Senior Project Manager, Capital Projects

Novartis; North Carolina; On-site; USD 175,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation package

Job summary

Novartis in Durham, NC is seeking a Senior Project Manager for Capital Projects, Engineering. You will lead end‑to‑end GMP capital programs, spanning concept to turnover, coordinating engineering, construction, procurement, quality, and validation teams.

The role requires a strong engineering background, 9+ years in GMP manufacturing, and excellent communication. Onsite in Durham with a comprehensive relocation/benefits package and a focus on regulatory readiness and project controls.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related field with 9 years of GMP experience.
• 9+ years leading capital projects in GMP environments.
• Experience managing multi‑hundred million dollar capital programs from start to finish.
• Experience with coordinating architectural/engineering firms, GC, contractors, suppliers.
• Strong GMP, regulatory and facility readiness knowledge.
• Experience with sterile manufacturing, cleanrooms and utilities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication and stakeholder management.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning, execution, delivery, and closeout of large GMP capital projects.
• Own project budget, schedule, risk, and performance metrics across programs.
• Lead cross‑functional decision making and coordination among engineering, construction, procurement, and quality teams.
• Ensure GMP compliance, site standards, and regulatory expectations are met.

Skills

Project leadership

GMP regulatory knowledge

Stakeholder management

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related field

Job description

::Please note this is a Direct Hire Position for Novartis::

Novartis touches the lives of a tenth of the world’s population. Every role here, regardless of contract type, makes an impact on human life!

Ready to work with Magnit at Novartis? Please read on...

Senior Project Manager - Capital Projects, Engineering

Job Description Summary

Lead the planning, execution, delivery, and closeout of large-scale capital projects supporting the Durham Novartis Campus. This role provides end-to-end project leadership for complex GMP capital programs, including facility construction, equipment installation, automation integration, commissioning and qualification readiness, operational turnover, and project closeout. The role serves as the primary engineering project lead for major capital investments and partners across engineering, construction, procurement, quality, manufacturing, EHS, supply chain, finance, validation, automation, and external contractor organizations.

Key responsibilities:

• Lead large, complex capital projects supporting sterile filling, packaging, and GMP manufacturing facility expansion.
• Manage capital projects from concept, business case development, front-end planning, design, procurement, construction, commissioning, qualification, operational readiness, turnover, and project closeout.
• Serve as the primary project leader and client-facing engineering representative for assigned large capital programs.
• Develop and maintain the project execution strategy, governance structure, objectives, scope, schedule, budget, risk profile, and performance metrics.
• Own project budget management, cost forecasting, cash flow, contingency planning, change control, and financial reporting for assigned capital programs.
• Lead schedule development and integration across design, procurement, construction, equipment delivery, installation, commissioning, qualification, operational readiness, and licensure-enabling activities.
• Provide leadership and oversight for architectural/engineering deliverables, construction execution, equipment layout, cleanroom facility interfaces, utilities, automation, process equipment, and GMP facility readiness.
• Ensure project execution is aligned with GMP requirements, sterile facility expectations, site standards, quality systems, EHS requirements, and applicable regulatory expectations.
• Lead cross-functional decision making to resolve project issues, resource constraints, design conflicts, construction barriers, procurement delays, quality concerns, and operational readiness gaps.
• Ensure disciplined project controls are used, including cost tracking, schedule controls, change management, risk registers, decision logs, action trackers, contingency management, lessons learned, and project closeout.

Essential Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Construction Management, Project Management, or a related technical field and 9 years of experience in pharmaceutical or biopharmaceutical GMP manufacturing operations.
• At least 9 years leading large capital projects in pharmaceutical, biotechnology, sterile manufacturing, aseptic filling, fill/finish, packaging, or related GMP-regulated manufacturing environments.
• Demonstrated experience managing multiple capital projects of approximately $50 - 400 million or greater from start to finish, including early planning, design, procurement, construction, commissioning, qualification, turnover, and closeout.
• Proven experience managing complex capital programs with significant facility, equipment, automation, utility, construction, validation, and operational readiness scope.
• Strong understanding of GMP requirements and experience providing project leadership in highly regulated pharmaceutical or biotechnology facilities.
• Experience with sterile manufacturing, aseptic processing, sterile filling, packaging operations, cleanroom environments, GMP utilities, and regulated facility construction.
• Strong experience managing architectural/engineering firms, construction management firms, general contractors, trade contractors, equipment suppliers, automation vendors, and technical consultants.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including technical writing, executive communication, project reporting, stakeholder management, and the ability to lead through influence in a matrix organization.

Desirable Requirements: (this is optional)

• Experience with cGMP construction, brownfield and/or greenfield facility expansion, facility renovation, equipment installation, and site integration.
• Experience mentoring engineering project managers and cross-functional team members supporting large capital projects.

Location: Durham, NC (100% Onsite)

Salary range is $175K-$200K. (However, we are open to considering highly qualified candidates with exceptional skills.)

Benefits Package Offered (via Novartis)

• Flexible for Relocation Packages

Why Novartis:

Helping people with disease and their families takes more than innovative science. It takes a community of smart, passionate people like you. Collaborating, supporting and inspiring each other. Combining to achieve breakthroughs that change patients’ lives. Ready to create a brighter future together?

EEO Statement:

The Novartis Group of Companies are Equal Opportunity Employers. We do not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion or other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status.