Associate Director, Development Program Manager

Encoded Therapeutics Inc. is a biotechnology company advancing precision medicines for a broad range of genetic disorders. Our mission is to unlock new opportunities for viral gene therapy through genomics-driven discovery. We focus on delivering life-changing advances for individuals with genetic disorders not addressable with current approaches. For more information, please visit www.Encoded.com.

Position Details

 Encoded is seeking an Associate Director, Development Program Manager to drive the cross-functional planning and execution of a development program within our AAV gene therapy platform, focused on central nervous system (CNS) indications. Reporting to the Director, Development Program Management, this role is for an experienced program management professional who combines strong organizational and project-management expertise with a solid understanding of the drug development process, ideally including gene therapy or other advanced modalities. The Associate Director will serve as the operational backbone for the program team, working closely with Research, Clinical Development, Regulatory Affairs, CMC, Patient Advocacy and Medical Affairs to ensure program timelines, budgets, risks, and deliverables stay aligned and on track, while partnering with and escalating to the Program Management Organization (PMO) Director on major risks, resourcing conflicts, and strategic trade-offs.

 Responsibilities

Program Strategy & Core Team Leadership

• Facilitate development and implementation of program strategy, ensuring alignment with company goals, timelines, and budgetary constraints
• Organize Development Core Team activities that foster cross-functional collaboration, effective communication, and strategic discussion, ensuring all stakeholders are aligned on program objectives and milestones to aid decision-making
• Ensure cross-functional teams are properly prepared for internal meetings, communications to management, and engagement with external partners
• Partner with the Director of PMO to ensure portfolio and cross-program considerations alignment

Program Planning & Execution

• Develop and maintain the integrated program plan, timeline, and budget across all functional areas (Research, Nonclinical, Clinical, Regulatory, CMC,Medical, Patient Advocacy, Commercial) for the assigned program
• Track deliverables resulting from Core Team meetings, ensuring timelines are met and objectives are achieved
• Identify program risks and dependencies early, and develop and track mitigation plans in partnership with functional leads, with particular attention to the specialized considerations of AAV gene therapy programs (e.g., viral vector supply timelines, long-term follow-up requirements, specialized dosing or delivery infrastructure for CNS administration)
• Assist functional leads with implementing risk management strategies, proactively identifying and mitigating program risks and challenges
• Support scenario planning and contingency planning for key program decision points (e.g., go/no-go milestones, regulatory interactions, data readouts)
• Contribute to the development and refinement of program management processes, templates, and best practices across the organization

Cross-Functional Coordination

• Serve as the primary point of integration across functional areas for the program, ensuring consistent communication of program status, risks, and decisions
• Partner with functional leads to coordinate cross-functional projects related to CMC, Regulatory, Clinical, Medical, Patient Advocacy, and Nonclinical, providing support and guidance to achieve project goals
• Facilitate internal communication to identify risks and mitigations, escalating unresolved issues to the Director PM as needed

Budget & Resource Management

• Partner with Finance and functional leads on budget forecasting
• Support resource planning and capacity analysis across functions to ensure the program is appropriately staffed

Communication & Reporting

• Monitor and report program progress, providing regular updates to cross-functional teams, the PM Director , and other stakeholders, highlighting key achievements, challenges, and mitigation plans
• Utilize formal communication protocols and tools, including dashboards, reports, and weekly/monthly updates, to support company and operational goals
• Support maintenance of program documentation in alignment with internal quality and compliance standards

Ad Hoc Projects

• Demonstrate flexibility and adaptability to contribute to ad hoc functional projects across various departments
• Collaborate with team members to address challenges and find innovative solutions for ad hoc projects, as needed
• Support Quarterly Business Review (QBR) and Board of Directors (BoD) meetings as needed
• Perform other duties as assigned