Senior Director, Program Team Lead

About Iovance Biotherapeutics, Inc.  

Iovance Biotherapeutics, Inc.  is the global leader in innovating, developing, and delivering tumor infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) cell therapies for patients with solid tumors. Amtagvi® (lifileucel) is the first FDA-approved, one-time treatment for previously treated advanced melanoma, now approved in three global markets and available at more than 95 authorized treatment centers. The Iovance TIL platform spans registrational trials and next-generation programs in additional solid tumors, including gene-edited and IL-12 tethered TIL therapies, next-generation IL-2, and precision immuno-oncology approaches. As the first and only company to take TIL therapy from concept to a broadly accessible commercial treatment, Iovance operates as an end-to-end cell therapy company, anchored by fully owned, centralized U.S.-based manufacturing that is scaled to serve thousands of cancer patients worldwide each year. For more information, please visit www.iovance.com. 

Amtagvi® and its accompanying design marks, Proleukin®, Iovance®, and IovanceCares™ are trademarks and registered trademarks of Iovance Biotherapeutics, Inc. or its subsidiaries. All other trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners. 

Information on Iovance’s broad, industry-leading patent portfolio is available on the Intellectual Property page on www.iovance.com. 

Overview

The Senior Director, Program Team Lead owns integrated program strategy for one or more TIL cell therapy assets across early-to-late-stage clinical development. This role connects clinical, CMC, regulatory, and commercial workstreams into a single plan that maximizes clinical probability of success, regulatory approval, and commercial value, all within the context of Iovance's broader portfolio strategy.

The Program Team Lead chairs the cross-functional program team, manages timelines across workstreams, and is the central point of accountability for translating strategy into execution. This individual partners with senior leadership to advance programs from early clinical studies through pivotal trials, global regulatory submissions, and into commercial planning.

The right candidate brings deep oncology development and CMC experience with the judgment to navigate autologous cell therapy. They are as comfortable shaping an early-stage data strategy as they are driving late-stage registration execution, and they ensure every program decision maintains a clear line of sight to clinical success, regulatory approval, and commercial differentiation.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

Program Strategy

• Own the program strategy and vision from early development through registration and commercialization, ensuring alignment with Iovance's TIL platform strategy.
• Frame program decisions around clinical probability of success, regulatory path, and commercial value.
• Develop and present strategic options and trade-off analyses to senior leadership and governance bodies.
• Track the competitive landscape in solid tumor oncology and cell therapy; translate insights into program-level actions.

Cross-Functional Execution

• Work to align SME deliverables with overall development strategy, anticipating risks, proposing alternative scenarios and working with the cross functional team to drive accountability.
• Partner with the Program Manager to align domain area strategy & execution plans with asset level strategy across all functions, including Clinical, Regulatory, Commercial and CMC.
• Own program dashboards/reporting that keeps leadership informed on program status, timelines, strategic roadmap progress, upcoming inflection points, and open risks.

Governance and Stakeholder Management

• Serve as the primary strategic voice for assigned programs in governance forums and executive reviews.
• Proactive escalation & driving of resolution recommendations with senior leadership.
• Support due diligence, business development, and investor-related activities for assigned programs.
• Must adhere to Iovance Biotherapeutics’ core values, policies, procedures, and business ethics.
• Perform miscellaneous duties as assigned. 

Required Education, Skills, and Knowledge 

• Advanced degree (PhD, PharmD, MD, MBA, or equivalent).
• 11+ years in clinical drug development with strong CMC experience in oncology, in particular experience with CGT, especially CAR-T, viral, TIL and other products with.
• Working knowledge of the global clinical and commercial landscape in oncology and cell therapy.
• Strong strategic and analytical skills — able to synthesize inputs from clinical, regulatory, commercial, and CMC functions into clear recommendations.
• Track record leading cross-functional teams through multiple development phases, including regulatory submissions and health authority interactions.
• Proficiency with program and portfolio management tools and timeline oversight.
• Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders and motivate teams without direct authority.
• Comfortable operating in a fast-moving biotech environment with shifting priorities. 

Preferred Education, Skills, and Knowledge

• Background in program management, strategy, or portfolio leadership within a biotech setting.
• Experience contributing to commercial launch planning or lifecycle strategy from a development role.
• History of engagement with FDA, EMA, or other health authorities in oncology or cell/gene therapy
  

Physical Demands and Activities Required

The physical demands described here represent those an employee may encounter while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to enable individuals to perform these functions.

• Ability to remain in a stationary position for extended periods
• Ability to move about within an office or remote workspace and exert up to 10 pounds of force occasionally
• Visual acuity sufficient for preparing and analyzing data, viewing computer screens, and extensive reading
• Repetitive motion involving wrists, hands, and/or fingers
• Ability to communicate effectively to exchange information
• Ability to engage in analytical, conceptual, and problem‑solving activities in a dynamic business environment 

Mental: Clear and conceptual thinking ability; excellent judgment, troubleshooting, problem-solving, analysis, and discretion; ability to handle work-related stress; ability to handle multiple priorities simultaneously with a sense of urgency; and ability to meet deadlines

Work Environment

This job operates in a professional or remote office environment and requires operating standard office equipment and keyboards.

#li-remote

The annual base salary we reasonably expect to pay is listed. Individual pay decisions depend on various factors, such as primary work location, complexity and responsibility of the role, job duties/requirements, and relevant education, experience and skills. 

Pay Transparency$270,000—$290,000 USD

The statements contained in this document are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by a colleague assigned to this description. They are not intended to constitute a comprehensive list of functions, duties, or local variances. Management retains the discretion to add or to change the duties of the position at any time.

Iovance is committed to cultivating and offering a diverse and inclusive work environment. As an equal-opportunity employer, our employees and applicants will be considered without regard to an individual’s race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, age, physical and mental disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, military and veteran status, and any other characteristic protected by applicable law. If you need assistance or accommodation to apply to one of our opportunities, please contact careers@iovance.com.  

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