Senior Vice President, Program Leadership

kailera

Waltham, Massachusetts · Waltham · United States

Posted Jun 24, 2026

Full-time
Remote
Program Management

Job description

At Kailera, we are bold, authentic and committed to our mission of developing therapies that give people the power to transform their lives and elevate their overall health. Rooted in an entrepreneurial spirit and a team-oriented culture, we are working together to advance Kailera’s mission to advance novel therapies for obesity and related conditions.

We are passionate about creating an inclusive workplace that promotes collaboration, integrity, and excellence. As we expand, we seek the most talented individuals with diverse backgrounds, cultures, perspectives, and experiences to join our team.

What You’ll Do:

The Senior Vice President, Program Leadership serves as the senior-most executive accountable for driving biopharmaceutical programs from late-stage development through regulatory approval and launch readiness. This is a highly visible role with significant interaction with the executive team, requiring a leader with exceptional confidence, influence, and conviction who can operate effectively within a fast-moving organization of strong voices. The Senior Vice President will build and implement robust systems and structure for decision-making and planning, ensure the right people contribute to critical decisions at the right time, and elevate the program leadership and program management function to prepare for NDA submission and commercial.

Required location: Waltham, MA (hub-based, onsite 3-4 days per week)

Responsibilities:

Own end-to-end program leadership for late-stage assets from Phase 3 through regulatory approval and launch readiness
Drive integrated program strategy, cross-functional alignment, and milestone execution across development, regulatory, CMC, and commercial readiness
Ensure the right contributors are at the table for the right decisions — functioning as the connective tissue across all functions
Maintain a clear-eyed view of risk, timelines, and dependencies; proactively surface issues and drive resolution
Lead development strategy for programs in Phase 3, with a deep understanding of clinical, regulatory, and CMC interdependencies
Partner with R&D and Regulatory to shape late-stage plans, trial design, indication strategy, and submission timelines
Bring strong development instincts and the ability to anticipate challenges before they become crises
Focus is on development strategy, not portfolio optimization — depth over breadth
Ensure commercial, medical, and market access functions are fully prepared for launch at the point of approval
Coordinate launch readiness milestones as an integrated component of the program plan — not as a separate post-approval workstream
Note: Post-launch lifecycle management is outside the scope of this role
Build and implement strong decision-making and planning processes with multi-year implications
Establish program governance frameworks, review cadences, and accountability structures
Drive clarity and discipline in how programs are run, not just what decisions are made
Serve as a strong, confident voice in a room full of high-performing executives with strong opinions — influence without authority is essential
Operate as both a strategic leader and a hands-on doer; roll up sleeves when the situation demands it
Represent the program leadership function at the executive committee and in board-level discussions
Ensure all program activities comply with applicable laws, regulations, and company policies
Champion transparent, data-driven decision-making and ethical business practices
Maintain robust risk management oversight across the program portfolio

Required Qualifications:

15+ years of progressive experience in biotech or pharma, with a strong focus on drug development
Demonstrated track record of driving programs from Phase 3 through regulatory approval — ideally multiple times across both pharma and biotech settings
Experience building and structuring program governance, decision-making frameworks, and planning processes — not just executing within existing systems
Proven success in launch readiness as an integrated part of late-stage development
Experience leading and elevating cross-functional program teams
Track record of success in general medicine therapeutic areas (cardiovascular, diabetes, endocrinology, metabolic disease, or similar); oncology-only backgrounds are less preferred
Experience spanning both pharma and biotech environments, including time at larger organizations and lean, high-growth biotechs
History of moving from large pharma into a biotech leadership role, bringing process rigor while adapting to speed and ambiguity
Exposure to highly visible, executive-facing program leadership roles
Open to relocation; role requires 3–4 days per week in office if located in Massachusetts. One week per month in the office if remote.
Local candidates will be given equal consideration when qualifications are comparable

Education:

Advanced degree (MD, PhD, PharmD, MBA, or equivalent); combination preferred

Salary Range

$394,500—$423,100 USD

For Full Time Roles: This range represents the company’s good-faith estimate of the salary at the time of posting. Actual pay may vary based on experience, skills, qualifications, location, and internal equity. We also offer comprehensive health coverage, flexible time off, paid holidays, and a year-end shutdown. Enjoy a monthly wellness stipend, generous 401(k) match, tuition reimbursement, commuter benefits, disability and life insurance, plus annual bonus opportunities and equity grants—because your well-being and future matter to us.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY INFORMATION:

Kailera Therapeutics, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer that does not discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived race (including traits historically associated with race, such as hair texture and protective hairstyles), color, creed, religion (including religious dress and grooming practices), national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age (40 and over), sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, pregnancy-related conditions, and lactation), gender identity or expression (including transgender status), sexual orientation, marital status, military service and veteran status, physical or mental disability, genetic information, reproductive health decisions, domestic victim status, political affiliation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws and ordinances.

E-Verify:

Kailera Therapeutics, Inc. uses E-Verify to confirm the identity and employment eligibility of all new hires.

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