Xaira Therapeutics
Associate Director, Research Project Management Biologics
Xaira Therapeutics, Brisbane, California, United States, 94005
Associate Director, Research Project Management Biologics
Brisbane, California, United States About Xaira Therapeutics Xaira is an innovative biotech startup focused on leveraging AI to transform drug discovery and development. The company is leading the development of generative AI models to design protein and antibody therapeutics, enabling the creation of medicines against historically hard-to-drug molecular targets. It is also developing foundation models for biology and disease to enable better target elucidation and patient stratification. Collectively, these technologies aim to continually enable the identification of novel therapies and to improve success in drug development. Xaira is headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle, and London. About the Role We are seeking a highly skilled and proactive Associate Director, Research Project Manager to oversee the planning and execution of biologics projects from early-stage research through IND submission. The ideal candidate will bring deep expertise in project management tools and practices, and will play a critical role in driving task-level execution, tracking progress, and ensuring alignment across cross-functional teams. This individual will be instrumental in managing and accelerating timelines, coordinating deliverables, and supporting scientific leads in moving projects forward with efficiency and precision. This position will be based in our South San Francisco, CA office five days per week. Key Responsibilities Serve as the primary project manager for biologics R&D initiatives, ensuring day-to-day execution from early discovery through IND-enabling studies. Build and actively maintain detailed and integrated program timelines, including critical path identification, milestone tracking, and scenario planning with clear milestones, dependencies, and deliverables. Partner with program leads and functional stakeholders to define and track key deliverables and progress across teams, ensuring alignment of scope, timelines and priorities.
Milestone Management & Decision Support
Collaborate with scientific teams to define key project milestones, decisional experiments and translate into actionable, resource-information timelines. Coordinate and facilitate planning and documentation of decisive experiments, and update project plans based on results and next steps. Support informed decision-making by compiling relevant data, timelines, risks, and trade-offs.
Cross-Functional Project Coordination
Facilitate cross-functional collaboration across research to ensure effective communication and documentation of decisions, alignment of priorities and timelines. Schedule and run cross-functional meetings, ensuring clear agendas, effective documentation, and follow-up on action items. Monitor interdependencies across functions and proactively identify, flag and resolve conflicts across workstreams.
Operational Support & Project Monitoring
Use expert-level proficiency in project management tools (e.g., Smartsheet, MS Project) to manage task assignments, track progress, and share updates with team members, driving efficiency and transparency across teams. Analyze and report regularly on project status, risks, and mitigation strategies to internal stakeholders and functional leaders. Identify operational challenges and recommend improvements to enhance efficiency and coordination. Work closely with functional and team leads to understand resourcing needs, identify gaps and timeline impacts. Develop scenario plans for critical path development decisions to support contingency and investment planning to address potential delays, bottlenecks, or shifts in scope. Qualifications
Advanced degree (MS, PhD, or equivalent) in life sciences or a related field strongly preferred. Minimum of 8+ years of project/program management experience in the biopharmaceutical industry, with a focus on biologics. Proven track record of managing programs from research through IND filing. Deep understanding of biologics R&D processes, including nonclinical, CMC, and regulatory components. Strong analytical, planning, and organizational skills; able to translate complex scientific ideas into clear plans. Excellent communication, time management collaboration, and stakeholder management skills. Proficiency in project management software tools and methodologies; PMP certification a plus. Please note that this position will be required to be
on-site
in the SSF/Brisbane office. Remote candidates will not be considered. Preferred Attributes
Comfortable leading projects in a fast-paced, cross-functional environment. Demonstrated ability to lead without authority and influence diverse teams. Passion for science and dedication to improving patient outcomes through innovative biologics development. Compensation We offer a competitive compensation and benefits package, seeking to provide an open, flexible, and friendly work environment to empower employees and provide them with a platform to develop their long-term careers. A Summary of Benefits is available for all applicants. We offer a competitive package that includes base salary, bonus, and equity. The base pay range for this position is expected to be $175,000 - $215,000 annually; however, the base pay offered may vary depending on the market, job-related knowledge, skills and capabilities, and experience.
Xaira Therapeutics an equal-opportunity employer. We believe that our strength is in our differences. Our goal to build a diverse and inclusive team began on day one, and it will never end.
TO ALL RECRUITMENT AGENCIES: Xaira Therapeutics does not accept agency resumes. Please do not forward resumes to our jobs alias or employees. Xaira Therapeutics is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes. Apply for this job
* indicates a required field First Name * Last Name * Preferred First Name Email * Phone * Resume/CV * Enter manually Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf Enter manually Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf Education School Select... Degree * Select... Select... LinkedIn Profile Website This role requires being based in the San Francisco Bay Area and working onsite at our SSF office five days per week. While we are not offering relocation assistance, we believe this is an exciting opportunity to be part of a vibrant team and make a meaningful impact.Can you commit to this onsite requirement? Select... Are you legally authorized to work in the country for this position without requiring employer-sponsored work authorization? * Select... If you answered 'No' to the previous question, will you require sponsorship for a work visa or other work authorization? * Select... Have you led or contributed to IND-enabling activities or an IND submission? If yes, please describe your role and the scope of your involvement: * Do you have direct experience working with biologic therapeutics (e.g., antibodies, proteins, or other large molecules)? If yes, please briefly describe your role and the types of biologics youve worked with: * "Have you used project management tools? If yes, which ones and how have you used them? * Voluntary Self-Identification
For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey.Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiringprocess or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in aconfidential file. As set forth in Xaira Therapeuticss Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law. If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection.As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measurethe effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categoriesis as follows: A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability. A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service. An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense. An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985. Select... Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability
Form CC-305 Page 1 of 1 OMB Control Number 1250-0005 Expires 04/30/2026 Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability
Form CC-305 Page 1 of 1 OMB Control Number 1250-0005 Expires 04/30/2026 Why are you being asked to complete this form?
We are a federal contractor or subcontractor. The law requires us to provide equal employment opportunity to qualified people with disabilities. We have a goal of having at least 7% of our workers as people with disabilities. The law says we must measure our progress towards this goal. To do this, we must ask applicants and employees if they have a disability or have ever had one. People can become disabled, so we need to ask this question at least every five years. Completing this form is voluntary, and we hope that you will choose to do so. Your answer is confidential. No one who makes hiring decisions will see it. Your decision to complete the form and your answer will not harm you in any way. If you want to learn more about the law or this form, visit the U.S. Department of Labors Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) website at www.dol.gov/ofccp . How do you know if you have a disability?
A disability is a condition that substantially limits one or more of your major life activities. If you have or have ever had such a condition, you are a person with a disability.
Disabilities include, but are not limited to: Alcohol or other substance use disorder (not currently using drugs illegally) Autoimmune disorder, for example, lupus, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDS Blind or low vision Cancer (past or present) Cardiovascular or heart disease Celiac disease Cerebral palsy Deaf or serious difficulty hearing Diabetes Disfigurement, for example, disfigurement caused by burns, wounds, accidents, or congenital disorders Epilepsy or other seizure disorder Gastrointestinal disorders, for example, Crohn's Disease, irritable bowel syndrome Intellectual or developmental disability Mental health conditions, for example, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD Missing limbs or partially missing limbs Mobility impairment, benefiting from the use of a wheelchair, scooter, walker, leg brace(s) and/or other supports Nervous system condition, for example, migraine headaches, Parkinsons disease, multiple sclerosis (MS) Neurodivergence, for example, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, dyspraxia, other learning disabilities Partial or complete paralysis (any cause) Pulmonary or respiratory conditions, for example, tuberculosis, asthma, emphysema Short stature (dwarfism) Traumatic brain injury Disability Status Select...
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Brisbane, California, United States About Xaira Therapeutics Xaira is an innovative biotech startup focused on leveraging AI to transform drug discovery and development. The company is leading the development of generative AI models to design protein and antibody therapeutics, enabling the creation of medicines against historically hard-to-drug molecular targets. It is also developing foundation models for biology and disease to enable better target elucidation and patient stratification. Collectively, these technologies aim to continually enable the identification of novel therapies and to improve success in drug development. Xaira is headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle, and London. About the Role We are seeking a highly skilled and proactive Associate Director, Research Project Manager to oversee the planning and execution of biologics projects from early-stage research through IND submission. The ideal candidate will bring deep expertise in project management tools and practices, and will play a critical role in driving task-level execution, tracking progress, and ensuring alignment across cross-functional teams. This individual will be instrumental in managing and accelerating timelines, coordinating deliverables, and supporting scientific leads in moving projects forward with efficiency and precision. This position will be based in our South San Francisco, CA office five days per week. Key Responsibilities Serve as the primary project manager for biologics R&D initiatives, ensuring day-to-day execution from early discovery through IND-enabling studies. Build and actively maintain detailed and integrated program timelines, including critical path identification, milestone tracking, and scenario planning with clear milestones, dependencies, and deliverables. Partner with program leads and functional stakeholders to define and track key deliverables and progress across teams, ensuring alignment of scope, timelines and priorities.
Milestone Management & Decision Support
Collaborate with scientific teams to define key project milestones, decisional experiments and translate into actionable, resource-information timelines. Coordinate and facilitate planning and documentation of decisive experiments, and update project plans based on results and next steps. Support informed decision-making by compiling relevant data, timelines, risks, and trade-offs.
Cross-Functional Project Coordination
Facilitate cross-functional collaboration across research to ensure effective communication and documentation of decisions, alignment of priorities and timelines. Schedule and run cross-functional meetings, ensuring clear agendas, effective documentation, and follow-up on action items. Monitor interdependencies across functions and proactively identify, flag and resolve conflicts across workstreams.
Operational Support & Project Monitoring
Use expert-level proficiency in project management tools (e.g., Smartsheet, MS Project) to manage task assignments, track progress, and share updates with team members, driving efficiency and transparency across teams. Analyze and report regularly on project status, risks, and mitigation strategies to internal stakeholders and functional leaders. Identify operational challenges and recommend improvements to enhance efficiency and coordination. Work closely with functional and team leads to understand resourcing needs, identify gaps and timeline impacts. Develop scenario plans for critical path development decisions to support contingency and investment planning to address potential delays, bottlenecks, or shifts in scope. Qualifications
Advanced degree (MS, PhD, or equivalent) in life sciences or a related field strongly preferred. Minimum of 8+ years of project/program management experience in the biopharmaceutical industry, with a focus on biologics. Proven track record of managing programs from research through IND filing. Deep understanding of biologics R&D processes, including nonclinical, CMC, and regulatory components. Strong analytical, planning, and organizational skills; able to translate complex scientific ideas into clear plans. Excellent communication, time management collaboration, and stakeholder management skills. Proficiency in project management software tools and methodologies; PMP certification a plus. Please note that this position will be required to be
on-site
in the SSF/Brisbane office. Remote candidates will not be considered. Preferred Attributes
Comfortable leading projects in a fast-paced, cross-functional environment. Demonstrated ability to lead without authority and influence diverse teams. Passion for science and dedication to improving patient outcomes through innovative biologics development. Compensation We offer a competitive compensation and benefits package, seeking to provide an open, flexible, and friendly work environment to empower employees and provide them with a platform to develop their long-term careers. A Summary of Benefits is available for all applicants. We offer a competitive package that includes base salary, bonus, and equity. The base pay range for this position is expected to be $175,000 - $215,000 annually; however, the base pay offered may vary depending on the market, job-related knowledge, skills and capabilities, and experience.
Xaira Therapeutics an equal-opportunity employer. We believe that our strength is in our differences. Our goal to build a diverse and inclusive team began on day one, and it will never end.
TO ALL RECRUITMENT AGENCIES: Xaira Therapeutics does not accept agency resumes. Please do not forward resumes to our jobs alias or employees. Xaira Therapeutics is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes. Apply for this job
* indicates a required field First Name * Last Name * Preferred First Name Email * Phone * Resume/CV * Enter manually Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf Enter manually Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf Education School Select... Degree * Select... Select... LinkedIn Profile Website This role requires being based in the San Francisco Bay Area and working onsite at our SSF office five days per week. While we are not offering relocation assistance, we believe this is an exciting opportunity to be part of a vibrant team and make a meaningful impact.Can you commit to this onsite requirement? Select... Are you legally authorized to work in the country for this position without requiring employer-sponsored work authorization? * Select... If you answered 'No' to the previous question, will you require sponsorship for a work visa or other work authorization? * Select... Have you led or contributed to IND-enabling activities or an IND submission? If yes, please describe your role and the scope of your involvement: * Do you have direct experience working with biologic therapeutics (e.g., antibodies, proteins, or other large molecules)? If yes, please briefly describe your role and the types of biologics youve worked with: * "Have you used project management tools? If yes, which ones and how have you used them? * Voluntary Self-Identification
For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey.Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiringprocess or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in aconfidential file. As set forth in Xaira Therapeuticss Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law. If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection.As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measurethe effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categoriesis as follows: A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability. A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service. An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense. An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985. Select... Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability
Form CC-305 Page 1 of 1 OMB Control Number 1250-0005 Expires 04/30/2026 Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability
Form CC-305 Page 1 of 1 OMB Control Number 1250-0005 Expires 04/30/2026 Why are you being asked to complete this form?
We are a federal contractor or subcontractor. The law requires us to provide equal employment opportunity to qualified people with disabilities. We have a goal of having at least 7% of our workers as people with disabilities. The law says we must measure our progress towards this goal. To do this, we must ask applicants and employees if they have a disability or have ever had one. People can become disabled, so we need to ask this question at least every five years. Completing this form is voluntary, and we hope that you will choose to do so. Your answer is confidential. No one who makes hiring decisions will see it. Your decision to complete the form and your answer will not harm you in any way. If you want to learn more about the law or this form, visit the U.S. Department of Labors Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) website at www.dol.gov/ofccp . How do you know if you have a disability?
A disability is a condition that substantially limits one or more of your major life activities. If you have or have ever had such a condition, you are a person with a disability.
Disabilities include, but are not limited to: Alcohol or other substance use disorder (not currently using drugs illegally) Autoimmune disorder, for example, lupus, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDS Blind or low vision Cancer (past or present) Cardiovascular or heart disease Celiac disease Cerebral palsy Deaf or serious difficulty hearing Diabetes Disfigurement, for example, disfigurement caused by burns, wounds, accidents, or congenital disorders Epilepsy or other seizure disorder Gastrointestinal disorders, for example, Crohn's Disease, irritable bowel syndrome Intellectual or developmental disability Mental health conditions, for example, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD Missing limbs or partially missing limbs Mobility impairment, benefiting from the use of a wheelchair, scooter, walker, leg brace(s) and/or other supports Nervous system condition, for example, migraine headaches, Parkinsons disease, multiple sclerosis (MS) Neurodivergence, for example, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, dyspraxia, other learning disabilities Partial or complete paralysis (any cause) Pulmonary or respiratory conditions, for example, tuberculosis, asthma, emphysema Short stature (dwarfism) Traumatic brain injury Disability Status Select...
PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENT: According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. This survey should take about 5 minutes to complete. #J-18808-Ljbffr