Director/Senior Director, Program Management, Cell Therapy
Astellas

Director /Senior Director, Program Management, Cell Therapy

Do you want to be part of an inclusive team that works to develop innovative therapies for patients? Every day, we are driven to develop and deliver innovative and effective new medicines to patients and physicians. If you want to be part of this exciting work, you belong at Astellas!

Astellas Pharma Inc. is a pharmaceutical company conducting business in more than 70 countries around the world. We are committed to turning innovative science into medical solutions that bring value and hope to patients and their families. Keeping our focus on addressing unmet medical needs and conducting our business with ethics and integrity enables us to improve the health of people throughout the world. For more information on Astellas, please visit our website at www.astellas.com.

Universal Cells, an affiliate of Astellas located in Seattle, WA, is focused on the development and commercialization of stem cell and regenerative medicine therapies. We conduct clinical-grade gene editing of stem cells to produce cells that avoid rejection and can be used in allogeneic cell therapy treatments to treat all patients that need them.

OUR GOAL - ONE CELL FOR EVERYONE

NO IMMUNE SUPPRESSION. NO DONOR MATCHING. NO REJECTION.

We are a dynamic team of research and scientific professionals who are passionate about turning science and innovation into medical solutions. Through our diversity, scientific knowledge, professional rigor and focus on innovation, we are merging our technology with the Astellas drug development expertise to unlock cures to many therapies. Join our team of committed, enthusiastic professionals devoted to making the most effective, life-saving cell therapy products in the world.

Universal Cells (UCI) is announcing a Director /Senior Director, Program Management, Cell Therapy opportunity at their facility in Seattle, WA.

Purpose:

The Director/Sr. Director of Program Management, Cell Therapy, is a critical position responsible for overseeing key research programs and multiple research projects encompassing Astellas Primary Focus Areas, as well as collaborations with external partners. This position plays a key role in strategy development, planning, and implementation plans for research and manufacturing that may be in various phase from early development stages, Candidate Nomination (CN), through global approval across one or more indications. This position works closely with Senior Leaders and Project Leads across Astellas to advance Astellas Cell Therapies to clinical Proof of Concept/Platform by providing both scientific and technical expertise to Global Project Teams, Primary Focus Areas, and cross-divisional development programs.

Essential Job Responsibilities:

• Develops research strategy and execution plans with Senior Leaders and supports cell therapy product development activities across affiliates and the greater Astellas. Participates in pertinent Primary Focus area activities related to cell therapy. Provides leadership from Candidate Nomination (CN) to New Drug Applications and Marketing Authorization Applications (NDA/MAA) for assigned projects in accordance with the Astellas primary focus area strategy, established timelines/milestones and in accordance with all applicable regulatory standards.
• Provides program management of preclinical development for Universal Donor Cell (UDC)-based product candidates. Facilitates meaningful interpretation and assessment of non-clinical data for decision-making.
• Ensures alignment of corporate, sponsored, and affiliate activities to accelerate product development and seek the best way by promoting collaborations and solving internal conflicts if needed.
• Provides guidance on engineered cell therapy product development. Authors and reviews Due Diligence evaluations of potential business interests.
• Liaison for project planning and transfer of technology, materials, and data with affiliates, sponsored programs, and partners. Engages with Xyphos Cancer Cell Therapy, Center of Excellence and oversees program alignment with Universal Cells, UDC MCB and manufacturing with Astellas Institute for Regenerative Medicine (AIRM), and UDC-dependent AIRM products. Supports some Business Development Alliance Management activities and Universal Cells Project Management for commercial and research collaborations, respectively. Provides inputs in research budgets and resource allocation.
• Drives program management excellence and eliminates program inefficiencies, bottlenecks and roadblocks to achieve Astellas Corporate Strategic Plan (CSP).
• Identify appropriate stage gates needing decision from senior leaders, facilitates discussions and drives decision making to achieve program goals.
• Drives timely communication and messaging to key stakeholders, senior leaders, Astellas Program Leads, program/project managers.
• Fosters strong relationships and demonstrates effective and impactful communications to increase awareness, knowledge and develop understanding of programs with Program Leads, program/project managers and key stakeholders across Astellas.
• Maintains awareness of Universal Cells research activities to best support programs, authors corporate reports, and provides counsel.

Quantitative Dimensions:

• This position interacts with all levels of management on a routine basis and influences policy and strategy both internally and externally. Works on complex and diverse problems giving guidance and suggestions.

Organizational Context:

• This position is highly strategic and requires high levels of collaboration for success and will require consistent interface with colleagues, affiliates, sponsored programs, and partners
• This position will report to the President, Universal Cells.