---
title: 'Senior Director, Program Management at Atrium Therapeutics'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/senior-director-program-management-atrium-therapeutics-san-diego-fmxpmsrpbsr3'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-11-06'
---

# Senior Director, Program Management at Atrium Therapeutics

- **Company:** Atrium Therapeutics
- **Location:** San Diego, CA
- **Compensation:** $257k–$284k
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Work type:** hybrid
- **Posted:** 2026-09-30
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-11-06
- **Apply:** https://jobs.lever.co/atrium-therapeutics/bf76dc78-171f-40c6-b97a-859fd366bdd0

## Job description

Atrium is a biopharmaceutical company pioneering delivery of RNA therapeutics to the heart to transform the standard of care for people living with cardiomyopathies. Our proprietary technology leverages the targeted RNA delivery platform initially designed at Avidity, which combines the tissue selectivity of mAbs and other targeted delivery ligands with the precision of oligonucleotides. This unique combination is designed to allow selective targeting of the underlying genetic drivers of disease that were previously undruggable. Through targeted, non-viral delivery of siRNA to cardiac tissues, our approach has the potential to overcome key limitations of nonspecific viral and nanoparticle-based delivery systems, including challenges related to tissue specificity, immunogenicity, and redosing. Position Overview: The Senior Director, Program Management will provide strategic and operational leadership for Atrium’s cross-functional drug development programs, with a primary focus on partnering with the Early Development Lead and functional leaders to shape program strategy and drive integrated execution from early development through key clinical and regulatory milestones. This role will partner closely with Research, Translational Medicine, Clinical Development, Regulatory Affairs, CMC, Technical Operations, Finance, and executive leadership to define program strategy, manage integrated plans, identify risks, and drive timely decision-making. The successful candidate will bring strong program management discipline, deep drug development experience, and the ability to lead through influence in a fast-paced, matrixed biotech environment. As an AI-forward organization, Atrium expects this leader to actively lean into AI-enabled tools and ways of working to improve planning, communication, decision support, and operational efficiency. This is a high-impact role for a leader who can create structure, drive alignment, and help advance Atrium’s mission to deliver RNA therapeutics for genetic cardiomyopathies. Responsibilities:

- Lead integrated program management for one or more cross-functional development programs, translating program strategy into executable plans, making implementation decisions across functions, and ensuring alignment on objectives, timelines, milestones, decision points, risks, and resource needs.
- Own the development and maintenance of integrated development plans in partnership with the program lead, functional leaders, and subject matter experts, connecting scientific, clinical, regulatory, CMC, operational, financial, and business priorities.
- Be a role model: build high-performing teams, inspire team members to achieve ambitious goals, provide feedback and mentorship to drive high performance, bring positivity, build trust and respect across the team and its members, model corporate culture behaviors, and support team members.
- Internally and externally communicate a shared, bold vision for the program; exemplify and build a patient-centric program.
- Drive cross-functional team effectiveness by establishing clear governance, meeting cadence, agendas, decision logs, action tracking, and escalation pathways that enable disciplined execution and transparent communication.
- Identify, assess, and communicate program risks, assumptions, dependencies, and bottlenecks; make and recommend trade-offs across teams, functions, timelines, and resources; and partner with teams to develop mitigation plans and scenario options that support timely decision-making.
- Shape executive-level program updates, governance materials, portfolio review inputs, milestone tracking, and decision recommendations; facilitate governance decisions; and secure alignment among senior leadership and cross-functional stakeholders.
- Drive program-level budget, resource, and prioritization recommendations in partnership with Finance. The EDL and functional leadership, including forecasting and resource tracking across development workstreams.
- Apply program management best practices, tools, and continuous improvement approaches to strengthen planning quality, accountability, operational rigor, and team execution.
- Build trusted relationships across internal teams and external partners, fostering a collaborative, solution-oriented culture focused on advancing programs with urgency and scientific rigor.
- Mentor and support less experienced program management team members, helping establish scalable processes and ways of working for Atrium’s program management organization. Education and Experience Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree in a life sciences, engineering, business, or related discipline required; advanced degree such as MS, PhD, PharmD, MBA, or equivalent experience preferred.
- 12+ years of biotechnology or pharmaceutical industry experience, including 5+ years of experience in drug development program management or integrated project leadership.
- Strong understanding of the end-to-end drug development process, including nonclinical, translational, clinical, regulatory, CMC, quality, and operational workstreams; experience supporting IND/CTA submissions and early clinical development preferred.
- Demonstrated success leading cross-functional teams in a matrixed environment, influencing without direct authority, and aligning senior stakeholders around complex scientific, operational, and business decisions.
- Experience developing and managing integrated program plans, timelines, decision frameworks, risk registers, dashboards, governance materials, and executive communications.
- Excellent communication, facilitation, problem-solving, conflict resolution, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to distill complex information into clear recommendations.
- Highly organized, detail-oriented, and comfortable operating in a fast-paced, resource-constrained biotech environment with shifting priorities and high visibility deliverables.
- Experience with project management tools such as Smartsheet, Microsoft Project, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint, or similar platforms required.
- Will work tirelessly to foster an environment of transparency, direct dialogue, and exceptional teamwork.
- “Roll up sleeves and get hands dirty” for the benefit of the team and the team’s objectives; be able to wear multiple hats and fill in when needed; hold self as accountable
- Background in rare disease, cardiovascular disease, RNA therapeutics, oligonucleotides, targeted delivery platforms, or genetic medicines is a plus.
- Ability to travel occasionally for company meetings, team collaboration, external partner meetings, or industry events. What We Provide:
- The base salary range for this role is $256,500-$283,500 The final compensation will be commensurate with such factors as relevant experience, skillset, internal equity and market factors.
- Atrium offers competitive compensation and benefits which include stock options & RSUs, as well as a 401(k) with an employer match. In addition, the comprehensive wellness program includes coverage for medical, dental, vision, LTD, and unlimited of time off including summer & winter breaks.
- A commitment to learning and development which includes a variety of programming internally developed by and for Atrium employees, opportunities for job-specific training offered by industry, and an education reimbursement program.

## About Atrium Therapeutics

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Atrium Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company pioneering the delivery of RNA therapeutics directly to the heart muscle to transform the standard of care for people living with cardiomyopathies.
- **Entity Type**: Private (startup stage, not yet publicly traded; no funding rounds publicly disclosed)
- **Headquarters**: San Diego, California, United States
- **Founded**: 2026
- **Founders**: Not explicitly listed; the company was formed by a team of former executives from Avidity Biosciences and other biotech firms, led by CEO Kathleen Gallagher.

## Core Business
- **Primary industry**: Biotechnology – RNA therapeutics for cardiovascular diseases (precision cardiology).
- **Target customers**: Patients with rare cardiomyopathies (PLN cardiomyopathy, PRKAG2 syndrome), healthcare providers, and payers (B2B/B2C through drug development and eventual commercialization).
- **Mission statement**: “Pioneer the delivery of RNA therapeutics to the heart to transform the standard of care for people living with cardiomyopathies.”

## Products & Services
- **ATR 1072**: Development candidate for PRKAG2 syndrome (rare cardiomyopathy). Preclinical/early clinical stage.
- **ATR 1086**: Development candidate for PLN (phospholamban) cardiomyopathy. Preclinical/early clinical stage.
- **Undisclosed pipeline**: Two additional research-stage targets in rare cardiomyopathies.
- **Technology Platform**: Proprietary RNA delivery platform based on the clinically validated AOC (Antibody-Oligonucleotide Conjugate) technology, originally designed at Avidity Biosciences. Combines the tissue selectivity of monoclonal antibodies with the precision of oligonucleotides to deliver siRNA directly to cardiac tissue, overcoming challenges with immunogenicity, cytotoxicity, and redosing limitations.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not disclosed (private company; no public funding rounds reported).
- **Key Metric**: Headcount of 41 employees (as of mid-2026), with 5.7% monthly growth; 28 employees recruited from Avidity Biosciences.
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: No specific investors or partnerships disclosed publicly. The company’s “Investors” page is a placeholder.
- **Growth Signals**: Founded in 2026; rapid team building with deep expertise from Avidity, Ionis, Biogen, etc.; two lead candidates in development for high‑unmet‑need cardiomyopathies; 4,200+ LinkedIn followers with +4.2% monthly growth.

## Competitive Advantages
- **Proprietary cardiac RNA delivery platform** that targets heart muscle with high specificity – a key differentiator from viral and nanoparticle delivery systems.
- **Clinically validated technology** originally developed at Avidity Biosciences, reducing technical risk.
- **Focus on underserved rare cardiomyopathies** with no approved therapies (PLN, PRKAG2), offering potential for rapid regulatory pathways (orphan drug designation).
- **Experienced leadership team** with track record in RNA therapeutics, rare disease drug development, and commercialization (Akcea, Ionis, Biogen, Avidity).

## Strategic Focus
- **Advance two lead candidates** (ATR 1072, ATR 1086) through preclinical and into clinical trials.
- **Expand the pipeline** with additional undisclosed targets in rare cardiomyopathies.
- **Build out the organization**, particularly in translational medicine, process development, and quality assurance (as evidenced by current job postings).
- **Leverage the AOC platform** to potentially address broader cardiac indications beyond the initial rare disease focus.

## Why Work Here
- **Cutting‑edge science**: Opportunity to work on a novel RNA delivery platform with the potential to transform cardiology.
- **Small, agile team** (~41 employees) allows for high impact and visibility across functions.
- **Founding team from Avidity Biosciences** brings deep domain expertise and a proven track record in RNA therapeutics.
- **Location**: Onsite roles in San Diego, California (Science Center Drive), a major biotech hub.
- **Current open roles** include:
  - Scientist II, Translational Medicine (San Diego, onsite)
  - Senior Director, AOC Process Development & Manufacturing – Oligonucleotide (San Diego)
  - Senior Director, Head of Quality Assurance (San Diego)
  - Manager, Accounting (from LinkedIn)
- **Culture**: The company’s website emphasizes a commitment to patients with high unmet need, a collaborative environment, and a passion for precision medicine.
- **Perks**: Not explicitly stated, but typical biotech early‑stage includes equity, competitive compensation, and the chance to shape a young company’s culture.

## Sources
1. [Atrium Therapeutics - Homepage](https://atriumtherapeutics.com/)
2. [Atrium Therapeutics - About Page](https://atriumtherapeutics.com/about/)
3. [Atrium Therapeutics - Investors Page](https://investors.atriumtherapeutics.com/overview)
4. [Atrium Therapeutics - Careers Page](https://atriumtherapeutics.com/careers/)
5. [LinkedIn - Atrium Therapeutics](https://www.linkedin.com/company/atrium-therapeutics)

## Other roles at Atrium Therapeutics

- [Associate Director, Pharmacokinetics & Pharmacodynamics](https://feeny.ai/job/associate-director-pharmacokinetics-pharmacodynamics-atrium-therapeutics-san-z6ntekbtegta) — San Diego, CA
- [Senior Clinical Scientist](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-clinical-scientist-atrium-therapeutics-san-diego-3rmkyxsnr87k) — San Diego, CA
- [Senior Clinical Trial Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-clinical-trial-manager-atrium-therapeutics-san-diego-qanrknbqna2s) — San Diego, CA
- [Postdoctoral Scientist, In Vitro Cardiac Functional Biology (2yr Contract)](https://feeny.ai/job/postdoctoral-scientist-in-vitro-cardiac-functional-biology-2yr-contract-atrium-qva9rdsxgmea) — San Diego, CA
- [Associate Director, Clinical Supply Chain & Logistics](https://feeny.ai/job/associate-director-clinical-supply-chain-logistics-atrium-therapeutics-san-diego-31w7rn8e081j) — San Diego, CA
- [Senior Director, Program Management](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-director-program-management-heartflow-san-francisco-jn6zdbp32e0t) — San Francisco, CA
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