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United States
Remote only
This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for an Associate Director, Launch Excellence based in the United States.
This remote leadership opportunity will play a key role in strengthening global product launch planning and execution within the biotechnology and pharmaceutical sector. The Associate Director will lead assigned product launches while helping build and continuously improve a scalable launch excellence framework across the organization. Working across global and regional teams, the role will bring structure, visibility, and accountability to complex commercialization initiatives. From early launch planning through post-launch evaluation, the position will coordinate cross-functional activities, manage critical milestones, and support timely decision-making. It will also help establish consistent governance, readiness assessments, reporting tools, and best practices across the product portfolio. This is an opportunity for an experienced commercial project leader to combine hands-on launch delivery with strategic capability development in a fast-moving, patient-focused environment.
Lead end-to-end project management for assigned global product launches, from approximately 24 months before launch through six months after launch.
Support and facilitate Global Launch Strategy Teams, establishing clear governance structures, operating rhythms, decision-making forums, and accountability across workstreams.
Develop, maintain, and drive execution of integrated launch plans involving Commercial, Medical, Market Access, Regulatory, Supply, Legal, Finance, Development, and regional stakeholders.
Monitor launch milestones, critical paths, deliverables, dependencies, risks, and issues, developing mitigation plans and escalating challenges when necessary.
Create and maintain launch-readiness assessments, dashboards, timelines, and executive-level reports that provide clear visibility into launch progress and overall readiness.
Partner with Launch Excellence leadership to design and implement a global launch management framework, including lifecycle standards, readiness criteria, governance models, templates, tools, and operating processes.
Lead designated launch excellence workstreams and capability-building initiatives, from initial problem definition through implementation, adoption, and continuous improvement.
Support standardized launch-readiness processes, milestone frameworks, dashboards, and reporting practices to improve consistency across priority launches.
Coordinate portfolio-level launch status, risks, dependencies, readiness indicators, and key decisions with Launch Excellence and Commercial Project Management leaders.
Prepare and facilitate launch-readiness reviews, governance meetings, and working sessions, documenting decisions, actions, risks, and follow-up activities.
Collaborate with cross-functional and regional teams to embed launch management standards into everyday planning and execution.
Partner with enterprise Project Managers to apply launch tools, readiness assessments, and best practices across product assets.
Identify recurring process gaps, operational friction, and launch risks, recommending practical improvements with relevant stakeholders.
Capture post-launch insights and lessons learned, translating them into improvements to launch methodologies, tools, and training materials.
Contribute to onboarding, training, and change-management initiatives that strengthen launch-management capabilities across global and regional teams.
Develop clear, executive-ready communications highlighting portfolio status, emerging risks, readiness trends, and recommendations.
Requirements:
Bachelor's degree and at least 8 years of relevant professional experience in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, or a related industry.
Demonstrated experience leading complex cross-functional commercialization, launch-readiness, operational excellence, or other business-critical initiatives.
Experience managing or supporting product launch planning, readiness, and execution within a global pharmaceutical or biotechnology organization.
Strong project and program management capabilities, including integrated planning, milestone and dependency management, risk and issue resolution, governance, and executive communication.
Ability to develop practical processes, tools, and reporting systems that help teams plan, monitor, and execute initiatives consistently.
Experience working across global and regional operating models and coordinating geographically dispersed stakeholders.
Proven ability to influence without formal authority and build alignment across diverse teams and senior stakeholders.
Strong analytical and communication skills, with the ability to translate complex information into clear updates, recommendations, and actionable plans.
Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, evolving environment with a proactive, collaborative, and solutions-oriented approach.
Excellent facilitation, interpersonal, organizational, and attention-to-detail skills.
Preferred qualifications:
Advanced degree such as an MBA, MS, PhD, or equivalent.
Experience in oncology or specialty pharmaceutical commercialization.
Background in developing launch excellence, commercial operations, or project management capabilities.
Experience supporting product launches across multiple markets, regions, or indications.
Formal project management training or certification, such as PMP.
Benefits:
Competitive base salary ranging from $177,000 to $221,000 USD, with adjustments based on the candidate's work location and local market.
Competitive cash compensation.
Robust equity awards.
Comprehensive employee benefits.
Learning and development opportunities to support professional growth.
Remote work opportunity within the United States.