Project Manager

Salas O'Brien; Raleigh (NC); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid time off

Job summary

Salas O’Brien in Raleigh, NC is seeking a Project Manager to lead capital projects within regulated manufacturing environments, including pharmaceutical and life sciences facilities operating under cGMP requirements.

The role covers the full lifecycle from scoping and planning through commissioning, validation support, and turnover, requiring collaboration with clients, engineering, operations, quality, and vendors to meet scope, schedule, cost, and compliance objectives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Chemical/Mechanical preferred).
• 3–10 years of experience leading capital projects in regulated environments.
• Experience with cGMP, validation, change control, and regulated documentation systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support capital projects across full lifecycle from scope to turnover.
• Coordinate teams and stakeholders to align execution, schedule, budget, risk, and compliance.
• Manage projects in operating facilities or greenfield sites, including equipment installations and commissioning.
• Maintain project documentation, meeting minutes, status reports, and action tracking.
• Communicate with clients, vendors, and contractors at multiple levels.
• Support quick issue resolution and decision-making.

Skills

Project management

Regulated environments

Change control

Documentation systems

Stakeholder coordination

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's in Engineering

Job description

The Project Manager will lead and support execution of capital projects within regulated manufacturing environments, including pharmaceutical and life sciences facilities operating under cGMP requirements.

This role is responsible for managing projects through the full lifecycle, including project scoping, planning, design coordination, procurement support, construction oversight, commissioning, qualification/validation support, and turnover. The candidate will work closely with client stakeholders, engineering teams, operations, quality, validation, vendors, and contractors to deliver projects aligned with scope, schedule, cost, compliance, and operational objectives.

Candidates should understand how projects are implemented in regulated environments, including the impact of change control, validation requirements, controlled documentation systems, and operational constraints within active manufacturing facilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support capital projects across the full project lifecycle, including scope development, planning, design coordination, procurement, construction, commissioning, qualification/validation support, and turnover.
• Manage projects within operating facilities or greenfield projects, including equipment installations, system upgrades, facility modifications, process improvements, and expansion efforts.
• Coordinate project teams and stakeholders to align technical execution, schedule, budget, risk management, and compliance requirements.
• Drive issue resolution, decision-making, and follow-through across internal teams, client stakeholders, vendors, and subcontractors to maintain project progress.
• Support projects involving process equipment, clean and process utilities, facility infrastructure, manufacturing systems, and related support systems.
• Work independently while leveraging internal, client, and industry resources to deliver practical and effective project solutions.
• Build and maintain strong professional relationships with team members, clients, suppliers, vendors, and contractors.
• Coordinate across engineering, quality, validation, manufacturing, maintenance, and operations teams to execute projects in regulated manufacturing environments.
• Maintain composure and leadership presence in fast-paced, high-visibility, or high-pressure project settings.
• Maintain accurate and comprehensive project documentation, including project scopes, schedules, meeting minutes, status reports, technical summaries, and action item tracking.
• Develop and manage documentation in accordance with both engineering project processes and controlled documentation systems within regulated environments, including cGMP requirements, validation activities, and change control processes.
• Support preparation, review, and coordination of project-related technical documentation, including RFPs, specifications, data sheets, user requirements, turnover documentation, and execution records.
• Collect, track, analyze, and communicate project data, risks, trends, and performance indicators to support informed decision-making.
• Communicate effectively with clients, contractors, vendors, and project teams regarding scope, schedule, budget, risks, deliverables, and compliance requirements, including engagement with stakeholders at technical, managerial, and executive levels.
• Ensure timely and accurate transfer of information in environments requiring controlled documentation, disciplined communication, and coordination across multiple stakeholders.
• Proactively identify and communicate issues, risks, and knowledge gaps, leveraging internal resources and technical networks to support resolution and maintain project momentum.
• Lead project-related meetings and ensure decisions, priorities, and action items are clearly documented and communicated to responsible stakeholders.
• Support project execution and continuous improvement initiatives focused on efficiency, compliance, cost control, and operational reliability.
• Develop and implement practical solutions to project and system challenges, collaborating with cross-functional teams to address client needs.
• Contribute to a collaborative environment by generating ideas, evaluating alternatives, and helping teams adopt changes within regulated and operationally constrained environments.

Qualifications and Experience

Educational Background:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Chemical, Mechanical, or equivalent preferred).
• Equivalent education and experience may be considered for candidates with significant experience supporting pharmaceutical, biotech, life sciences, or other regulated manufacturing environments.

Experience:

3–10 years of experience supporting or leading capital projects, preferably in pharmaceutical, biotech, or life sciences industries, or other regulated manufacturing environments such as food & beverage, cleanroom-based manufacturing, semiconductor, or similarly controlled production settings.

• Capital projects within active manufacturing facilities.
• Equipment installation, commissioning, and turnover.
• Utilities, infrastructure, or manufacturing system upgrades in regulated environments.

Candidates with greater years of experience may be expected to demonstrate either:

Direct pharmaceutical / cGMP experience or strong, clearly transferable project leadership experience within regulated or highly controlled manufacturing environments.

Technical Skills

Demonstrated experience leading or supporting execution of capital projects, including scope, schedule, cost, risk, stakeholder coordination, and project controls.

Experience with project documentation and execution records, including meeting management, status reporting, action tracking, and turnover support.

Working knowledge of project implementation within regulated environments (cGMP or similar frameworks), including understanding of how project execution interfaces with change control, validation, and controlled documentation systems.

Familiarity with capital project lifecycles in operating facilities, including design coordination, procurement support, contractor/vendor management, commissioning, and turnover.

Strong written and verbal communication skills across technical teams, client stakeholders, and leadership audiences.

Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities across changing business, technical, and operational conditions.

Flexibility to support different project sizes, scopes, and delivery approaches within regulated environments.

Demonstrated ability to work independently and lead projects forward with accountability for schedule, budget, communication, and execution outcomes.

Strong organizational, problem‑solving, and follow‑through skills with attention to detail.

Licenses & Certifications

• PMP certification or progress toward certification is a plus.
• CAPM certification or formal project management training is a plus.
• EIT/FE certification or progress toward professional licensure is a plus.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license is considered an asset for candidates supporting complex technical or capital projects, but is not required.
• Nice to Have: Experience supporting capital projects within pharmaceutical, biotech, or life sciences manufacturing environments.
• Experience with change control, deviation management, CAPA processes, commissioning, qualification, validation, or project turnover.
• Experience coordinating cross‑functional execution across Engineering, Operations, Quality, Validation, Supply Chain, Maintenance, and Manufacturing.
• Experience working with client‑facing project execution, contractor/vendor coordination, and regulated documentation systems.

Location

Raleigh, NC or Houston, TX, or other client sites.

Travel

Flexibility and willingness for travel based on project needs.

Compensation and Benefits

Actual compensation will be determined based on a number of factors including skills, experience, qualifications, and location. This role is also eligible for performance-based bonuses, and a comprehensive U.S. based benefits package, including:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid time off and company holidays
• Wellness programs and employee assistance resources

For more information, visit our full benefits overview here.

Equal Opportunity Employment Statement

Salas O’Brien provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, colour, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state/provincial, or local laws. Salas O’Brien will accommodate the disability-related needs of applicants as required by law.

Third-Party Agency Notice

Salas O’Brien does not accept unsolicited resumes from external recruiters or agencies. We only work with approved partners engaged directly by our Talent Acquisition team for specific searches. Unsolicited submissions will not be eligible for placement fees.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities. This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.