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Senior Director, Program Management

Position Description

Reporting to the Chief Scientific Officer, the Senior Director, Program Management will be a strategic and operational leader responsible for driving the execution of our early stage- research and development programs. This individual will partner closely with cross-functional teams, including the Directors, VPs and SVPs of Discovery and Platform, Pharmacology, Bioanalytical Sciences, CMC, and Drug Development  to ensure the successful advancement of our pipeline from early research to developmental candidate status.

You will help plan, coordinate, monitor and communicate R&D KPI progress to drive portfolio management processes of operational objectives. You will also play a critical role in managing and fostering relationships with strategic partners, ensuring that collaborations deliver value to all stakeholders.

The position is full-time, partly on-site. This is the perfect opportunity for someone interested in the exciting and fast-paced environment of a startup company and looking to make a difference in improving people’s lives through science. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in drug discovery and development, a proven track record of program management excellence in the biotech/pharmaceutical industry, and a passion for bringing transformative therapies to patients.

Company Summary

Juvena Therapeutics is a clinical stage, venture-backed biotech company leveraging its AI-enabled platform to discover and advance tissue restorative biologics to tackle chronic muscle and metabolic diseases. The company’s approach stems from mapping the therapeutic potential of stem-cell secreted proteins and translating them into a growing pipeline of engineered biologics. Juvena is achieving this through a fully integrated, end-to-end platform, JuvNET, that combines a compounding database leveraging quantitative proteomics, multi-omics, and high content imaging to map secreted proteins to specific disease phenotypes, utilizing in silico and in vitro human cell screening, pharmacology, and protein engineering capabilities. Juvena is progressing multiple clinical and preclinical programs, including a clinical stage, muscle regenerative biologic and a novel preclinical lipolysis inducing obesity asset with a unique mechanism. 

Juvena’s lead asset, JUV-161, is a muscle regenerating fusion protein with broad indication potential, currently in Phase 1 studies in healthy volunteers, with the aim of developing the drug candidate for Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1 (DM1). Juvena’s obesity candidate, JUV-112, is based on a novel secreted protein with an orthogonal, non-appetite suppressing, energy expenditure based MOA (non-GLP-1/GIP mediated) for improved fat metabolism, including improved insulin sensitivity and adipose regulation. JUV-112 is currently in lead optimization. Juvena is also identifying muscle targeting pro-metabolic and hypertrophic secreted proteins for Sarcopenic Obesity, with an active discovery collaboration with Eli Lilly. Additionally, Juvena has discovered and validated 55+ hits across 6 therapeutic areas including fibrotic, hepatic, pulmonary, metabolic, osteopathies and inflammatory diseases. 

Juvena’s venture-backed preclinical programs were also supported by funding from the National Institute of Health (NIH) and the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine (CIRM). At Juvena we embrace a diversity of backgrounds, experience and approaches that all combine to lead us to world-class scientific results in an inclusive environment. To learn more about Juvena Therapeutics, visit JuvenaTherapeutics.com or follow the company on LinkedIn @Juvena-Therapeutics.

Position Location and work permit requirement

640 Galveston Dr. Redwood City, 94063

Strong preference for onsite work at our office, but open to hybrid or remote working arrangements.

Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the U.S.

Key Responsibilities

• Working with senior leadership and other stakeholders to establish quarterly KPIs, R&D program plans, and portfolio governance processes that provide a foundation for achieving annual corporate objectives. 
• This is a key leadership role within Juvena Therapeutics, Inc., facilitating communication across internal technical and cross-functional teams 
• Directly coordinate project portfolio plans development and tracking for
  • a) the Discovery programs through IND-filing for multiple Therapeutic Areas, and for 
  • b) the Platform program including Data Science/Bioinformatics/AI-ML projects.
• Monitor ongoing projects for potential risks and develop proactive mitigation strategies with management and the relevant R&D teams. Identify, track, and support resolution efforts for all program-related issues and effectively communicate to relevant internal and external contractor teams via regular and ad-hoc status updates.
• Drive the development and maintenance of comprehensive program plans roadmaps, including timelines, budgets, and risk mitigation strategies.
  • Develop and maintain project/portfolio dashboards, reports, and metrics including timeline GANTTS and status summaries.
• Facilitate effective communication and collaboration within program teams and across the organization to ensure clarity of goals, progress, and issues.
• Track and report on program progress to senior management and other key stakeholders at regular internal meeting cycles.
• Support the presentation of program progress updates at quarterly board meetings.
• Step in as necessary to drive down general administrative or technical debt associated with a fast moving start-up environment
• Contribute to the development and implementation of best practices in program management to drive efficiency and effectiveness.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and excellence within program teams.

Position Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a scientific discipline is required; an advanced degree (e.g., MS, PhD, MBA) is preferred.
• 10+ years of experience in the biotechnology or pharmaceutical industry, with at least 5 years in a program management role.
• A thorough understanding of the drug development process, from pre-IND to commercialization.
• Proven experience leading cross-functional teams in a matrix environment.
• Strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and build consensus.
• Excellent organizational and problem-solving skills, with a demonstrated ability to manage complex projects and timelines.
• Experience with program management tools and software notably both Microsoft and GSuite systems. 
• A proactive and results-oriented mindset, with the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Proven Track Record: Demonstrated success in managing high-impact partnerships, with an emphasis on deep cross-functional collaboration in biotechnology. Experience with biologics or drug discovery alliances is preferred. 
• Skills: Excellent communication, relationship management, negotiation, and collaboration skills, with the ability to drive alignment across cross-functional teams.
• Track record of advancing R&D programs through Discovery to developmental candidate nomination
• Ability to wear many hats with a team-first attitude.

Compensation

• Competitive salary, annual bonus and stock options
• Health/Dental/Vision insurance
• Paid vacation and holidays 
• Partial 401K matching 
• $135,000- $175,000 annual salary 
• Salary range and total compensation is based on candidate qualifications, skill level and internal equity.

Career Opportunities at Juvena Therapeutics, Inc.

At Juvena Therapeutics, we believe everyone deserves a seat at the table and an equal chance at success, regardless of gender, race, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, cultural heritage, or 

age. Most importantly, we are an equal opportunity employer and respect an individual’s right to freedom of expression within the boundaries of mutual respect and equal treatment.

We are seeking to grow our company with a diverse team of enthusiastic scientists and technologists who share our vision and determination to discover and develop tissue-restorative biologics  to tackle muscle, metabolic, and age-related chronic diseases and promote healthspan. Explore all our open positions, and let’s grow together at https://www.juvenatherapeutics.com/careers/.

Apply Now

Please email your CV and Cover Letter to apply@juvenatherapeutics.com with the title of the position as the subject line.

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Clinical Development Project Manager 

Position Description

Juvena Therapeutics, Inc. is a regenerative medicine biotech startup inviting applicants for Project Manager – Clinical Development. Applicants should be excited to join a company focused on the discovery and validation of novel disease-modifying biologics that promote tissue regeneration by inducing tissue-specific rejuvenating phenotypes. This position will report to the SVP of Drug Development and work closely with other Senior Leaders at Juvena. The PM will serve as the hands-on project manager of the research/development programs that are core to Juvena’s mission and strategy.

The Project Manager will play a key role in ensuring that our R&D initiatives are coordinated, appropriately timed, and efficient. Responsibilities include project planning, stakeholder management, resource and timeline tracking, and monitoring project performance. This position is ideal for an individual who thrives in a fast-paced collaborative environment with experience managing projects across multiple cross-functional scientific teams. The ideal candidate should have a strong background in biotech project management, particularly in pre-clinical/early clinical stages of development with IND and early clinical development directed goals.

*Title commensurate with experience 

Company Summary

Juvena Therapeutics is a venture-backed, clinical stage biotech company leveraging its AI-enabled platform to discover and advance tissue restorative biologics to tackle chronic muscle and metabolic diseases. The company’s approach stems from mapping the therapeutic potential of stem-cell secreted proteins and translating them into a growing pipeline of engineered biologics. Juvena is achieving this through a fully integrated, end-to-end AI-enabled platform, JuvNET, that combines a compounding database leveraging quantitative proteomics, multi-omics, high content imaging to map secreted proteins to specific disease phenotypes, utilizing in silico and in vitro human cell screening, pharmacology, and protein engineering capabilities. Juvena is progressing multiple preclinical programs, including a muscle regenerative biologic and a novel obesity asset with a unique mechanism. 

Juvena’s lead asset, JUV-161, is a muscle regenerating fusion protein with broad indication potential, currently in Phase 1 SAD clinical studies for Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1, a rare autosomal dominant, progressive muscle-wasting disease. Juvena’s obesity candidate, JUV-112, is based on a novel secreted protein with an orthogonal, non-appetite suppressing MOA (non-GLP-1/GIP mediated) for improved fat metabolism, including insulin sensitivity and adipose regulation. Juvena is also identifying muscle targeting pro-metabolic and hypertrophic secreted proteins for Sarcopenic Obesity. Additionally, Juvena has discovered and validated 55+ hits across 6 therapeutic areas including fibrotic, hepatic, pulmonary, metabolic, osteopathies and inflammatory diseases. Juvena’s preclinical programs were supported by funding from the National Institute of Health (NIH) and the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine (CIRM). Juvena has raised about $60M to date and anticipates closing a $30M Series B and the kick-off of a discovery research collaboration with Eli Lilly in July 2025. At Juvena we embrace a diversity of backgrounds, experience and approaches that all combine to lead us to world-class scientific results in an inclusive environment. To learn more about Juvena Therapeutics, visit JuvenaTherapeutics.com or follow the company on LinkedIn @Juvena-Therapeutics.

Position Location and work permit requirement

640 Galveston Dr. Redwood City, 94063

Candidate must be legally authorized to work in the US.

Key Responsibilities

• Project Planning & Execution:
• Collaborate closely with the Project Lead and members of a cross-functional Project Team to develop detailed project plans, timelines, and resource allocations for program related initiatives.
• Support the cross-functional Project Team and any required team members to execute project deliverables on time and within scope.
• Coordinate Project Team meetings and track project milestones while promoting team accountability.
• Help to foster a collaborative and positive team environment to drive project success and achieve business objectives.
• Coordinate with stakeholders to establish clear project objectives, prioritize tasks, and manage costs effectively to help ensure project deliverables meet quality standards and are delivered on time and within budget.
• Ensure all key stakeholders are informed of progress, risks, and changes.
• Help the project team to identify topics and decisions that require escalation to the appropriate governance body and/or leadership forum, and coordinate of the review discussion
• Monitor project progress and identify and address any issues or risks that may impact project timelines or deliverables.
• Work with the cross-functional Project Team to develop contingency plans to address potential project roadblocks or delays.
• Monitor project budgets, ensuring costs are kept within approved limits.
• Coordinate with leadership and the Project Team on resource allocation and develop recommendations on optimizing resources.
• Assist with regulatory submissions and ensure all cross-functional project deliverables are provided on time and comply with relevant regulatory requirements (FDA, EMA, etc.).
• Provide regular updates and reports on project status, progress, and key metrics to senior leadership and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Promote, educate, and train leadership teams on industry standard project management best practices, and support the design and implementation of any necessary project management tools (e.g., trackers, etc.)

Position Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in life sciences, chemistry, biochemistry, or related field. An advanced degree (e.g., Ph.D., MBA) is a plus.
• 8+ years of project management experience in the biotech, pharmaceutical, or life sciences industries, with specific experience supporting early stage (IND-stage and Phase 1/2) programs
• Experience in startup environments is highly desirable.
• Strong organizational and multitasking skills with a proven track record of managing multiple complex projects simultaneously.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills for effectively liaising with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Proficiency in project management tools (e.g., MS Project, Asana, etc.).
• Strong problem-solving skills with a proactive, can-do attitude.

Preferred Skills

• Familiarity with early-stage biotech operations, including R&D, clinical trials, or regulatory submissions.
• Knowledge of the biotech product development lifecycle, including regulatory requirements.
• PMP or equivalent project management certification is a plus but not required.
• Self-starter with the ability to adapt quickly to a dynamic and evolving environment.
• Passion for biotech and innovation, with an interest in driving meaningful impact through science.

Compensation

• Hourly rate: $125–$150 per hour, depending on experience. Also open to discussing a retainer structure in place of hourly billing.

Career Opportunities at Juvena Therapeutics, Inc.

At Juvena Therapeutics, we believe everyone deserves a seat at the table and an equal chance at success, regardless of gender, race, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, cultural heritage, or 

age. Most importantly, we are an equal opportunity employer and respect an individual’s right to freedom of expression within the boundaries of mutual respect and equal treatment.

We are seeking to grow our company with a diverse team of enthusiastic scientists and technologists who share our vision and determination to discover and develop tissue-restorative biologics  to tackle muscle, metabolic, and age-related chronic diseases and promote healthspan. Explore all our open positions, and let’s grow together at https://www.juvenatherapeutics.com/careers/.

Apply Now

Please email your CV and Cover Letter to apply@juvenatherapeutics.com with the title of the position as the subject line.

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Research Associate (Intern)

Position Description

Juvena Therapeutics is seeking a highly self-motivated Research Associate intern with the option to become a full-time employee after 3 months. We are searching for an individual who is passionate about developing a multi-omics workflow that deeply interrogates the disease modifying effects of candidate molecules. The individual will be an integral member of the in vitro discovery team and will work alongside computational biologists and machine learning engineers.

Company Summary

Juvena Therapeutics is a venture-backed, clinical stage biotech company leveraging its AI-enabled platform to discover and advance tissue restorative biologics to tackle chronic muscle and metabolic diseases. The company’s approach stems from mapping the therapeutic potential of stem-cell secreted proteins and translating them into a growing pipeline of engineered biologics. Juvena is achieving this through a fully integrated, end-to-end AI-enabled platform, JuvNET, that combines a compounding database leveraging quantitative proteomics, multi-omics, high content imaging to map secreted proteins to specific disease phenotypes, utilizing in silico and in vitro human cell screening, pharmacology, and protein engineering capabilities. Juvena is progressing multiple preclinical programs, including a muscle regenerative biologic and a novel obesity asset with a unique mechanism. 

Juvena’s lead asset, JUV-161, is a muscle regenerating fusion protein with broad indication potential, currently in Phase 1 SAD clinical studies for Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1, a rare autosomal dominant, progressive muscle-wasting disease. Juvena’s obesity candidate, JUV-112, is based on a novel secreted protein with an orthogonal, non-appetite suppressing MOA (non-GLP-1/GIP mediated) for improved fat metabolism, including insulin sensitivity and adipose regulation. Juvena is also identifying muscle targeting pro-metabolic and hypertrophic secreted proteins for Sarcopenic Obesity. Additionally, Juvena has discovered and validated 55+ hits across 6 therapeutic areas including fibrotic, hepatic, pulmonary, metabolic, osteopathies and inflammatory diseases. Juvena’s preclinical programs were supported by funding from the National Institute of Health (NIH) and the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine (CIRM). Juvena has raised about $60M to date and anticipates closing a $30M Series B and the kick-off of a discovery research collaboration with Eli Lilly in July 2025. At Juvena we embrace a diversity of backgrounds, experience and approaches that all combine to lead us to world-class scientific results in an inclusive environment. To learn more about Juvena Therapeutics, visit JuvenaTherapeutics.com or follow the company on LinkedIn @Juvena-Therapeutics.

Position Location and work permit requirement

640 Galveston Dr. Redwood City, 64063.

Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the US.

Major Responsibilities

• Development and optimization of functional genomics and high-content screening technologies
• Execution of NGS workflows including library prep and sequencing from cells and primary tissues
• Build our expertise in human disease models to expand Juvena’s platform screening capabilities across multiple organ model systems
• Integrate the latest in cell culture techniques and analytical methods to increase throughput and information content in our in vitro screening and pharmacology
• Perform experiments in disease model systems as well as support our projects with cell-based and biochemical assays
• Communicate scientific findings across different functional groups

Position Requirements and Experience

• A bachelor’s degree in biology, bioengineering, or a related field
• Experienced with troubleshooting technical challenges related to cell assays

Preferred Qualifications

• 1+ years of undergraduate or industry research experience in cell biology or genomics work
• Experienced in wet lab or dry lab workflows associated with cell culture, imaging, cloning, biochemistry, library preparation, and sequencing
• Experience with high content imaging, automation, or NGS pipelines
• Knowledge of regenerative medicine, adipose, or skeletal muscle biology  
• Experience with programming (Python preferred), especially in image, sequence, or data analysis

Compensation and Benefits

• Competitive salary and annual bonus and stock options
• Health/Dental/Vision insurance
• Paid vacation and holidays 
• Partial 401K matching

Career Opportunities at Juvena Therapeutics, Inc.

At Juvena Therapeutics, we believe everyone deserves a seat at the table and an equal chance at success, regardless of gender, race, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, cultural heritage, or 

age. Most importantly, we are an equal opportunity employer and respect an individual’s right to freedom of expression within the boundaries of mutual respect and equal treatment.

We are seeking to grow our company with a diverse team of enthusiastic scientists and technologists who share our vision and determination to discover and develop tissue-restorative biologics  to tackle muscle, metabolic, and age-related chronic diseases and promote healthspan. Explore all our open positions, and let’s grow together at https://www.juvenatherapeutics.com/careers/.

Apply for the Position

Apply to this Job through the following means: 

• LinkedIn job posting
• Website job posting

Please email your CV and Cover Letter to apply@juvenatherapeutics.com with the title of the position as the subject line.