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Product Development Team Leader—Lassa Fever Vaccine Program

Product Development Team Leader—Lassa Fever Vaccine Program

IAVICape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
13 days ago
Job description

Overview

Job title : Product Development Team Leader—Lassa Fever Vaccine Program

Location : Western Cape, Cape Town

Deadline : October 10, 2025

Responsibilities

  • The Product Development Team Leader (PDTL) provides leadership for the development strategy for IAVI’s Lassa Fever Vaccine Program. This PDTL leads a matrix and cross-functional team, working with the Project Management Lead (PML) to develop and execute an integrated Product Development Plan (iPDP).
  • Manage the development process through late-stage clinical trials, key milestones, and licensure related to product registration, global access, and vaccine introduction.
  • Lead the cross-functional team to deliver an affordable Lassa Fever Vaccine solution to countries that need it, in alignment with the iPDP and portfolio strategy.
  • Oversee development of the iPDP to define the end-to-end product development strategy, establish the Target Product Profile (TPP), key milestones, and deliverables for cross-functional execution through registration and global access.
  • Lead strategic decision making to enable milestone-driven execution, ensure budgets and timelines are met, assess program risks, and apply risk mitigation approaches.
  • Resolve scientific, clinical, technical, and regulatory issues with team members and functional area leaders; direct corrective actions when needed; escalate significant or unresolved issues to IAVI governance as appropriate.
  • Guide the PDT through stage gate governance reviews and internal decision-making processes to secure approval at each stage; partner with the PML on preparation of materials using standardized tools and templates.
  • Maintain understanding of unmet public health needs, latest scientific data, and external landscape relevant to Lassa Fever and related diseases that may impact efficacy assessments.
  • Lead the internal cross-functional product team (e.g., Pre-Clinical, Clinical, Quality, Manufacturing, Regulatory, Global Access) to work effectively; coach and mentor team members; ensure support functions provide dedicated collaboration.
  • Chair PDT meetings and work with the PML to establish agendas, scorecards, dashboards, and other PM tools to monitor execution against goals and milestones.
  • Drive achievement of milestones and deliverables with urgency, while maintaining quality and compliance.
  • Ensure funding effectiveness through external sources and internal investment; identify funding gaps; review and approve development program budgets; build relationships with funders; support funding proposal preparation and negotiations.
  • Identify strategic needs for partnerships with Impact Area Leader and Business Development; explore partnership approaches and forge alliances to achieve objectives.
  • Foster relationships with scientific leaders, donors, government agencies, academia, investigator networks, and other external stakeholders aligned with the program’s needs.
  • Communicate and champion IAVI’s mission, network, and value as a partner internally and externally.

Education and Work Experience

  • MD or PhD in a science-related field is required.
  • Minimum of 10 years of experience including vaccine product development and program or team leadership experience is required.
  • Experience with late-stage development of vaccines (pharmaceutical industry and / or biotech) with progression of programs through licensure is required.

    • Qualifications and Skills

  • Track record of success with urgency and the ability to develop clear, concise decisions.
  • High level of leadership to build relationships, motivate teams, and influence at all levels.
  • Strong organizational and communications skills with experience in fostering external partnerships and collaborations.
  • Proven track record of managing teams and projects, supervising staff, and meeting deadlines and budgets.
  • Strong interpersonal and intercultural skills; ability to work with colleagues from diverse disciplines, countries, and cultures.
  • Proven ability to deliver results and meet targets.
  • Ability to travel up to 20% of the time.
  • In-depth knowledge / experience in the pharmaceutical or biotech industries with vaccine development.
  • Experience with clinical development and registration in LMICs is desirable.
  • Administrative / Management experience applicable to this role.

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