JOB DESCRIPTION
Senior Executive – Project Management
Location: Hybrid/Remote (willingness to work in US time zone)
Department: Project Management
Reports To: Head of Project Management
Position Summary
We are seeking an experienced and client-focused Project Manager to lead cross-functional pharmaceutical development and manufacturing programs within a small molecule CDMO environment. The role will be responsible for managing projects across the product lifecycle, including process development, analytical development, scale-up, technology transfer, manufacturing, validation, and commercial supply.
The Project Manager will serve as the primary point of contact for clients and internal stakeholders, ensuring projects are delivered on time, within scope, budget, and quality expectations while maintaining strong customer relationships.
Key Responsibilities
Project Leadership & Execution
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Lead end-to-end management of client projects from proposal handover through commercial delivery.
- Develop and maintain integrated project plans, timelines and milestones.
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Coordinate cross-functional teams including R&D, Analytical, Manufacturing, Quality, Supply Chain, Regulatory, Business development, and Procurement.
- Track project progress and ensure alignment with agreed deliverables, timelines, and budgets.
- Facilitate project governance meetings and provide clear status updates to internal leadership and clients.
Manage project scope changes, prepare change orders and evaluate impacts on timelines, cost, and resources.
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Client & Stakeholder Management
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Act as the primary client interface for assigned programs.
- Build strong relationships with clients and ensure proactive communication throughout the project lifecycle.
- Translate client requirements into actionable internal plans.
- Support business development and proposal teams during project initiation and scope discussions.
Ensure alignment between client expectations and operational execution.
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Risk & Issue Management
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Identify project risks, bottlenecks, and dependencies proactively.
Escalate critical issues appropriately and drive timely resolution.
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Financial & Commercial Oversight
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Monitor project budgets, invoicing milestones, and resource utilization.
Support forecasting and revenue tracking for assigned projects.
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Continuous Improvement
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Drive implementation of project management best practices, tools, and governance processes.
- Support PMO initiatives and continuous improvement efforts across the organization.
Contribute to lessons learned and knowledge-sharing activities.
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Qualifications & Experience
Education
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Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Pharmacy, Chemistry, Life Sciences, or related field.
PMP certification or formal project management training preferred.
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Experience
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5–8 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, preferably within a small molecule CDMO, CRO, or API/drug product manufacturing environment.
- Proven experience managing cross-functional pharmaceutical development or manufacturing projects.
- Understanding of drug development lifecycle, GMP operations, technology transfer, and regulatory requirements.
Experience managing external client relationships in a service-based organization preferred.
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Technical & Functional Skills
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Strong project planning and execution capabilities.
- Knowledge of pharmaceutical development processes including Formulation development, Analytical development & validation, Tech transfer and scale-up, Clinical and commercial manufacturing
- Familiarity with project management tools such as Smartsheet, MS Project, SharePoint, Jira, or similar platforms.
Strong risk management and problem-solving skills.
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Soft Skills
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Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
- Ability to work effectively in fast-paced, matrixed environments.
- Customer-focused mindset with strong business acumen.
Leadership and influencing skills across cross-functional teams.
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Preferred Experience
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Experience managing global clients and multi-site projects.
- Exposure to Phase I–III clinical supply and commercial manufacturing programs.
- Knowledge of regulatory expectations from FDA, EMA, MHRA, or other global agencies.