Vice President, Operations - Biologics Development (Early Stage)
Hybrid - Raleigh, NC
Consulting solution, open to hours available
This is a brand new position and will be reporting directly into the President & CEO serving as a key member to the leadership team.
The position will be accountable for day-to-day operations, program execution, facilities and site-level functions run efficiently. This position will oversee all activities within the research facility, including coordination with other businesses co-located at the site, while holding accountability for site-level financial management, grant administration, legal coordination, and HR. Critically, project management will report directly to this role.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Program Management
- Oversee the program management function to ensure disciplined tracking of program timelines, milestones, and deliverables against company goals; proactively identify and mitigate risks to execution.
- Partner with R&D leadership to align operational resources with scientific priorities and ensure programs are executed on time and within budget.
- Actively participate in key project meetings, reviews, and updates to improve team decision-making and execution.
Finance & Grant Administration
- Manage site-level and functional budgets, including forecasting, reporting, and spend tracking; support cross-functional budget alignment in coordination with the CEO.
- Own end-to-end grant application and administration processes, including drafting, coordination, submission, compliance, and reporting — with particular focus on government-funded programs (e.g., BARDA).
- Manage billing, accounts receivable, grant spending, and vendor relationships at the site level.
- Provide operational and financial inputs to support fundraising and investor activities as needed.
Contracts & Legal Coordination
- Lead negotiation and execution of vendor/supplier contracts and CRO/CMO agreements; coordinate with outside counsel on partnership, BD, and government contract matters as directed by the CEO.
- Support legal affairs coordination including contract management, regulatory compliance documentation, and corporate governance activities, engaging outside counsel as appropriate.
Site Management
- Oversee research facility operations and coordinate with other businesses co-located at the site to ensure a safe, compliant, and productive work environment.
- Work with the lab manager on facilities management, receiving, and IT infrastructure.
Qualifications/Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree in business administration (MBA), life sciences, or a related field preferred. An undergraduate or graduate degree in a life science discipline (e.g., biology, chemistry, biochemistry) is a plus given the scientific nature of the company’s work.
- Minimum of 8–12 years of progressive operational leadership experience, with at least 3 years managing a defined operational function or site in the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, or life sciences sector.
- Demonstrated experience managing operational functions including finance, facilities, HR, and vendor/contract management in a research or clinical-stage company.
- Strong financial acumen with hands-on experience managing budgets, functional reporting, and spend tracking.
- Experience with grant management, government contracts, or other non-dilutive funding mechanisms (e.g., BARDA, NIH) is highly desirable.
- Experience operating in early-stage or growth-stage biotech environments, with a track record of building and leading teams in lean, fast-moving organizations
