Director, Program Management

Company Summary At Apriori Bio, our cutting-edge platform, Octavia™, is a fully-integrated, closed-loop engine functioning as a 'Bio-OS' for advanced biotech innovation and biodefense. This biology-enabled AI/ML platform transforms complex biological data into actionable intelligence to map viral fitness landscapes, predict immune escape trajectories, and enable the rapid, modular design of variant-resilient immunological therapies, including vaccines, antibodies, and next-generation immunogens. As the Director of Program Management at Apriori Bio, you'll be instrumental in driving our mission forward by working closely with senior leaders and engaging with both wet-lab scientists and computational experts. You will coordinate complex initiatives and oversee the preparation of key deliverables, fostering a culture of communication, accountability, and efficiency. By implementing robust project management strategies, you will lead major company initiatives across R&D, operational, and corporate objectives. Your strategic oversight will ensure R&D milestones align with broader corporate strategies, while your exceptional coordination skills will facilitate seamless communication and collaboration between senior leadership and functional teams. Position Summary We are seeking a Director of Program Management to drive coordination and execution across key initiatives spanning R&D and corporate operations. This role will ensure alignment between company goals and day-to-day project execution by managing milestones, tracking cross-functional dependencies, and enabling teams to deliver on critical priorities. The Director will work closely with senior leadership to translate strategic objectives into clear operational plans, while helping ensure the organization stays aligned, focused, and moving forward. This is a highly collaborative and hands-on role for a program leader who thrives in dynamic environments and can bring structure, clarity, and momentum to complex initiatives. Key Responsibilities Program & Project Management Lead project management for major company initiatives spanning R&D, operational, and corporate objectives Track cross-functional project timelines, deliverables, and dependencies to ensure initiatives remain on schedule; dentify risks, bottlenecks, and resource gaps, and collaborate with leadership to proactively address these issues; additionally, manage external grant responsibilities by tracking grant budgets, coordinating the preparation of technical and progress reports for grant program officers, and ensuring compliance with time tracking and other requirements Oversee people resourcing across project teams, ensuring appropriate staffing levels, workload balance, and reallocation as priorities shift Develop, implement, and maintain project management tools, dashboards, and reporting systems to improve organizational visibility and execution Strategic Alignment & Integration Align R&D milestones and program goals with broader corporate strategy by coordinating activities across scientific and operational plans Focus 80% on program management and 20% on linking programs to strategy and operations Establish scalable project management practices and processes to support organizational growth Enable teams by creating clarity around priorities, responsibilities, and timelines Leadership Support & Stakeholder Coordination Serve as a central point of coordination across leadership and functional teams, ensuring clear communication, accountability, and follow-through Support senior leaders by coordinating complex initiatives, preparing materials, and managing key deliverables Lead the coordination and preparation of grant and contract proposals, gathering input from scientific and operational stakeholders Experience & Qualifications Education Bachelor’s degree in business, engineering, life sciences, or a related field required Advanced degree (MBA, PhD, or equivalent) preferred Experience 8+ years of experience