PMO, Senior Project Lead (Central Labs)

ThermoFisher Scientific; Highland Heights (KY); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Thermo Fisher Scientific in Highland Heights, KY, is seeking a Sr. PMO Project Lead to drive multiple cross-functional initiatives within a hybrid work model, including up to 75% travel. You will build scalable PMO frameworks, ensure governance, and mentor project managers to elevate delivery standards.

The role requires strong PMO experience, a background in Lean Six Sigma/Agile, and the ability to manage large budgets. You will deliver data-driven updates to executives and partners globally.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent; 8+ years of PMO or program leadership experience.
• Master’s degree strongly preferred.
• PMP or PRINCE2 Practitioner certification strongly preferred.
• Experience with Lean Six Sigma, Agile and Scrum methodologies.

Responsibilities

• Oversee a portfolio of medium-to-large projects (enterprise-level and cross-functional).
• Align project objectives with organizational strategy and business outcomes.
• Establish and maintain governance frameworks, risk registers, and KPI dashboards.
• Lead project planning sessions with executive stakeholders.
• Direct project scope, cost, quality, and change management processes across multiple teams.
• Develop recovery and mitigation strategies for high-risk projects.
• Ensure all projects comply with PMO standards and regulatory guidelines.
• Manage multi-million-dollar budgets and resource pools across global teams.
• Drive forecasting accuracy, budget adherence, and vendor performance evaluation.
• Lead PMO process improvement initiatives, introducing new methodologies (Agile, Lean Six Sigma, or hybrid models).
• Deliver concise, data-driven project briefings to senior leadership and governance boards.
• Coach and mentor junior project managers and coordinators.
• Champion PMO capability development and professional training initiatives.

Skills

Lean Six Sigma

Agile

Scrum

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master’s degree

Tools

Microsoft Project

PowerPoint

Outlook

Excel

Word

Job description

Work Schedule

Standard (Mon-Fri)

Environmental Conditions

Office

Job Description

Job Title: PMO - Sr Project Lead

Location: Highland Heights, KY (Hybrid)

Travel : Up to 75%

At Thermo Fisher Scientific, you will discover meaningful work that makes a positive impact on a global scale. Join our colleagues in bringing our Mission to life - enabling our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner, and safer. We provide our teams with the resources needed to achieve individual career goals while taking science a step beyond through research, development, and delivery of life-changing therapies. With clinical trials conducted in 100+ countries and ongoing development of novel frameworks for clinical research through our PPD clinical research portfolio, our work spans laboratory, digital and decentralized clinical trial services. Your determination to deliver quality and accuracy will improve health outcomes that people and communities depend on – now and in the future.

Our PPD® Laboratory Services team has a direct impact on improving patient health through the expertise of scientists, industry thought leaders and therapeutic experts. As the world leader in serving science, our laboratory professionals bring their commitment to accuracy and quality to deliver groundbreaking innovations.

Discover Impactful Work

As a PMO, Senior Project Lead you will lead the execution of multiple high-visibility, cross-functional projects simultaneously, develop and implement scalable PMO frameworks, ensure compliance with best practices, and mentor project managers to elevate delivery standards.

What Will You Do?

• Oversee a portfolio of medium-to-large projects (enterprise-level and cross-functional).
• Align project objectives with organizational strategy and business outcomes.
• Establish and maintain governance frameworks, risk registers, and KPI dashboards.
• Lead project planning sessions with executive stakeholders.
• Direct project scope, cost, quality, and change management processes across multiple teams.
• Develop recovery and mitigation strategies for high-risk projects.
• Ensure all projects comply with PMO standards and regulatory guidelines.
• Manage multi-million-dollar budgets and resource pools across global teams.
• Drive forecasting accuracy, budget adherence, and vendor performance evaluation.
• Lead PMO process improvement initiatives, introducing new methodologies (Agile, Lean Six Sigma, or hybrid models).
• Deliver concise, data-driven project briefings to senior leadership and governance boards.
• Coach and mentor junior project managers and coordinators.
• Champion PMO capability development and professional training initiatives.

Qualifications:

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent and relevant formal academic / vocational qualification and previous experience that provides the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the job (comparable to 8+ years).
• Degree in Business Administration, Project Management, or related field strongly preferred.
• Master’s degree strongly preferred.
• PMP (Project Management Professional) or PRINCE2 Practitioner certification strongly preferred.
• 3+ years of experience in a PMO or program leadership role strongly preferred.

In some cases, an equivalency, consisting of a combination of appropriate education, training and/or directly related experience, will be considered sufficient for an individual to meet the requirements of the role.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Experience with Lean Six Sigma, Agile and Scrum methodologies. Additional certifications such as Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP), Lean Six Sigma Green/Black Belt, or PgMP preferred.
• Strong analytical, strategic planning, and organizational skills.
• Demonstrated ability to lead diverse teams in a matrixed environment.
• Exceptional communication and presentation skills with executive stakeholders.
• Proven ability to implement scalable PMO processes and tools.
• Financial acumen and experience managing capital and operational budgets.
• Proficiency in the key principles of cross-functional project management (ex: time, quality, cost).
• Critical thinker with solid judgment and strong initiative
• Ability to delegate, effectively prioritize own and project team members workload.
• Ability to effectively use automated systems and computerized applications such as Microsoft Project, PowerPoint, Outlook, Excel, Word.
• Strong verbal and written communication, time management, and organizational skills

Work Environment

Thermo Fisher Scientific values the health and wellbeing of our employees. We support and encourage individuals to create a healthy and balanced environment where they can thrive. Below is listed the working environment/requirements for this role:

• Able to communicate, receive, and understand information and ideas with diverse groups of people in a comprehensible and reasonable manner.
• Able to work upright and stationary for typical working hours.
• Able to use and learn standard office equipment and technology with proficiency.
• Able to perform successfully under pressure while prioritizing and handling multiple projects or activities.
• This role requires independent travel up to 75%, inclusive of traveling in automobiles, airplanes, and trains.

Why Join Us?

Our Mission is to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. Watch as our colleagues explain 5 reasons to work with us. As one team of 100,000+ colleagues, we share a common set of values - Integrity, Intensity, Innovation and Involvement - working together to accelerate research, solve complex scientific challenges, drive technological innovation and support patients in need. #StartYourStory with PPD, part of Thermo Fisher Scientific, where diverse experiences, backgrounds and perspectives are valued.

When you join Thermo Fisher Scientific, you become part of a global team that values passion, innovation, and a commitment to scientific excellence. You’ll work in an environment where collaboration and development are part of the everyday experience and where your contributions truly make a difference.

Accessibility/Disability Access

Job Seekers with a Disability: Thermo Fisher Scientific offers accessibility service for job seekers requiring accommodations in the job application process. For example, this may include individuals requiring assistance because of hearing, vision, mobility, or cognitive impairments. If you are a job seeker with a disability, or assisting a person with a disability, and require accessibility assistance or an accommodation to apply for one of our jobs, please submit a request by telephone at 1-855-471-2255*. Please include your contact information and specific details about your required accommodation to support you during the job application process.

*This telephone line is reserved solely for job seekers with disabilities requiring accessibility assistance or an accommodation in the job application process. Messages left for other purposes, such as not being able to get into the career website, following up on an application, or other non-disability related technical issues will not receive a response.

Thermo Fisher Scientific is an EEO/Affirmative Action Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status.

Thermo Fisher Scientific is an EEO/Affirmative Action Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status.