Director, Drug Product
Position: Director, Drug Product
Department: CMC
Location: Remote
Status: Full-time Exempt
About Us
Enliven Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of small molecule inhibitors to help people with cancer not only live longer, but live better. The Company aims to address existing and emerging unmet needs with a precision medicine approach that improves survival and enhances overall well-being. Its discovery process combines deep insights in clinically validated biological targets and differentiated chemistry with the goal of designing therapies for unmet needs.
Role Summary
We are seeking an experienced Director, Drug Product to provide technical, strategic, and operational leadership for small molecule drug product development and manufacturing across Enliven’s portfolio. This individual will lead phase-appropriate formulation and process development activities from early clinical development through late-stage development and commercialization, including scale-up, technology transfer, process characterization, validation, and lifecycle management.
The Director will serve as Enliven’s drug product subject matter expert and lead technical oversight of external development and manufacturing partners. This role will partner closely with internal CMC, Analytical Development, Quality, Regulatory, Clinical Supply, and program teams to ensure robust drug product strategies and the reliable delivery of clinical and future commercial supplies. The successful candidate will combine strong scientific and technical judgment with a hands-on, pragmatic approach suited to a fast-paced and highly outsourced biotechnology environment.
The role reports to the SVP, CMC and Supply Chain.
Core Responsibilities
- Lead drug product CMC strategy and execution for small molecule programs from early clinical development through late-stage development, registration, commercialization, and lifecycle management
- Lead phase-appropriate formulation and process development activities for oral solid dosage forms, including formulation selection and optimization, manufacturing process development, scale-up, and establishment of appropriate control strategies
- Provide technical leadership for drug product technology transfers, process characterization, process validation, and manufacturing readiness activities
- Lead the selection, onboarding, and technical oversight of CDMOs and other external partners responsible for drug product development, manufacturing, packaging, and related activities
- Establish clear expectations, work plans, timelines, budgets, and performance measures for external partners and hold CDMOs accountable for quality, timing, and delivery
- Provide technical oversight of GMP manufacturing campaigns, including review of batch documentation, manufacturing performance, deviations, investigations, change controls, and corrective and preventive actions
- Analyze and interpret formulation, manufacturing, analytical, and stability data to identify trends, troubleshoot technical issues, assess risks, and guide product and process decisions
- Develop robust and phase-appropriate drug product manufacturing processes and control strategies that support product quality, scalability, supply continuity, and regulatory expectations
- Partner closely with Analytical Development, Quality, Regulatory CMC, Clinical Supply, and other CMC functions to develop integrated product development, manufacturing, and supply strategies
- Support clinical supply planning and execution by ensuring alignment among drug product development, manufacturing schedules, packaging requirements, stability programs, and clinical timelines
- Author and review drug product sections of regulatory submissions, technical reports, development plans, specifications, risk assessments, and other CMC documentation
- Apply relevant FDA, EMA, ICH, cGMP, and global regulatory expectations to drug product development and manufacturing activities and support health authority interactions as needed
- Develop and maintain program plans, budgets, timelines, and risk assessments for drug product activities, proactively communicating issues and recommending mitigation strategies
- Communicate technical risks, recommendations, and business implications clearly to cross-functional teams and senior leadership
- Contribute to technical due diligence, product evaluations, and broader CMC strategy as needed
- Stay current with advances in small molecule drug product development, manufacturing technologies, regulatory expectations, and industry best practices
- Help curate a strong patient-focused department and company culture