Program Manager

Actalent; Parsippany-Troy Hills (NJ); On-site; USD 83,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision

401(k) Retirement Plan

Pre-tax and Roth options

Life Insurance

PTO / Vacation

Job summary

Actalent is seeking a Senior Program Manager to lead strategic cross-functional initiatives with a strong Lean/Operational Excellence background. The role focuses on driving long-term programs, optimizing resources, and reducing costs within a pharmaceutical setting.

The position is onsite in Parsippany, NJ, a 1-year contract with potential extension. Expect collaboration with senior leaders and global teams to implement sustainable improvements and measurable savings.

Qualifications

• 510+ years of experience in program/project management, Laboratory, Operational Excellence, Lean, manufacturing, or a related discipline.

Responsibilities

• Manage complex, cross-functional programs and initiatives while maintaining alignment across scope, timelines, priorities, risks, and key deliverables.
• Provide program-level oversight for long-term projects and initiatives extending over multiple years.
• Partner with project leaders and functional stakeholders to ensure programs remain on track and business objectives are achieved.
• Drive Operational Excellence and Lean initiatives focused on improving efficiency, reducing waste, and delivering measurable cost savings.
• Assess existing workflows, laboratory operations, manufacturing processes, supply chain activities, and resource utilization to identify opportunities for optimization.
• Evaluate vendor relationships, contracts, and existing processes to identify potential efficiencies and cost-saving opportunities.
• Implement process improvements that increase operational efficiency and improve resource utilization.
• Apply Lean principles and continuous improvement methodologies to complex operational challenges.
• Interface regularly with Senior leadership and executive stakeholders, communicating program status, risks, recommendations, and opportunities.
• Provide candid, constructive feedback and recommendations to Senior-level stakeholders.
• Collaborate across functions and, where applicable, global teams to implement sustainable improvements.
• Operate with a high degree of autonomy and effectively influence stakeholders across multiple levels of the organization.

Skills

Program management

Lean/Continuous improvement

Cross-functional leadership

Executive communication

Vendor management

Tools

GMP

Laboratory operations

Job description

Senior Program Manager Operational Excellence

Job Description

We are seeking a Senior Program Manager to support strategic, cross-functional initiatives within a pharmaceutical organization. This individual will combine strong program management expertise with Lean/Operational Excellence experience, driving complex, long-term programs while identifying opportunities to improve efficiency, optimize resources, and reduce costs.

Responsibilities

• Manage complex, cross-functional programs and initiatives while maintaining alignment across scope, timelines, priorities, risks, and key deliverables.
• Provide program‑level oversight for long‑term projects and initiatives extending over multiple years.
• Partner with project leaders and functional stakeholders to ensure programs remain on track and business objectives are achieved.
• Drive Operational Excellence and Lean initiatives focused on improving efficiency, reducing waste, and delivering measurable cost savings.
• Assess existing workflows, laboratory operations, manufacturing processes, supply chain activities, and resource utilization to identify opportunities for optimization.
• Evaluate vendor relationships, contracts, and existing processes to identify potential efficiencies and cost‑saving opportunities.
• Implement process improvements that increase operational efficiency and improve resource utilization.
• Apply Lean principles and continuous improvement methodologies to complex operational challenges.
• Interface regularly with Senior leadership and executive stakeholders, communicating program status, risks, recommendations, and opportunities.
• Provide candid, constructive feedback and recommendations to Senior‑level stakeholders.
• Collaborate across functions and, where applicable, global teams to implement sustainable improvements.
• Operate with a high degree of autonomy and effectively influence stakeholders across multiple levels of the organization.

Essential Skills

• 510+ years of experience in program/project management, Laboratory, Operational Excellence, Lean, manufacturing, or a related discipline.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex programs involving multiple projects, stakeholders, or workstreams.
• Strong background in Lean, continuous improvement, process optimization, and cost‑reduction initiatives.
• Experience assessing operational processes and identifying opportunities for greater efficiency and cost savings.
• Previous experience within pharmaceutical, biotechnology, GMP‑regulated manufacturing, nutraceutical, or similarly complex environments.
• Experience working within or supporting laboratory and/or manufacturing operations.
• Strong executive presence with the ability to effectively communicate and present recommendations to Senior leadership.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and drive programs forward with minimal oversight.
• Ability to influence cross‑functional stakeholders and hold teams accountable to milestones and deliverables.
• Strong analytical, problem‑solving, organizational, and communication skills.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry experience with exposure to GMP‑regulated environments.
• Experience leading large‑scale Lean transformations or significantly improving an existing manufacturing/operational process.
• Experience supporting global organizations or collaborating with European/global teams.
• Experience with vendor management and contract review from an operational efficiency or cost‑optimization perspective.

Work Environment

• This position is preferred to be onsite, with a schedule of MondayFriday, approximately 9:00 AM5:00 PM.
• It is a 1‑year engagement with potential for extension, working closely with the Project Leadership Team.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Parsippany, NJ.

Pay And Benefits

The pay range for this position is $60.00 - $65.00/hr. Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job‑related factors. Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: Medical, dental & vision Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital 401(k) Retirement Plan Pre‑tax and Roth post‑tax contributions available Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) Short and long‑term disability Health Spending Account (HSA) Transportation benefits Employee Assistance Program Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Parsippany, NJ.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Nov 13, 2026.

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Parsippany,NJ.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [e-mail] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.