Intuitive Surgical, Inc

Sr. Program Manager

Intuitive Surgical, Inc$130K — $160K *
Pharmaceuticals & Biotech
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Advanced degree in life sciences or related field (PhD, PharmD, MS preferred).
  • Minimum of 8 years in the pharmaceutical/biotech industry, with at least 5 years in program management.
  • Track record managing small molecule development programs to NDA Submission.
  • Experience in CMC, regulatory submissions, clinical operations, and non-clinical activities.
  • Strong understanding of the drug development lifecycle from discovery to commercialization.
  • Familiarity with global regulatory requirements and compliance standards.
  • Advanced program management skills in budgeting and risk management.

Responsibilities

  • Lead cross-functional teams through all phases of small molecule drug development.
  • Drive the complete program lifecycle from initiation to closure, ensuring alignment and clarity.
  • Oversee CMC timelines and deliverables for materials across multiple suppliers.
  • Coordinate nonclinical activities for timely regulatory submissions.
  • Partner with Regulatory Affairs to strategize towards NDA completion.
  • Maintain integrated project plans for scope, resources, and risk management.
  • Provide updates and presentations to executive leadership and stakeholders.

Benefits

  • Market-competitive compensation packages including base pay, incentives, and equity.
  • Opportunity to work on impactful small molecule therapeutics.
  • Engagement with diverse teams in various areas of drug development.
  • Exposure to executive leadership and governance committees.
  • Dynamic and fast-paced work environment with opportunities for growth.
Full Job Description
Job Description

Primary Function of Position

We are seeking an experienced Senior Program Manager to oversee and drive cross-functional development programs for small molecule therapeutics. This role will provide leadership and coordination across CMC, non-clinical, clinical, and regulatory functions, ensuring that programs are executed on time, within budget, and in compliance with global regulatory standards.

The Senior Program Manager will serve as the primary point of accountability for assigned programs, leading integrated teams, and reporting progress and risks to executive leadership. The ideal candidate brings broad drug development expertise, strong organizational skills, and the ability to influence and motivate diverse stakeholders to achieve program goals.

Roles and Responsibilities
  • Lead cross-functional teams through all stages of small molecule drug development, from preclinical through late-stage clinical studies
  • Drive end-to-end program lifecycle - initiation to closure - ensuring stakeholder alignment and objective clarity
  • Oversee CMC timelines and deliverable completion for activities that include process development, manufacturing, analytical methods, formulation, stability, and clinical supply readiness across multiple suppliers to ensure that materials are delivered on time and within budget
  • Coordinate with Nonclinical activities such as toxicology, PK/PD, safety pharmacology, and ADME studies to enable on time regulatory submissions
  • Partner with Regulatory Affairs to develop and implement regulatory strategy toward NDA completion and submission
  • Develop and maintain integrated project plans covering scope, timelines, budgets, resources, and risk management strategies
  • Track progress against milestones, anticipate issues, and implement corrective actions when necessary
  • Provide clear, concise updates and presentations to executive leadership, governance committees, and external stakeholders
  • Identify and mitigate program risks across technical, regulatory, operational, and financial dimensions.


Qualifications

Basic Qualifications
  • Advanced degree in life sciences, pharmaceutical sciences, or related field (PhD, PharmD, MS, or equivalent strongly preferred).
  • Minimum of 8 years of experience in the pharmaceutical/biotech industry, with at least 5 years in program management.
  • Proven track record managing small molecule development programs through IND-enabling studies and clinical phases to NDA Submission.
  • Experience with CMC, regulatory submissions, clinical operations, and non-clinical activities.
  • Strong understanding of the drug development lifecycle, from discovery through commercialization.
  • Familiarity with global regulatory requirements (FDA, EMA, ICH guidelines) and compliance standards (GxP).
  • Advanced program management skills with experience in budgeting, forecasting, and scenario planning.
  • Ability to communicate complex issues clearly to both technical teams and executive leadership.
  • Strategic thinker with excellent problem-solving, organizational, and risk management capabilities.
  • Strong interpersonal skills with a demonstrated ability to influence without authority to deliver broad impact
  • Experience working with senior leadership and presenting to executive stakeholders
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills; able to synthesize complex topics into clear, actionable plans
  • Highly motivated, detail-oriented, and adaptable in fast-paced, dynamic environments

Preferred Qualifications
  • Prior experience in biopharmaceutical launch
  • Project Management Professional (PMP) certification is preferred.
  • Knowledge of Design Controls under US and International Regulations preferred.
  • Proven ability to think strategically, plan and align product development with business goals and market needs.
  • Naturally accountable, a self-starter, self-motivated, self-directed, self-sustaining.
  • Outstanding communication and presentation skills, written and verbal, to all levels of an organization.


Additional Information

Due to the nature of our business and the role, please note that Intuitive and/or your customer(s) may require that you show current proof of vaccination against certain diseases including COVID-19. Details can vary by role.

This position may be filled at a different job level than listed here depending on
business need and/or on the selected candidate's experience, knowledge and skills.
Compensation will be based primarily on the job level at which the role is filled and the
candidate's qualifications, consistent with applicable law.

We provide market-competitive compensation packages, inclusive of base pay, incentives, benefits, and equity. It would not be typical for someone to be hired at the top end of range for the role, as actual pay will be determined based on several factors, including experience, skills, and qualifications. The target compensation ranges are listed.

About Intuitive Surgical, Inc

Intuitive Surgical, Inc. is an American corporation that develops, manufactures, and markets robotic products designed to improve clinical outcomes of patients through minimally invasive surgery, most notably with the da Vinci Surgical System. The company is part of the NASDAQ-100 and S&P 500. Intuitive Surgical has installed more than 5,000 surgical systems worldwide, and has more than 4,000 employees.
Learn more about Intuitive Surgical, Inc
Size
9,793 employees
Market Cap
$93.6 billion
Industry
Net Income
$1 billion
Founded
1999
5 Year Trend
+16.1%
Revenue
$4.3 billion
NASDAQ

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