Life Sciences Capital Projects Lead – Onsite Columbus

Verista; Columbus (OH); On-site; USD 102,000 - 145,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Growth potential

Competitive pay

Health insurance

Vision insurance

Retirement plan

Paid time off

Tuition reimbursement

Parental leave

Job summary

Verista in Columbus, OH is seeking an Engineering Project Manager to lead complex capital projects in pharmaceutical and life sciences manufacturing. You will oversee packaging and manufacturing equipment upgrades, facility expansions, and related upgrades, ensuring on-time, on-budget delivery.

You will coordinate across Engineering, Manufacturing, Maintenance, Automation, Operations, and vendors, develop detailed schedules and budgets, and report to site leadership.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related technical discipline required.
• 7–10+ years of experience in pharmaceutical, biotech, or life sciences environments, including engineering, capital project management, or manufacturing project execution
• Proven experience leading end‑to‑end capital projects from planning through installation, startup, and operational handoff, with responsibility for scope, schedule, budget, resources, risks, and project delivery
• Demonstrated experience managing production line shutdowns, equipment installations, replacements, relocations, and cutovers, with a strong track record of coordinating floor activities and minimizing manufacturing downtime
• Strong technical project experience with packaging, fill/finish, inspection systems, manufacturing equipment, facility infrastructure, and/or warehouse/logistics systems; experience with cold rooms, temperature‑controlled storage, and Vertical Lift Modules is highly preferred
• Proven ability to lead on‑floor project execution, coordinating with all levels of stakeholders in complex GMP manufacturing environments.
• Proficiency with project planning and scheduling tools such as Microsoft Project, with demonstrated experience in integrated schedules, budgeting, forecasting, cost control, risk management, change management, and executive project reporting.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to be 100% on‑site in Columbus, OH for this work.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex capital projects within pharma and life sciences, managing scope, schedule, budget, resources, risks, and execution.
• Manage multiple projects involving packaging and manufacturing equipment, production line upgrades, facility expansions, and warehousing.
• Lead production line shutdowns, equipment replacements, installations, relocations, and cutovers with detailed strategies.
• Provide hands-on floor leadership coordinating Engineering, Manufacturing, Maintenance, Automation, Operations, EHS, vendors.
• Lead packaging equipment installation and upgrade projects including fillers, labeling, conveyors, serialization.
• Develop and manage integrated project schedules, budgets, forecasts, milestones, risks, and reporting to leadership.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Stakeholder management

On-site work

Scheduling

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related technical discipline

Tools

Microsoft Project

Job description

Verista in Columbus, OH is seeking an Engineering Project Manager to lead complex capital projects in pharmaceutical and life sciences manufacturing. You will oversee packaging and manufacturing equipment upgrades, facility expansions, and related upgrades, ensuring on-time, on-budget delivery.

You will coordinate across Engineering, Manufacturing, Maintenance, Automation, Operations, and vendors, develop detailed schedules and budgets, and report to site leadership.