Interim Senior Director or Project Management

xNorth; Canada; Hybrid; CAD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

xNorth is seeking an Interim Senior Director of Project Management to lead the PM function for a growing CDMO. The role reports to senior leadership and focuses on strengthening project execution, improving portfolio visibility, and delivering client projects from scope through development, technology transfer, validation, commercialization, and post-approval activities.

The ideal candidate will have significant leadership experience in pharma/biotech or medical device CDMO environments, a deep

Qualifications

• Significant leadership experience in project management within CDMO/pharma environments.
• Strong understanding of the full project lifecycle from development to post-approval.
• Experience managing complex client-facing projects in regulated manufacturing.
• Experience leading and developing a large project-management team.
• Solid knowledge of sterile manufacturing, aseptic operations, or medical device assembly.
• Strong commercial awareness including project costing, contracts and negotiations.

Responsibilities

• Take leadership of the project management function and manage a large team of experienced Project Managers.
• Oversee the execution of multiple client projects across development, tech transfer, validation, commercialization, and post-approval changes.
• Establish clear priorities, governance, accountabilities, and operating routines across the project portfolio.
• Improve project planning, scheduling, resource coordination, risk management, cost control, and reporting.
• Ensure alignment between project management, business development, technical operations, manufacturing, quality, engineering, supply chain, and finance.
• Strengthen client communication and manage expectations, timelines, risks, and deliverables.
• Support project costing, proposals, contracts, change orders, and commercial discussions.
• Identify execution risks early and implement corrective actions to meet timelines and commitments.
• Develop and monitor KPIs related to project delivery, budget, capacity, and client satisfaction.
• Provide regular updates to senior leadership and the xNorth Partner overseeing the mandate.

Skills

Leadership experience

Full lifecycle PM

Regulated manufacturing

Team leadership

Commercial awareness

Communication skills

Job description

Interim Senior Director or Project Management

Interim Senior Director of Project Management - CDMO

Location: Ontario
Mandate: 12 months
Start date: As soon as possible

Founded and led by former operating executives, xNorth specializes in deploying and supporting interim executives and senior leaders to help organizations address critical transformation, performance, and leadership challenges.

We are seeking an Interim Senior Director of Project Management to lead the project management function of a growing Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization.

Reporting to senior leadership, the selected leader will be responsible for strengthening project execution, improving portfolio visibility, and ensuring the successful delivery of client projects from initial scope and contract through development, technology transfer, commercialization, and post-approval activities.

Key Responsibilities

• Take leadership of the project management function and manage a large team of experienced Project Managers.
• Oversee the execution of multiple client projects across development, technology transfer, validation, commercialization, and post-approval changes.
• Establish clear priorities, governance, accountabilities, and operating routines across the project portfolio.
• Improve project planning, scheduling, resource coordination, risk management, cost control, and reporting.
• Ensure close alignment between project management, business development, technical operations, manufacturing, quality, engineering, supply chain, and finance.
• Strengthen client communication and ensure expectations, timelines, risks, and deliverables are managed effectively.
• Support project costing, proposals, contracts, change orders, and commercial discussions.
• Identify execution risks early and implement corrective actions to maintain project timelines and commitments.
• Develop and monitor key performance indicators related to project delivery, budget, capacity, and client satisfaction.
• Provide regular updates to senior leadership and the xNorth Partner overseeing the mandate.

Candidate Profile

• Significant leadership experience in project management within a pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, or CDMO environment.
• Strong understanding of the full project lifecycle, including development, technology transfer, validation, scale-up, commercialization, and post-approval changes.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex client-facing projects in a regulated manufacturing environment.
• Experience leading and developing a large team of Project Managers.
• Solid knowledge of sterile manufacturing, aseptic operations, or medical device assembly.
• Strong commercial awareness, including project costing, contract management, scope changes, and client negotiations.
• Proven ability to improve project governance, portfolio management, performance tracking, and execution discipline.
• Hands-on, pragmatic, and highly execution-oriented leadership style.
• Strong communication and stakeholder-management skills.