Internal Program Manager, Drug Discovery

Internal Program Manager, Drug Discovery

Location: NYC or Boston

ABOUT PROXIMA

Proxima (formerly VantAI) is a frontier AI and data generation company discovering the next generation of proximity therapeutics by making protein interactions programmable. Our platform brings together foundation-model machine learning, a scalable data generation engine, and a partnership track record exceeding $5B in collaborations across the world’s leading biopharma and tech organizations. We’ve recently closed an oversubscribed seed round with an elite group of VCs including DCVC, NVIDIA’s NVentures, AIX, Yosemite among others.

Neo-1 is our all-atom foundation model that combines state-of-the-art structure prediction and molecular generation in a single system. Neo-1 enables rapid exploration of chemical and structural space for high value, previously intractable targets, and in particular unlocks small molecule proximity therapeutics like molecular glues with AI for the first time.

In parallel, we are developing an advanced structural interactomics platform built on proprietary XLMS technology and a lab equipped with next-generation mass spectrometry instrumentation. This platform produces proteome-scale maps of protein interactions and helps identify small molecules that modulate proximity. Together with Neo-1, it creates an integrated system capable of co-folding protein complexes while generating candidate small molecules to influence those interactions.

Proximity-based therapeutics represent one of most promising frontiers in modern drug discovery with the potential to treat previously intractable diseases and target ‘undruggable’ proteins. We’re building the tech and the team to make that happen. Come join us!

About the Role

As our first Internal Program Manager you will be building the program management function from scratch in a ~50-person company where the science is moving fast, the team is lean, and every week matters. You'll sit at the center of our computational, biology, chemistry, and proteomics workstreams and be the person who makes sure our internal programs translate from promising AI-generated hypotheses into real drug discovery milestones.

This role reports to the VP of R&D Strategy & Operations and works directly with the C-Suite, scientific leadership, and external partners. You'll have a front-row seat to how an AI-first drug discovery company operates at the earliest stage, and a direct hand in shaping whether it works.

What You'll Do

• Program Execution: Own the day-to-day management of Proxima's internal drug discovery programs from target identification through hit finding and lead optimization. Drive timelines, track milestones, identify bottlenecks, and keep programs moving
• Build the Operating System: Stand up the program management infrastructure for a pre-seed stage company. Define how we track progress, run program team meetings, escalate decisions, and communicate status to leadership. There is no playbook; you're writing it
• Cross-Functional Coordination: Be the connective tissue between computational scientists, biologists, chemists, and proteomics researchers. Ensure that AI/ML outputs are translating into actionable wet lab experiments and that data flows back to inform models
• CRO & External Partner Management: Manage CRO relationships tied to internal programs, including scoping, contracting, timeline management, data delivery, and quality oversight
• Decision Support: Synthesize scientific and operational information into clear recommendations for leadership. Prepare materials for program reviews, investor updates, and board-level discussions
• Resource & Risk Management: Flag resource constraints, timeline risks, and competing priorities early. Help leadership make tradeoff decisions with the right context
• Data & Tools: Implement and maintain lightweight project management tools, trackers, and dashboards that give real-time visibility into program health without creating bureaucratic overhead

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in a life sciences discipline; biology, chemistry, or pharmacology preferred
• 3-6 + years of experience in drug discovery program management, biotech operations, or a related role in pharma or life sciences
• Hands-on experience managing cross-functional R&D programs, ideally from target ID through preclinical stages
• Comfort working in a fast-moving, ambiguous environment where processes don't yet exist and priorities shift
• Strong project management fundamentals: timeline management, risk tracking, stakeholder communication, meeting facilitation
• Proficiency with Excel, PowerPoint, and familiarity with project management tools; Python or GitHub experience a plus
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to distill complex scientific programs into clear status updates for technical and non-technical audiences

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience at an early-stage biotech (Series A or earlier) or in a role where you built program management infrastructure from the ground up
• Familiarity with computational or AI-driven drug discovery, including working alongside ML/AI teams
• Exposure to proximity-based therapeutics, targeted protein degradation, molecular glues, or related modalities
• Experience managing CROs in a drug discovery context