Clinical Research Program Manager

Senior Clinical Program Manager

• Direct hire
• Location:
  Foster City CA: Hybrid work from home and onsite depending on schedules. Must site onsite in Foster City.
• Salary range
  : Based on experience and location ($120-140k + bonus, benefits, and equity options)

Kelly Science and Clinical
is hiring a
Sr Clinical Program Manager
for one of our clients who is a growing clinical-stage biotechnology company. This would be focused on early-stage ( phase I & II) development and operations. Our client offers the opportunity to wear many hats, think strategically, provides the ability to contribute beyond traditional expectations and help advance innovative therapies for patients with serious unmet medical needs. To be considered, you should have experience working for a small or mid-size biotech or pharma company as well as start-up environment mantaility.

Position Summary

The Senior Program Manager will support the planning and execution of Phase 1 and 2 clinical development programs and play a key role in cross-functional coordination across clinical, regulatory, CMC, and external partners. In addition to core program management responsibilities, this role will support contract execution and vendor management activities, working closely with legal, finance, and functional leads. The ideal candidate is highly organized, proactive, and comfortable operating in a hands-on startup environment.

Clinical Program Management

• Support and manage cross-functional planning and execution of Phase 1 and 2 clinical programs, including timelines, milestones, and deliverables.
• Develop and maintain integrated program plans, risk registers, and issue tracking tools.
• Coordinate cross-functional team meetings and ensure follow-up on action items and decisions.
• Track program budgets and forecasts in collaboration with finance and functional leads.
• Support preparation of program-level updates for senior leadership and governance forums.

Vendor and Contract Support

• Support the selection, onboarding, and ongoing management of CROs, vendors, and consultants.
• Coordinate contract-related activities, including statements of work (SOWs), change orders, and amendments, in collaboration with legal and procurement.
• Track vendor deliverables, timelines, and performance against contractual obligations.
• Serve as a liaison between internal teams and external vendors to facilitate efficient communication and issue resolution.

Risk Management and Governance

• Identify, track, and escalate program risks and mitigation plans.
• Support cross-functional decision-making and governance processes.
• Ensure alignment across clinical operations, regulatory, CMC, and quality teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in life sciences, business, or a related field required; advanced degree preferred.
• 10+ years of clinical research experience
• Over 5 years of actual program management experience within clinical operations directly supporting biotech or pharma companies. Not accepting all CRO experience at this time.
• Direct experience supporting Phase 1 and 2 clinical trials.
• Strong organizational and project management skills, with ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Experience managing CROs and external vendors; familiarity with contract and SOW processes strongly preferred.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively in cross-functional and external-facing environments.
• Comfortable working in a startup setting with evolving priorities and limited infrastructure.
• Willing to work flexible schedules to accommodate global meeting times twice a week as needed.
• Ability to speak Mandarin is preferred but not required.
• Ability to travel globally 1-3 times a year for week-long period.
• Ability to travel nationally if needed up to 25%.

Rewards Of Joining The Team

• Exposure to both program strategy and operational execution in a growing biotech.
• Competitive compensation, equity, and benefits.
• Opportunity to play a highly visible role in advancing early Phase (through Phase 2) clinical programs.
• Collaborative, entrepreneurial culture with meaningful impact on company success.

Why Kelly Science & Clinical?

Kelly Science & Clinical is your connection to premier scientific and clinical companies looking to hire industry experts just like you. Our team creates expert talent solutions to solve the world's most critical challenges. Every day, we match science professionals with dream jobs that fit their skills, interests, and career goals—it's the way we think job searching should be. Nearly 100 percent of our science recruiters have a professional background and education in science, so we know a thing or two about the science market and how to get your expertise noticed.

About Kelly

Work changes everything. And at Kelly, we're obsessed with where it can take you. To us, it's about more than simply accepting your next job opportunity. It's the fuel that powers every next step of your life. It's the ripple effect that changes and improves everything for your family, your community, and the world. Which is why, here at Kelly, we are dedicated to providing you with limitless opportunities to enrich your life—just ask the 300,000 people we employ each year.

Kelly is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all qualified employees and applicants regardless of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, age, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and we take affirmative action to recruit, employ, and advance qualified individuals with disabilities and protected veterans in the workforce. Requests for accommodation related to our application process can be directed to the Kelly Human Resource Knowledge Center. Kelly complies with the requirements of California's state and local Fair Chance laws. A conviction does not automatically bar individuals from employment. Kelly participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.