Geared toward candidates with extensive pharmaceutical experience and a track record in oncology program management, comfortable with cross-functional leadership and global trial coordination.
Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.
Original posting from Summittherapeutics via Greenhouse
About Summit:
Summit Therapeutics Inc. is a biopharmaceutical oncology company with a mission focused on improving quality of life, increasing potential duration of life, and resolving serious unmet medical needs. At Summit, we believe in building a team of world class professionals who are passionate about this mission, and it is our people who drive this mission to reality. Summit’s core values include integrity, passion for excellence, purposeful urgency, collaboration, and our commitment to people. Our employees are truly the heart and soul of our culture, and they are invaluable in shaping our journey toward excellence.
Summit’s team is inspired to touch and help change lives through Summit’s clinical studies in the field of oncology. Summit has multiple global Phase 3 clinical studies, including:
Non-small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)
HARMONi: Phase 3 clinical study which was intended to evaluate ivonescimab combined with chemotherapy compared to placebo plus chemotherapy in patients with EGFR-mutated, locally advanced or metastatic non-squamous NSCLC who were previously treated with a 3rd generation EGFR TKI.
HARMONi-3: Phase 3 clinical study which is intended to evaluate ivonescimab combined with chemotherapy compared to pembrolizumab combined with chemotherapy in patients with first-line metastatic NSCLC.
HARMONi-7: Phase 3 clinical study which is intended to evaluate ivonescimab monotherapy compared to pembrolizumab monotherapy in patients with first-line metastatic NSCLC.
Colorectal Cancer (CRC)
HARMONi-GI3: Phase 3 clinical study intended to evaluate ivonescimab in combination with chemotherapy compared with bevacizumab plus chemotherapy.
Ivonescimab is an investigational therapy not presently approved by any regulatory authority other than China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA). Summit is headquartered in Miami, Florida, and has additional offices in California, New Jersey, the UK, and Ireland.
Overview
The Senior Director of Program Management provides strategic and operational leadership across multiple development programs and/or a portfolio of assets, driving alignment between Research, Development, Business Strategy, Manufacturing, and execution. This role has enterprise-level impact on initiating new indications, pipeline prioritization, and long-range value creation from early development through regulatory approval.
The Senior Director serves as the primary point of contact for key programs to executive leadership, ensures disciplined program governance, and strengthens the Program Management function as the organization scales. This position reports to the VP, Program Management and may have people leadership responsibility.
Role and Responsibilities
Strategic Program & Portfolio Leadership
Manage multiple programs or a therapeutic portfolio to maximize pipeline
Partner with executive leadership on program, indication, and portfolio strategy, including prioritization and sequencing
Define and oversee major milestones, decision points, objectives, and inflection points across programs
Lead scenario planning, trade-off analyses, and decision frameworks to support executive decision-making
Ensure alignment across Development, Regulatory, Manufacturing, and Corporate Strategy
Cross-Functional & Executive Leadership
Lead and integrate complex cross-functional workstreams across Research, Development, Regulatory, and Manufacturing
Facilitate effective decision-making and accountability across global teams and external partners
Present clear insights, recommendations, and program status to C-suite and senior leadership
Mentor and develop Program Management leaders and strengthen organizational capability
Program Execution & Governance
Oversee end-to-end program execution, including activation of new indications post–Go decision
Ensure consistent application of program management standards, dashboards, and governance models
Chair timely, efficient, and action-oriented team meetings to coordinate operations and communications.
Review and validate integrated program plans, timelines, and metrics for accuracy and strategic alignment
Represent Program Management on senior governance forums and key internal or external teams
Timelines & Scenario Planning
Oversee integrated, cross-program timelines aligned with enterprise goals
Partner with functional leaders on budgets and forecast planning
Lead portfolio-level scenario and contingency planning to support strategic agility
Ensure data integrity and transparency in executive reporting
Risk, Opportunity & Continuous Improvement
Identify and manage program- and portfolio-level risks and mitigation strategies
Communicate risks, opportunities, and trade-off s clearly to executive leadership
Drive continuous improvement of program management processes, tools, and operating models
Lead strategic initiatives to mature the Program Management function as the company grows
All other duties as assigned
Experience, Education and Specialized Knowledge
Bachelor’s degree and minimum 15 years of relevant project management/scientific experience within the pharmaceutical industry; OR a MS or MBA and minimal 12 years of relevant experience; OR a PhD in a scientific field or a PharmD, DVM or MD degree with 7+ years of relevant experience
12–15+ years of pharmaceutical or biotech industry experience with progressive responsibility in program or portfolio management
Extensive pharmaceutical drug development experience required;
Prior solid tumor oncology experience, including late-stage development and registrational trials, required
Demonstrated success leading complex, global, cross-functional programs and influencing senior executives
Experience managing alliances and external partners strongly preferred
Proven ability to balance strategic leadership with operational execution
Exceptional communication, facilitation, and presentation skills
Strong proficiency in program management and planning tools (e.g., MS Office, Project, Smartsheet)
Willing to travel for key meetings.
This is the pay for this position
Pay Transparency$217,000—$271,000 USD
Actual compensation packages are based on several factors that are unique to each candidate, including but not limited to skill set, depth of experience, certifications, and specific work location. This may be different in other locations due to differences in the cost of labor. The total compensation package for this position may also include bonus, stock, benefits and/or other applicable variable compensation.
Summit does not accept referrals from employment businesses and/or employment agencies in respect of the vacancies posted on this site. All employment businesses/agencies are required to contact Summit’s Talent Acquisition team at recruiting@smmttx.com to obtain prior written authorization before referring any candidates to Summit.
Summit Therapeutics Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer and takes pride in creating and maintaining diverse environment. We do not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training or promotion or any other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status.