Associate Director

About Us

Valo Health is a technology company that is integrating human-centric data and AI-powered technology to accelerate the creation of life-changing drugs for more patients faster. Valo was created with the belief that the drug discovery and development process can and should be faster and less expensive, with a much higher probability of success. We are using models early to fail less often, executing clinical trials to add valuation to the company, and generating fit-for-purpose data to feed back into Valo’s Opal Computational Platform™ as we reinvent drug discovery and development from the ground up. Disease doesn’t wait, so neither can we.

We are a multi-disciplinary team of experts in science, technology, and pharmaceuticals united in our mission to achieve better drugs for patients faster. Valo is committed to hiring diverse talent, prioritizing growth and development, fostering an inclusive environment, and creating opportunities to bring together a group of different experiences, backgrounds, and voices to work together. We achieve the widest-ranging impact when we leverage our broad backgrounds and perspectives to accelerate a new frontier in health. Valo seeks to become the catalyst for the pharmaceutical industry and drive the digital transformation of the industry. Are you ready to join us?

About the Role

The Associate Director, Portfolio & Program Management will be responsible for managing a portfolio of Logica™ AI/ML-integrated small molecule drug discovery projects for a variety of pharmaceutical industry clients.  They will work hand-in-hand with Charles River Laboratories project leadership and Logica™ capability leads to develop individual project plans and ensure operational excellence through to successful achievement of client deliverables.  Reporting into the Senior Director of Portfolio & Program Management, the ideal candidate will possess an intense focus on rapidly delivering quality results and have an ability to creatively troubleshoot around project challenges.

Logica™ (https://www.logica.ai/) is a portfolio of disease-area and target agnostic AI/ML-integrated small molecule drug discovery platform products jointly offered by Valo Health and Charles River Laboratories that aspires to transform both the drug development process and the pharmaceutical services model.  

What You’ll Do…

• Work closely with Charles River Laboratories project leadership to maximize project team efficiency and effectiveness through proactive identification and mitigation of risks, active facilitation of meetings, driving alignment through data-driven decision-making, and cultivation of a positive team environment.
• Represent Logica™ in client interactions, including presentation of project feasibility/fit assessment, project strategy, and updates on project progress.
• Collaborate with Charles River Laboratories project leadership and Logica™ capability leads (chemistry, data sciences, DEL, in vitro pharmacology, ADME) to develop individual project strategic operating plans, including budget, resourcing, timeline, and milestone details, as well as both internal and client-facing documentation and presentations.
• Coordinate, monitor, document and communicate execution of Valo Health responsibilities on Logica™ projects through utilization of project management tools and best practices.
• Communicate program status, risks, and progress to Logica™ and Valo Health management on a regular basis.
• Reinforce team operating principles to maximize alignment within the team, across functions, and across teams.
• Contribute to the strategic, scientific, and operational growth and development of the Logica™ product, Charles River Laboratories partnership, and Valo Health Portfolio & Program Management team.

What You Bring...

• 5+ years of cross-functional program leadership and/or management experience in an early small molecule drug discovery discipline, such as chemistry, biology, in vitro pharmacology, etc.; Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or equivalent proficiency a plus
• Knowledge of small molecule drug discovery strategy and operations; knowledge of AI/ML application to drug discovery and development a plus
• Experience using standard program management tools and software encompassing timeline, budget, resource, and risk management; experience in several methodologies preferred (Waterfall, Agile, etc.)
• Intense focus on rapidly delivering quality results
• Proven ability to think analytically, proactively, and creatively to identify and address project challenges, mitigate risks, and act decisively
• Strong influencing and interpersonal skills enabling effective negotiation, achievement of alignment, management of meeting and group dynamics, and an ability to balance imperatives of executive, partnership, functional, and line management with the needs of the project teams
• Excellent communication and organizational skills, as well as an ability to both prioritize and multitask
• Ph.D. in a relevant scientific discipline and 5+ years of drug discovery experience in a pharmaceutical environment or BS/MS and 10+ years; MBA a plus

More on Valo

Valo Health, Inc (“Valo”) is a technology company built to transform the drug discovery and development process using human-centric data and artificial intelligence-driven computation. As a digitally native company, Valo aims to fully integrate human-centric data across the entire drug development life cycle into a single unified architecture, thereby accelerating the discovery and development of life-changing drugs while simultaneously reducing costs, time, and failure rates. The company’s Opal Computational Platform™ is an integrated set of capabilities designed to transform data into valuable insights that may accelerate discoveries and enable Valo to advance a robust pipeline of programs across cardiovascular metabolic renal, oncology, and neurodegenerative disease. Founded by Flagship Pioneering and headquartered in Boston, MA, Valo also has offices in Lexington, MA, and New York. To learn more, visit www.valohealth.com.