Discovery and Preclinical Project Manager- M/F

We are seeking an experienced and scientifically driven Preclinical Project Manager to help advance innovative therapeutic programs from discovery through preclinical development. This role is designed for a collaborative leader who combines strong scientific judgment, strategic planning, and operational excellence to drive cross-functional teams toward high-quality, decision-ready outcomes.

Your role within a pioneering company in full expansion:

• Drive preclinical programs from target validation through IND-enabling activities, ensuring alignment with portfolio strategy and project objectives.
• Develop and manage integrated project plans, including timelines, resources, budget, milestones, dependencies, risks, and critical path activities.
• Lead cross-functional execution by bringing together experts across discovery, pharmacology, DMPK, toxicology, CMC, translational, clinical, regulatory, and external partner teams.
• Monitor project delivery and performance, proactively identifying risks, resolving issues, and adapting plans based on emerging data and business priorities.
• Support governance and decision-making through the preparation of high-quality project updates, milestone reviews, and recommendations for R&D leadership and governance boards.
• Build high-performing project teams by clarifying roles and responsibilities, facilitating effective collaboration, and fostering a culture of accountability and excellence. Identifies and solves conflict at project team level.
• Drive continuous improvement of project management practices, governance processes, and portfolio execution across R&D.

This position is compatible with teleworking up to 2 days a week according to company rules.

We offer an attractive remuneration/benefits package: Incentives, profit-sharing, Pierre Fabre shareholding with matching contribution, health and provident insurance, 16 days of holidays (RTT) in addition to 25 days of personal holidays, public transport participation...

Your skills at the service of innovative projects:

• You hold an advanced scientific degree, such as an MSc or PhD in life sciences, chemistry, pharmaceutical sciences, or a related discipline.
• You are fully fluent in English, both written and spoken, and comfortable working in an international, scientific environment where English is the primary working language.
• You bring at least five years of experience in drug discovery and/or preclinical development, ideally gained as a core project team representative in a pharmaceutical, biotech, or translational research environment.
• You have a solid understanding of the scientific principles and development pathways that underpin drug discovery and clinical development, including both small molecules and biologics.
• You have demonstrated the ability to lead, coordinate, or manage complex discovery and preclinical development projects, aligning scientific objectives with timelines, resources, risks, and decision points.
• You are a structured and solution-oriented professional with strong analytical skills, able to anticipate challenges, develop pragmatic mitigation plans, and keep projects progressing on critical timelines.
• You combine excellent planning, tracking, and prioritization capabilities with the ability to manage several projects or workstreams simultaneously in a dynamic R&D environment.
• You ideally bring hands-on experience in project management practices, including project planning, resource coordination, timeline oversight, and contribution to the preparation, monitoring, and refinement of project budgets.
• You bring strategic thinking, sound judgement, and a strong capacity for contingency planning, ensuring that project teams can adapt rapidly as new data emerge.
• You communicate with clarity and influence, engaging stakeholders at different levels of the organization and creating the conditions for project team members to contribute at their best.
• You are energized by collaborative science, portfolio impact, and the opportunity to help transform promising therapeutic concepts into meaningful development opportunities for patients.