Julie DeSousa
Julie DeSousa

Vice President and Strategic Program Management Leader

Actively looking · Member since 6 Sep 2026
Message
Location
Boston, United States
Desired salary
175k–333k USD/yearly
Work preference
Hybrid / Full Time, Part Time, Contract, Freelance, Temporary
Experience level
Senior

About

Professional summary

I am a strategic operations, program management, and business development leader with extensive experience across pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and small-business environments.

I have led early- and late-stage asset operations, portfolio planning, commercialization transitions, executive governance, and corporate initiatives. My experience includes serving as Chief of Staff to executives and leading cross-functional program operations and strategic corporate projects.

I have built and developed operations functions and teams, with a focus on performance management, employee development, engagement, and operational excellence.

I bring strong financial, vendor, and stakeholder management capabilities, including budget oversight, forecasting, accruals, vendor selection, contract negotiations, and client account management.

My therapeutic portfolio experience includes ophthalmology, rare disease, neurology, cystic fibrosis, and oncology.

In our small business, I oversee real-estate investment properties, strategic planning, construction-related market research, proposals, invoicing, and permitting.

Notice period: 1 week

Skills

29 capabilities

Experience

Career history

Vice President Roman's Renovation, Inc.

I oversee investment properties, strategic planning, operations, and communications for a real estate and development small business.

I manage QuickBooks proposal development and invoicing, permit applications, and client accounts. I also conduct market research on construction and design trends to support service expansion planning.

Sr. Director, Head Program Management Office, Early & Late-Stage Assets Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

I was accountable for program operations and transition management for early- and late-stage assets moving from research and development through commercialization. I served as Chief of Staff to the Chief Innovation Officer and Chief Business Officer and was appointed Chief of Staff to the Pipeline & Strategy Executive Committee.

I oversaw integrated development plans, global program reporting, Program Team Model framework development, and executive governance. I led operations, performance management, employee development, engagement, stakeholder management, and strategic initiatives across ophthalmology, rare disease, and neurology portfolios.

Director, Strategic Vendor & Project Management Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

I led program operations and transition management for early-stage assets progressing from discovery and research into development.

I managed research and digital vendors in a highly outsourced operating model, developed the program operations function and team, and maintained financial oversight of the Research organization budget within a 3% annual target.

Sr. Manager, Business Strategy & Operations Biogen

I served as a business partner to the Analytics & Data Sciences organization, managing key external Functional Service Provider relationships and leading the Executive Steering Committee team.

I strengthened partnerships through issue resolution, metric development, and clear communications. I also managed financial forecasting, accruals, and stakeholder relationships for a neurology-focused portfolio.

Associate Director, Study Management Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

I led a cross-functional Clinical Research Organization vendor selection initiative and managed executive communications and reporting.

I conducted multi-million-dollar negotiations with prospective vendors and managed clinical study budget reforecasts for late-stage assets, including trial close-outs and uncontracted gap planning for a cystic fibrosis portfolio.

Operating Director Framingham Taekwondo & Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

I held an Operating Director role for a martial arts school.

Specific employment dates and responsibilities were not provided in the resume.

Manager II, Clinical Outsourcing Takeda Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

I worked in Clinical Outsourcing with a portfolio focus in oncology.

Specific employment dates and additional responsibilities were not provided in the resume.

Clinical Project Manager WorldCare Clinical, Inc.

I worked as a Clinical Project Manager.

Specific employment dates and additional responsibilities were not provided in the resume.

Education

Learning history

Merrimack College

Master of Science, Leadership

Master of Science degree in Leadership.

State University of New York College at Geneseo

Bachelor of Arts, Interpersonal & Organizational Communication; Minor in Business Studies

Bachelor of Arts degree in Interpersonal & Organizational Communication with a minor in Business Studies.

This professional hasn’t added portfolio projects yet.

This professional hasn’t listed any services yet.

People also viewed

All talent ›
Jobs Talent AI Tools Salaries
Menu