Director of Program Management and Planning

Houston; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Houston seeks a Director of Program Management and Planning to lead project operations and strategic planning, directing critical clinical trial programs and stakeholder relations.

The role requires strong leadership, extensive cross-functional collaboration, and a track record of delivering complex programs on time and within scope. Strong communication and strategic thinking are essential for success in this senior position.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; master's preferred.
• 8+ years of project management experience; clinical trial management preferred.
• Experience interfacing with CROs and pharma at senior level; private sector trials preferred.
• PMP certification preferred.

Responsibilities

• Seek implementation efficiencies to meet or exceed enrollment expectations established at project initiation.
• Develop, implement, and govern program management processes, dashboards, templates, policies, and metrics.
• Monitor key projects and anticipate, identify and solve roadblocks to project success.
• Facilitate a unified point of contact for executives and external stakeholders on projects, and provide timely clarity on status.
• Interface with executives to define project priorities, opportunities, challenges and communicate risks and opportunities.
• Manage government project deliverables and tasks.
• Coach and mentor PM staff and share best practices.
• Provide technical support and guidance on scope, risk, resource planning, goals, and deliverables.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Strategic thinking

Problem solving

Project management

Organization

Diplomacy

Urgency

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Master's Degree preferred

Job description

Director of Program Management and Planning

develops and directs project management operations and strategic planning to drive organizational goals and shepherds key relationships with external stakeholders.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Seek implementation efficiencies to meet or exceed the enrollment expectations established at project initiation.
• Develop, implement, and govern program management processes, dashboards, templates, policies, and metrics.
• Monitor key projects and anticipate, identify and solve roadblocks to project success.
• Facilitate a unified point of contact for executives and for external stakeholders on projects, and provide accurate, timely clarity on project status.
• Interface with executives to define project priorities, implementation opportunities, challenges and communicate project risks and opportunities.
• Manage government project deliverables and tasks.
• Coach and mentor project management practitioners and share knowledge of best practices.
• Provide technical support and guidance (including scope definition, risk identification and mitigation, resource planning, goals and deliverables) to assigned PM staff.
• Build, measure and report PM KPls and lead continuous improvement.
• Act as the key client contact for designated clinical projects/programs, and develop successful relationships with clients to drive increased volume of business.

Stakeholder Management

• Extensive experience in cross functional team collaboration - in planning, execution and oversight of the key clinical trial projects.
• Ensure strong alignment with broad cross functional team goals to achieve overall organizational level goals
• Drive information and communication management for internal and external stakeholders across key clinical trial projects

Leadership and Team Building

• Implement department level org chart for the department
• Build and mentor mid-level management
• Drive continuous optimization of operational processes within the department and overall resource allocation

Metrics and Study Performance Management

• Drive outcomes on key study milestones throughout the clinical trial journey for key projects
• Monitor and drive continuous improvements on enrollment metrics as well as data quality metrics as per sponsor and senior management expectations.

Program Management and Planning

• Drive expedited study startup and impact FPFV outcomes across all the clinical trial projects in the organization
• Overseas project level, program level reporting and collaborate with cross functional teams for executive reports
• Strong working knowledge of clinical trial operational processes
• Strong project management, change agility and problem solving capabilities
• Serve as as the key sponsor/CRO contact for designated clinical trial projects, build successful relationships and continuous focus on key deliverables
• Measure and report PM KPls and lead continuous improvement on these
• Overseas project level, program level reporting and collaborate with cross functional teams for monthly executive reports

KNOWLEDGE & EXPERIENCE

Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree required (Master’s Degree preferred)

Experience:

• Experience interfacing with CROs and pharma, especially at a senior level
• 8+ years of project management experience. Clinical Trial Management experience is preferred
• Private sector, site-side experience in industry sponsored trials is preferred

Credentials:

• PMP certification preferred

Knowledge and Skills:

• Driven, goal-oriented attitude
• Ability to drive and assert with diplomacy
• Ability to strategize and solve problems
• Strong leadership and organizational skills
• Excellent communication and people skills
• An innate sense of urgency
• Strong knowledge of Project Management and Planning and Portfolio Management
• Problem-Solving, Critical and Creative Thinking
• Ability to think strategically and independently, but also can take "hands on" approach if needed depending on the urgency of the situation