. This to facilitate operational excellence in all business processes in support of argenx’ drug development projects and PMO’s process improvement projects and tool introductions e.
g., through sharing best practice, creation and management of templates, trackers, and business process documents.
- Ensures critical review of resources allocated to the integrated project plan
- Partners with finance to unburden the organization from any budget related question, perform baseline comparisons and inter-budget exercise variance analysis.
Perform internal benchmarking and optimize internal project templates.
- Co-creates with business process managers the dashboard reports and is the business liaison to identify the reporting needs from our business partners.
- Conduct project scenario planning through visualizations and analyses of downstream impact of timeline shifts, uncertain external factors, and options to preserve key milestones.
- Organize lessons learned sessions and supply a secure environment to evaluate project related activities and learn from earlier experience
SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES
- Strong leadership skills ensuring that argenx values are embedded in team dynamics.
- Strong communicative skills ensuring inclusiveness as right.
- Strong collaborative skills ensuring that experience and knowledge around the table is taken into consideration.
- Strong interpersonal skills : ability to mediate the prevention and management of conflict.
- Strong project management skills; broad exposure to the pharma R&D process; advanced planning experience with MS Project.
PMP (Project Management Professional) certification is an advantage.
- Able to deal with continuous change.
- Strong verbal and written English communication skills (English primary fluency or full professional proficiency).
- Consultant or employee.
EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS
- Advanced degree (Master or PhD) in health-related discipline or equal by experience.
- At least 10 years of drug development experience in distinct phases of development, in different disease areas.
- At least 5 years of Program Management experience in a Pharmaceutical or Biotech environment, preferably cross-cultural.
- Genuine interest and some experience in people management.
- Experience in Regulatory Affairs and / or Clinical Development is an advantage.
At argenx we strive to create a welcoming and inclusive environment. Here all applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other applicable legally protected characteristics.
argenx is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.