R&D Project Lead

Who we are

At Ferrer we are a group of people who believe in the power of purpose. And our purpose is to make a positive impact in society and bring about change in an unjust world. We are the 24/7 activists fighting for a sustainable planet, equal opportunities for all and a healthy workplace. We reject greenwashing and empty promises - we are about action. That is why in 2022 we became a B Corp company.

In order to fulfil our purpose, we offer transformative therapeutic solutions, with an increasing focus on pulmonary vascular and interstitial lung diseases and neurological disorders. Founded in Barcelona in 1959, our products are present in more than a hundred countries, and we have a team of over 1,800 people. Professionals that we empower to became leaders of change and to build meaningful careers.

Your mission 

The R&D Project Lead will be the key player of R&D project management at Alexza-Ferrer. The role includes project feasibility analysis and management of pharmaceutical projects up to commercialization including launch readiness. The R&D Project Lead is responsible for the R&D project strategy and operational management of cross-functional teams by applying industry standard project management tools, processes and principles to meet timelines and deliverables. This position will interact with almost all company departments in multidisciplinary team’s matrix organization and will be fully accountable for Project Strategy and Performance. The R&D Project Lead facilitates cross-functional communication and strategic decision-making within project teams and among project sponsors. The position is based in Alexza Ferrer’s US R&D Centre (Freemont, California) with report to the Director of R&D Portfolio Management based in EU (Barcelona). Assigned projects will be mostly related with the Staccato technology developed in our R&D Centre in US.

Responsabilities

• Validation of viability and profitability of new projects proposed by the New Product Planning Committee (value proposition, competitive landscape analysis, technical viability, development plan, costs and target market)
• Develop Target Product Profile, Business Case, R&D Project Plan and Costs
• Leading the strategic, scientific and operational planning and decision-making processes of assigned R&D Project.
• The R&D Project Lead will provide content expertise to the strategy, competitiveness, timing, costs, and resources required for development project and be able to successfully deliver their project(s) milestones and goals. As the strategic partner and operational lead for development, the R&D Project Lead works to ensure that cross-functional teams operate effectively, fostering positive team dynamics and championing Ferrer’s operating model.
• Responsible for driving the development of an integrated project timeline that represents the appropriate level of detail and task interdependencies. The integrated project plan outlines the project scope, deliverables, and timing for the project and may include various scenarios. Ensures timeline is aligned with the overall project plan and corporate objectives.
• Work closely with the project sponsors and cross-functional team members to clarify  task ownership, and manage the coordination of activities, determining critical path activities, proactively tracking the project plan, monitoring variances, and alerting the teams and sponsors when there are potential deviations from the plan that will likely impact corporate goals and project milestones. Drives timely and successful resolution of open issues and decisions.
• Works with team members to identify resource constraints, project risks, and conflicts that could impact the project schedule and work with team members and management to develop appropriate solutions. Providing strategic guidance to ‘pressure-test’ program team’s assumptions, drive scenario planning / trade off analysis, and cross-functional planning into the overall integrated project plan.
• Keep realistic baselines (scope, time & cost)
• Coordinate assigned resources
• Pro-actively monitor project performance and gather Project Performance Data
• Synthesize and track information from the teams for inclusion in monthly status reports and in preparation for periodic projects reviews and decision point meetings.
• Ensure team meetings are efficient and meaningful by preparing agendas, facilitating discussions, and publishing minutes and action item logs.
• Exercise independent judgment in developing methods, techniques, and evaluation criteria for obtaining results.
• Establish and maintain a work environment that fosters learning, respect, open communication, collaboration and teamwork.
• Generate and share project’s information and knowledge
• Manage partners, alliances and contracts related with assigned projects

Why Ferrer?

• Make a positive impact in society
• Participate in volunteering activities
• Grow in a culture of trust, responsibility, and constructive feedback
• Enjoy a flexible working model & collaborative office experience to enable innovation and teamworking
• Make a real difference to the team and to yourself
• Take advantage of opportunities for development & learning
• Discover a range of benefits to support your physical, emotional and financial wellbeing
• Customize your remuneration and benefit