Executive Director, CMC

Centessa Pharmaceuticals plc (Nasdaq: CNTA) new kind of pharmaceutical company with a deconstructed R&D environment that prioritizes data driven decision making led by subject matter experts. Centessa is advancing a portfolio of high conviction programs with strong biological validation. Our asset-centric model offers a unique R&D logic that has been applied by single asset companies to improve productivity. This operating model has minimal centralized infrastructure, reduced hierarchy, and exclusive focus on data driven capital allocation. Our teams are uniquely incentivized to expeditiously interrogate key scientific hypotheses. We believe the asset-centric model can lead to improved success rates for programs with greater speed and modest costs.   SUMMARY: Centessa continues to expand its CMC group and currently seeks an Executive Director of CMC, to lead our small molecule development programs across all CMC functions. This individual will be responsible for driving technical strategies, managing outsourced manufacturing partnerships, and overseeing all aspects of CMC development from early-to late-stage development and clinical studies. This high-impact leadership role requires a blend of scientific expertise, operational savvy, business acumen, technical efficiency, and strategic foresight. The ideal candidate brings deep experience in small molecule drug development, excels at cross-functional collaboration, and thrives in a growth-stage biotech environment. The Executive Director, CMC will report directly to the SVP, CMC and will have ownership across the CMC function to include strategy, direct reports, team management, cross-functional leadership, and external manufacturing on our pipeline programs. Travel to vendors both domestically and internationally will be required. RESPONSIBILITIES: Strategic Leadership Oversee the implementation of end-to-end CMC strategy across Centessa’s development programs Translate development goals into robust CMC plans, ensuring alignment across R&D/early stage, Clinical, Quality, and Regulatory functions Develop long-term development manufacturing strategies that consider Phase 1/Phase 2 forecasting, demand forecasting, investment planning, inventory control, and vendor relationships Proactively identify and mitigate technical, production, and supply chain risks Operational Oversight Act as the CMC team representative member in cross-functional developmental teams Oversee outsourced manufacturing activities, including CDMO contract negotiations and performance management Ensure timely delivery of clinical supply and maintain timelines for Registration/Primary Stability, PPQ/Commercial, and Phase 1/Phase 2 drug substance and drug product batches. Manage the development of budgets and timelines for CMC operations and report regularly to leadership Drive cross-functional meetings and milestone planning to support timely execution across drug substance and drug product for development programs Interface closely with key stakeholders in Quality, Regulatory, Supply Chain, Clinical, Legal, Finance, Project Management, and Non-Clinical teams in the development and execution of CMC plans Assist in developing documents and maintain compliance consistent with GLP and GMP standards for pre-clinical, early- and late-stage clinical development (pre-IND through Phase 3+) &