R&D Project Manager

Baxter International; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 128,000 - 176,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical and dental coverage

401(k) and ESPP

Paid time off 20+ days

Job summary

Baxter International in Chicago, IL is seeking a Senior Project Manager to lead lifecycle management and cross-functional teams within the Advanced Surgery division. You will drive program strategy, milestones, and risk management to ensure timely launches and high-quality results.

The ideal candidate has 8+ years in project management, experience in regulated industries, and strong financial & strategic planning abilities, with PMP certification preferred.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering and 8+ years of related experience, or Master's degree with 6+ years of experience.
• 5+ years of project management experience leading complex, multi-site initiatives.
• Experience within regulated industries, preferably medical device, pharmaceutical, life sciences, or advanced manufacturing.
• Proven ability to lead through influence, drive execution, and deliver results across diverse teams.
• Strong business acumen, financial management, and strategic planning capabilities.
• Exceptional communication, stakeholder management, and problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrated success managing competing priorities in fast-paced environments.

Responsibilities

• Accountable for core team performance, program schedule and execution, budget commitments and spend.
• Leads team in defining program strategies, developing goals, and ensures project scope is defined and controlled.
• Continuously interacts with all functions and levels of management ensuring effective ongoing communications across teams and stakeholders.
• Ensures identification and communication of project risks, development of risk plan and proactive management of risk response strategies.
• Anticipates potential conflict situations for proactive solutions and manages situations to result in win-win outcomes.
• Improves business results through continuous improvement in organization’s ability to implement programs from identification through implementation.
• Leads core team to identify and implement continuous improvement.
• Ensure successful project launches while maintaining a strong focus on quality, compliance, and customer impact.

Skills

Project management

Leadership

Communication

Problem-solving

Stakeholder management

Financial management

Strategic planning

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Master's degree

PMP certification (preferred)

Job description

This is where your work makes a difference. At Baxter, we believe every person—regardless of who they are or where they are from—deserves a chance to live a healthy life. It was our founding belief in 1931 and continues to be our guiding principle. We are redefining healthcare delivery to make a greater impact today, tomorrow, and beyond. Our Baxter colleagues are united by our Mission to Save and Sustain Lives. Together, our community is driven by a culture of courage, trust, and collaboration. Every individual is empowered to take ownership and make a meaningful impact. We strive for efficient and effective operations, and we hold each other accountable for delivering exceptional results. Here, you will find more than just a job—you will find purpose and pride. This is where you save and sustain lives. At Baxter, we are deeply connected by our mission. No matter your role at Baxter, your work makes a positive impact on people around the world. You’ll feel a sense of purpose throughout the organization, as we know our work improves outcomes for millions of patients. Baxter’s products and therapies are found in almost every hospital worldwide, in clinics and in the home. For over 85 years, we have pioneered significant medical innovations that transform healthcare. Together, we create a place where we are happy, successful and inspire each other. This is where you can do your best work. Join us at the intersection of saving and sustaining lives— where your purpose accelerates our mission.

Your Role at Baxter

Drive Innovation. Deliver Impact. Improve Lives. At Baxter, project management is more than coordinating timelines and budgets. It's about turning ideas into solutions that help healthcare providers and patients around the world. We're looking for a strategic leader who thrives in complex environments, embraces challenges, and brings people together to achieve ambitious goals.

Your Team Project Managers provide business and technical leadership for lifecycle management and line extension programs for Baxter’s Advanced Surgery division, leading project teams through the identification, justification, prioritization, initiation, development, and implementation processes. Project Managers will lead the core team to define the milestones to achieve the launch date commitments and identify issues and risks associated with those plans. This person will serve as a champion of product lifecycle management processes recognizing how project results impact the overall success of the organization. The Project Manager will develop core team and lead its ability to deliver the project.

What you will be doing:

• Accountable for core team performance, program schedule and execution, budget commitments and spend.
• Leads team in defining program strategies, developing goals, and ensures project scope is defined and controlled.
• Continuously interacts with all functions and levels of management ensuring effective ongoing communications across teams and stakeholders.
• Ensures identification and communication of project risks, development of risk plan and proactive management of risk response strategies.
• Anticipates potential conflict situations for proactive solutions and manages situations to result in win-win outcomes.
• Improves business results through continuous improvement in organization’s ability to implement programs from identification through implementation.
• Leads core team to identify and implement continuous improvement.
• Ensure successful project launches while maintaining a strong focus on quality, compliance, and customer impact.

What you will bring:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering and 8+ years of related experience, or Master's degree with 6+ years of experience.
• 5+ years of project management experience leading complex, multi-site initiatives.
• Experience within regulated industries, preferably medical device, pharmaceutical, life sciences, or advanced manufacturing.
• Proven ability to lead through influence, drive execution, and deliver results across diverse teams.
• Strong business acumen, financial management, and strategic planning capabilities.
• Exceptional communication, stakeholder management, and problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrated success managing competing priorities in fast-paced environments.
• PMP, PMI, IPMA, or equivalent project management certification preferred.

Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S.

Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time.

Baxter is committed to supporting the needs for flexibility in the workplace. We do so through our flexible workplace policy which includes a required minimum number of days a week onsite. This policy provides the benefits of connecting and collaborating in-person in support of our Mission. The flexible workplace policy is subject to local laws and legal requirements. At its discretion, Baxter may decide to adjust, suspend, or discontinue as business needs change.

We understand compensation is an important factor as you consider the next step in your career.

At Baxter, we are committed to equitable pay for all employees, and we strive to be more transparent with our pay practices. The estimated base salary for this position is $128,000 to $176,000 annually. The estimated range is meant to reflect an anticipated salary range for the position. We may pay more or less than of the anticipated range based upon market data and other factors, all of which are subject to change. Individual pay is based on location, skills and expertise, experience, and other relevant factors. This position may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses.

US Benefits at Baxter (except for Puerto Rico)

• Medical and dental coverage that start on day one, as well as insurance coverage for basic life, accident, short-term and long-term disability, and business travel accident insurance.
• Financial and retirement benefits include the Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP), with the ability to purchase company stock at a discount, and the 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan (RSP), with options for employee contributions and company matching.
• Flexible Spending Accounts, educational assistance programs, and time-off benefits such as paid holidays, paid time off ranging from 20 to 35 days based on length of service, family and medical leaves of absence, and paid parental leave.
• Additional benefits include commuting benefits, the Employee Discount Program, the Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and childcare benefits.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Baxter is an equal opportunity employer. Baxter evaluates qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, protected veteran status, disability/handicap status or any other legally protected characteristic. Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal Reasonable Accommodations Baxter is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities globally. If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or interview process,

Recruitment Fraud Notice

Baxter has discovered incidents of employment scams, where fraudulent parties pose as Baxter employees, recruiters, or other agents, and engage with online job seekers in an attempt to steal personal and/or financial information.

No matter your role at Baxter, your talent, skills, and time has a direct impact on people's lives. Since 1931, we have been at the forefront of innovation by bringing smarter, more personalized care to patients around the world. Now, we’re more determined than ever to make a lasting impact as we are redefining healthcare delivery across the care journey. Our Mission to Save and Sustain Lives motivates us as we create a culture in which each of us can succeed. This is where you belong.