Global Program Director

Are you passionate about leading a global cross-functional program team? Do you have extensive experience within project and program management in late-stage drug development?

If so, now is your chance to join Ascendis Pharma as our new Global Program Director for The Endocrine Rare Disease (ERD) Program Management Group.

Ascendis Pharma is a fast-growing biopharmaceutical company with locations in Denmark, Germany, and the United States.

We are applying our TransCon technology to build a leading, fully integrated biopharmaceutical company focused on making a meaningful difference in patients’ lives. Guided by our core values of patients, science, and passion, we use our TransCon® drug development platform to fulfill our mission of developing new and potentially best-in-class therapies to address unmet medical needs. Today, we have a growing pipeline of prodrug therapies in development, each designed to be a best-in-class therapy.

We are seeking a passionate Global Program Director to join our growing team. As a key member of the Ascendis Pharma team, you will play a crucial role in driving Ascendis’ sustainable growth by shepherding progress across multiple sites (Heidelberg, Copenhagen, Palo Alto, and Princeton) for late-stage development and Lifecycle Management (LCM).

The role will be responsible for facilitating strategic discussions and decision-making, communicating with all relevant stakeholders (across functions and with the Executive Management Team), and ensuring execution of the program within budget and timelines (or faster).

This person’s role is likely to evolve as Ascendis Program Management evolves to better support late-stage development and improve decision-making. This person will report into the Head of ERD Program Management group.

This is an exciting opportunity to work in a fast-paced environment, collaborate with cross-functional, global teams working together to achieve extraordinary results.

You will be joining the ERD Program Management group consisting of 5 colleagues, and report directly to Meng Lee, Head of ERD Program Management group, who is based in Palo Alto, US. You will be based in Hellerup, Denmark.

Your key responsibilities will be:

• Lead cross-functional Program Core Team; foster excellent cross-functional and cross-geography teamwork
• Establish and communicate 3-5 year program strategy and objectives
• Strategic initiatives (e.g., plans and requirements to enter new geography, pursuit of new indication) by collaborating with line organizations and communicating options and recommendations to leadership
• Prioritizing activities and problem-solving to meet milestones and timelines
• Ensuring all members and their organizations are aligned on program progress, key milestones, risks, and mitigation strategies
• Drive program management rigor: set timelines, clarify roles and responsibilities, forecast and track resource needs, communicate action items, evaluate budget
• Effectively and efficiently communicate information to and from program activities to the organization, including Program Reviews, Board of Directors meetings
• Identify interdependencies and trade-offs to ensure recommendations and program decisions incorporate all cross-functional implications
• Establish LCM approach to maximize potential of program(s) and benefit to patients: proactively identify and evaluate LCM opportunities, collaborate to develop business cases for prioritized LCM opportunities, turn strategies into actions
• Be a key contributor to the Commercial Brand Teams as product transitions from development to commercial
• Adjust to changes in responsibilities as Ascendis Program Management evolves
• Role may shift, e.g., to further focus on late-stage development
• GPD should be willing to support other late-stage programs and potential early-stage programs.

Qualifications and Skills:

You hold a relevant academic degree – preferably a Master’s degree or PhD in Life Sciences or related field – and 10 - 15 years in project and program management in late-stage drug development, with experience across multiple line organizations (e.g., Clinical Development, Regulatory Affairs, Medical Affairs, Commercial).

Furthermore, you have:

• Successful license application experience strongly preferred, ideally in multiple geographies
• Experience leading LCM efforts: ability to identify, evaluate, and prioritize LCM opportunities to meet or surpass program objectives for best-in-class product opportunities
• A general understanding of how to evaluate commercial landscape and market opportunities

Key competencies:

You are a strong team player, analytical, and have a can-do attitude.

You possess an entrepreneurial mindset and can thrive in an informal, open environment where innovation and change are key.

To succeed in this role, we also expect you to have a holistic mindset, strong communication skills and great leadership skills, including ability to lead colleagues across line organizations outside of reporting relationships.

Travel: Ability to travel up to 25% of the time (mostly international)

Office: Hellerup, Denmark.

Apply now.

Applications will be evaluated when received, so please apply as soon as possible.

All applications must be submitted in English and are treated confidentially.

For more details about the position or the company, please contact [email protected] or visit out website www.ascendispharma.com

Benefits

• You can expect an attractive remuneration package, short- and long-term incentives, pension scheme and health insurance.
• Laptop, iPhone, paid internet, and home office equipment
• A thorough and structured onboarding program
• To succeed in your job and expand in your role, you and your manager will continuously have Impact conversations about how to propel your development. If a need is identified, we find a way to help you grow.
• Soft drinks, fresh fruit and lunch every day in our canteen.
• Ascendis Pharma headquarters resides in a modern and bright office facility in Tuborg Havn in Hellerup with a view of the harbor, the canals, and the sea.
• To ensure a balanced approach to the office, all employees have the opportunity to work from home up to two days per week.