Application Guide

How to Apply for Director, Pre-Clinical and Clinical Program Management

at Flagship Pioneering

🏢 About Flagship Pioneering

Flagship Pioneering is a unique venture creation firm that conceives, creates, resources, and grows first-in-category life sciences companies. Unlike traditional biotech companies, Flagship operates through its 'Pioneering' model, where it invents and launches multiple ventures simultaneously, giving employees exposure to cutting-edge science across diverse therapeutic areas. Working here means being at the forefront of biotech innovation within a dynamic, multi-company ecosystem.

About This Role

As Director of Pre-Clinical and Clinical Program Management, you'll be the operational engine driving drug development programs from discovery through clinical stages across Flagship's portfolio companies. This role is impactful because you'll ensure seamless execution of complex, cross-company programs, directly accelerating the translation of pioneering science into viable therapeutics. You'll manage critical paths, budgets, and risks while fostering collaboration between different venture teams.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day involves reviewing program timelines and risks across multiple portfolio companies, facilitating cross-functional team meetings to align on development milestones, analyzing throughput metrics to identify bottlenecks, and developing mitigation strategies for critical path items. You'll spend significant time communicating with different venture teams to ensure integrated planning while preparing portfolio-level progress reports for leadership.

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Interview Prep

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🎯 Who Flagship Pioneering Is Looking For

  • Has 3+ years in biopharma with specific experience managing small molecule programs through both preclinical and clinical development stages
  • Possesses hands-on experience developing integrated program plans and risk mitigation strategies for drug development timelines
  • Demonstrates ability to navigate cross-functional relationships across multiple organizations or complex matrix structures
  • Understands the complete drug development process from target identification through clinical proof-of-concept

📝 Tips for Applying to Flagship Pioneering

1

Highlight specific experience managing small molecule programs through both preclinical AND clinical stages - don't just mention one phase

2

Quantify your impact on program timelines, budget management, or risk mitigation in previous roles with concrete metrics

3

Demonstrate understanding of Flagship's unique multi-company model by showing experience with cross-organizational collaboration

4

Emphasize any experience with portfolio-level reporting and metrics, not just single-program management

5

If you have PMP certification or advanced degree, position it as enabling your ability to manage complex, multi-venture programs

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your experience specifically with small molecule drug development across both preclinical and clinical phases', 'Examples of successfully managing cross-functional or cross-company relationships to execute integrated plans', "How you've developed and implemented risk mitigation strategies that kept programs on track", "Why Flagship's venture creation model appeals to you and how your skills align with multi-company program management"]

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Flagship's current portfolio companies and their therapeutic focuses to understand the scope of programs you might manage
  • → The 'Pioneering' model and how it differs from traditional biotech or venture capital firms
  • → Recent news about Flagship's ventures moving through clinical development stages
  • → Flagship's leadership team and their backgrounds in biotech entrepreneurship

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Walk through your experience managing a small molecule program from preclinical through clinical stages - specific challenges and solutions
2 How would you approach developing integrated program plans across multiple Flagship portfolio companies with different priorities?
3 Describe a time you identified a major program risk and implemented an effective mitigation strategy
4 How do you balance portfolio-level reporting with detailed program management in a multi-venture environment?
5 What metrics would you track to monitor program progression and how would you communicate them to different stakeholders?
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Only highlighting experience with large molecules or biologics when the role specifically requires small molecule expertise
  • Presenting yourself as purely a project manager rather than someone who understands the science behind drug development
  • Failing to demonstrate experience with the full drug development continuum from preclinical through clinical stages
  • Not showing awareness of Flagship's unique multi-company operating model in your application materials

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to Flagship Pioneering!

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