Program Manager, Pharma

About this role

About Varda

Low Earth orbit is open for business. Varda is accelerating the development of commercial space infrastructure, from in-orbit pharmaceutical processing to reliable and economical reentry capsules. Varda’s W-Series vehicles are built, designed, and operated by Varda in-house, including the pharmaceutical processing payloads, the capsules, the C-PICA heat shields, and the satellite buses.

From life-saving pharmaceuticals to more powerful fiber optics, there is a world of products used on Earth today that can only be manufactured in space. Varda is accelerating innovation in the orbital economy by creating both the products and infrastructure needed so space can directly benefit life on Earth. Our mission is to expand the economic bounds of humankind.

Our team is uniquely suited to accomplishing this goal, with leadership and staff comprised of veterans from SpaceX, Blue Origin, major pharmaceutical companies and Silicon Valley. Varda was founded in January 2021 by Will Bruey and Delian Asparouhov with significant backing from world class investors including Khosla Ventures, Lux Capital, Founders Fund, Caffeinated Capital, General Catalyst, and Also Capital.

Varda is headquartered in El Segundo, California, where we have offices and a production facility where our vehicles, equipment, and materials are built, integrated, and tested. Varda also has offices in Washington, DC and Huntsville, AL.

Join Varda, and work to create a bustling in-space ecosystem.

About this Role

Our pharmaceutical team is looking for a highly motivated and creative Pharma Program Manager who will manage efforts in driving pharma programs to completion and report to the VP, Pharma Program Management, This is an opportunity in an exciting area of growth for Varda, the role will shape Varda’s product culture and will play a significant role in establishing the low Earth orbit economy.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with program leads to develop and track schedules and milestones, identifying critical path activities and dependencies.

• Support pharma programs and meetings: set agendas, document decisions, assign owners, and follow up on action items.

• Establish program objectives, define scope, and align with departmental strategy.

• Ensure project deliverables meet expectations for quality, cost, and schedule.

• Partner with technical leads to identify and manage program risks and issues, while also proposing mitigation strategies and maintaining a risk register with mitigation plans.

• Align with technical leads to allocate resources, control costs, and ensure efficient use of personnel and resources.

• Communication of project status via SmartSheet, reports, and dashboards.

• Serve as the operational liaison to CDMOs, CROs, and contract testing laboratories on scheduling, deliverables, and issue escalation.

Basic Qualifications

• 2+ years of program management experience, and 6+ years of experience in the biopharmaceutical industry.

• B.S. or M.S. in life sciences such as Chemistry, Biochemistry, or related fields.

• Effective communication (verbal and written), well organized, collaborative with peers.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• 10+ years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry.

• 3+ years of program management experience, PMP / PgMP certification.

• Demonstrated experience managing multiple programs.

• Excellent communication across a diverse group of stakeholders. Must be able to tailor messaging to each audience.

• Experience with program planning and coordination, aligning with organizational strategy.

• Cross-functional team influence. Without direct reports, this role must influence and drive task completion from multiple stakeholders.

• Strong critical thinking and troubleshooting experience to guide cross-functional teams toward achieving program objectives.

• Understanding and implementation of change management during program lifecycle.

• Extensive experience with MS Project and/or SmartSheet.

Pay Range

• Salary range: $125,000 - $170,000/per year

• This role is on-site in El Segundo, CA

• Leveling and base salary is determined by job-related skills, education level, experience level, and job performance

• You will be eligible for incentives in the form of stock options and/or long-term cash awards

Benefits

Varda offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support health, financial well‑being, and a high‑quality workplace experience. Below is an overview of what full‑time employees receive (at this time, interns receive a subset of benefits):

Health & Wellness

• Flexible PTO policy + 12 paid holidays

• 100% company-paid Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance plans for employees and dependents with FSA and employer-matched HSA options

• Voluntary accident, hospital, critical illness, and pet insurance

• $120/month wellness reimbursement for gym and fitness expenses

• 12 weeks of parental leave (with supplemental disability leave for CA mothers)

• Family building, pregnancy, parenting and menopause benefits via Maven Clinic

• Sponsored One Medical memberships for employees and their dependents

Financial & Retirement

• Substantial incentive equity in a fully funded space start-up

• 401(k) retirement plan with 6% employer match (immediately vested)

• $20/pay period cell phone reimbursement

• Relocation support for new hires, if needed

Workplace Experience & Perks

• Fully stocked kitchen with lunch provided daily and dinner provided twice weekly

• Company and team-bonding events, happy hours and mission-success celebrations

• Complimentary EV charging

ITAR Requirements

Varda, like all employers, must ensure that its employees working in the United States are lawfully authorized to work in the U.S. Additionally, our employees are exposed to and have access to certain export-controlled items. Because our employees are provided access to export-controlled items, our policy is to only hire “U.S. persons” who are permitted to hav

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