Kiniksa Pharmaceuticals

Executive Director, Program Lead

The Executive Director, Program Lead will lead a high-priority development program by driving asset level cross-functional strategic alignment and execution. This role requires managing and leading cross-functional colleagues of varying seniority to accelerate transformative therapies from drug development through marketing authorization in a fast-paced environment.

Key Responsibilities
  • Establish, inspire, and champion global program teams and subteams to advance Kiniksa’s innovative product candidates, while fostering a sense of urgency.
  • Collaborate with functional leaders to build and drive integrated development and program plans with clear milestones, critical paths, and cross-functional dependencies.
  • Proactively identify and manage program risks through scenario planning and mitigation strategies, delivering solutions that keep programs on track with exceptional attention to detail.
  • Cultivate strong relationships with senior and functional leaders to align program operations with company objectives, proactively navigating risks and challenges.
  • Work with colleagues to develop and maintain crisp dashboards and reporting tools that communicate program progress across all levels. Present to Executive Leadership with concise and clear presentations while understanding the detail.
  • Facilitate high-impact team meetings with clear agendas, actionable outcomes, and follow-through completion.
  • Collaborate with finance and functional leads to shape and refine program budgets and assumptions throughout forecasting cycles.
Required
  • Strong foundation in the biopharma industry, with at least 10 years of experience and a proven track record of leadership.
  • A BA/BS in a scientific or business discipline is required.
  • Demonstrated understanding of, and appreciation for, the complexities of drug development from early stages through registration, including navigating regulatory pathways, with an eye on commercialization.
  • Working knowledge of GxP environments, including the quality and regulatory standards that guide the pharmaceutical industry.
  • Expert proficiency in project management tools like Smartsheet and the Microsoft Office suite, to keep programs on track, to keep the team aligned, and to communicate status to key stakeholders.
  • Commitment to the highest standards of compliance and ethics, bringing that same level of integrity to everything you do.
  • Salary and title are commensurate with experience.
Preferred
  • An advanced degree (MD, PhD, PharmD, MBA) is preferred.
Benefits & Perks
  • Kiniksa Benefits Summary - USA

We are seeking a highly energetic and motivated individual who seeks to lead from the front and is driven to make a lasting impact. The Executive Director, Program Lead, will be at the helm of a high-priority development program, driving asset level cross-functional strategic alignment and execution with precision and passion. This is a leadership opportunity for someone who knows the ins and outs from drug development through to marketing authorization, and thrives in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.  

 

The ideal candidate is able to manage and lead a program through working with and bringing together cross-functional colleagues with varying levels of seniority. If you're a bold thinker, a natural connector, and a hands-on driver of results, this is your chance to lead the acceleration of transformative therapies to patients who need them most. 

 

This role is based in our Lexington, MA office. Our office-based employees follow a hybrid schedule of 4 days in the office (Mon-Thurs), and 1 day remote (Fri), and will report to the Chief Operating Officer (COO).  

 

Responsibilities (including, but not limited to):  

  • Lead with Purpose:Establish, inspire, and champion global program teams andsubteamsto advanceKiniksa’sinnovative product candidates, while fostering a senseof urgency.
  • Strategic Execution:Collaborate with functional leaders to build and drive integrated developmentandprogramplans with clear milestones, critical paths, and cross-functional dependencies.
  • Own the Outcome:Proactivelyidentifyand manage program risks through scenario planning and mitigation strategies, delivering solutions that keep programs on trackwith exceptional attention to detail.
  • Influence at Every Level:Cultivate strong relationships withseniorand functional leaders to align program operations with companyobjectives, proactively navigatingrisksand challenges.
  • Drive Transparency:Work with colleagues to develop andmaintaincrisp dashboardsandreporting tools that communicate program progress across all levels.This role will carry responsibilities ofpresenting toExecutiveLeadership,whereconcise and clear presentations, while understanding the detail, will berequired.
  • Operational Excellence:Facilitatehigh-impact team meetings with clear agendas, actionable outcomes, and follow-throughcompletion.
  • Financial Partnership:Collaborate with finance and functional leads to shape and refine program budgets and assumptions throughout forecasting cycles.

 

Standout Skills for Impact: 

  • Youthrive inseeking clarityandmovingquickly.You’rea self-starter with an entrepreneurial spirit who adapts easily and drives results in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.
  • You know how toeffectivelylead cross-functional teamsto drive alignment,and influence without authorityto deliver results. 
  • You build strongrelationships across the organization and communicate effectively with senior leadership.
  • You’rea strategic thinker who can see the big picture while executing with precision, bringingan analytical mindset and a deep understanding of biopharma business dynamics.
  • You’rea confident communicator—both written and verbal—and you know how to tailor your message to different audiences, from team members to executives.

 

Qualifications and Experience:  

  • Strong foundationin the biopharma industry, with at least 10 years of experience and a proventrack recordof leadership. A BA/BS in a scientific or business discipline isrequired, and an advanced degree (MD,PhD, PharmD, MBA) is preferred.
  • Demonstratedunderstandingof,and appreciation for,the complexities of drug development fromearlystagesthroughregistration,includingnavigatingregulatory pathways,with an eye on commercialization.
  • Working knowledge ofGxPenvironments, including thequality and regulatory standards that guide the pharmaceutical industry.
  • Expertproficiencyin project management tools like Smartsheet and the Microsoft Office suite,tokeep programs on track,tokeep theteam aligned, andtocommunicatestatusto keystakeholders.
  • Commitmentto thehighest standards of compliance and ethics,bringingthat same level of integrity to everything you do.
  • Salaryand titlearecommensuratewith experience
  • Kiniksa Benefits Summary - USA


Kiniksa is an Equal Opportunity employer and will consider you without regard to your race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, transgender status, age, genetics, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability status, or any other legally protected category. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation. 

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