At Kedrion, we believe that innovation and care must go hand in hand. Our mission is to enhance lives through our dedicated work in the field of rare and ultra-rare diseases.
As a global leader with a passionate team of 5,200 employees, we collect and fractionate plasma to produce and distribute 38 vital medicines worldwide, establishing ourselves as the fifth largest player in the plasma-derived products sector.
Location: Italy (Milan or Castelvecchio Pascoli)
Kedrion Biopharma is strengthening its R&D pipeline of plasma-derived therapies to address high-unmet medical needs. We are seeking a talented New Product Development (NPD) Program Director / Director to lead Kedrion NPD strategic development platform — focusing on rare and orphan congenital protein deficiencies- driving end-to-end program execution from early development through market launch.
This is a highly visible, global role responsible for aligning technical, clinical, regulatory, industrialization and commercial priorities to rapidly deliver impactful and innovative therapeutic solutions to patients worldwide.
What You Will Do
- Reporting to Global Operations Strategy Head, lead program planning and execution across the full product lifecycle — from pre-clinical to commercial Readiness
- Matrix define and coordinate activities with Kedrion’s CR&I
- Manage program governance, timelines, risks and milestone delivery in a matrixed, cross-functional environment
- Ensure alignment with Global Operations strategy and business priorities
- Drive coordination across Regulatory, Clinical, R&I, Operations (R&D and manufacturing sites), Manufacturing Science and Development, Supply Chain, Quality, Marketing, Finance and HR
- Oversee overall program budget ensuring financial discipline and smart resource allocation
- Act as the “control tower” for monitoring performance and reporting to Senior Management (SteerCo, ExCom, S2PRC)
- Identify synergies, anticipate constraints and ensure proactive recovery actions where needed
- Support industrialization scenarios and technology transfer planning for manufacturing scale-up
- Promote communication excellence, stakeholder alignment and execution discipline
- Represent the program in external collaborations, consulting engagements and business case evaluations
What You Bring (Required Experience & Sills)
At least 5 years experience in Program/Project Management in biopharma (plasma-derived therapies is a plus)
• Proven track record in New Product Development: from pre-clinical / non-clinical to launch or BLA/MAA approval submission is preferred
• Experience in cross-functional global matrix organizations ― able to influence without authority
• Strong understanding of product development in regulated environments (GxP, CMC, Phase progression, C>/biologics)
• Industry knowledge in plasma-derived therapies or rare disease biologics preferred
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex budget, governance and risk frameworks
• Excellent communication and presentation skills with Executive-level exposure
• Problem-solving mindset: able to connect strategy to execution and drive decisions quickly
• Fluent in English; Italian is a plus
• PhD in Life Sciences, Pharmacy or related fields — MBA or PMP certification is a plus;
Summary: the candidate should hold a PhD in a relevant Biological Science (Biochemistry, Biotecechnology, etc.), have experience with the design, conduct and management of research (R&D, if possible) projects (preferably in an industrial context). Project management technical qualifications are welcome but not necessary, as relevant training will be provided. Strong communication and interpersonal skills (English and Italian), coupled with demonstrable negotiation skills and a results-oriented approach. Able to work to deadlines with minimal supervision in a complex, multidisciplinary environment.
Who You Are (Key Competencies)
• Strategic thinker with structured execution discipline
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills, strong focus on objectives
• Collaborative leader who inspires trust and accountability
• Comfortable handling ambiguity and evolving priorities
• International mindset and cultural agility
• Passion for innovation and patient impact
Why Kedrion
You will join a purpose-driven company with strong growth momentum, investing significantly in internal Research and Development and scientific knowledge and end-to-end (from Research to Market) capabilities to rapidly develop therapies addressing rare and orphan conditions with high unmet medical need.
We foster accountability, continuous improvement and end-to-end leadership in developing the next generation of plasma-derived medicines.
Apply now and help us shape the future of innovation at Kedrion Biopharma.
This announcement is addressed to applicants of both sexes (L. 903/77 - D.Lgs n. 198/2006) and also to those belonging to Protected Categories (L.68/99).