Senior Project Manager, Laboratory

ICON; Lenexa (KS); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary packages

Bonuses

Health benefits

Retirement plans

Life assurance

Job summary

ICON is seeking a Senior Project Manager for Laboratory Programs in Lenexa, KS. You will lead complex bioanalytical studies, build strong sponsor relationships, and ensure delivery against scope, budget, and timelines.

Ideal candidates have a life sciences background with 5+ years in clinical research and 3+ years in PM leadership. This hybrid role requires onsite presence three days a week in Lenexa.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or local equivalent in Life Sciences, Business, Project Management, or related field.
• 5+ years of experience in clinical research, bioanalytical laboratory services, pharma, biotech, CRO, or related life sciences environments.
• 3+ years of project management experience leading clinical, laboratory, or drug development programs with client-facing responsibilities.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex multi-phase clinical studies or laboratory service programs.
• Strong understanding of bioanalytical testing, clinical trial operations, laboratory services, and regulated environments.
• Proven ability to build and maintain executive-level client relationships.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning, execution, monitoring, and closeout of multiple studies with scope, quality, budget, and timeline commitments.
• Build and maintain strong client relationships with proactive communication and issue resolution.
• Review contracts, protocols, amendments, and study-specific requirements for successful implementation.
• Provide project leadership, coordinating cross-functional teams to achieve milestones.
• Develop risk assessments, resource needs, and mitigation strategies for assigned studies.
• Mentor junior project managers and contribute to process improvements.

Skills

Client relationship management

Strategic project leadership

Cross-functional leadership

Risk management

Budget management

Regulatory compliance

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Life Sciences

Tools

Microsoft Word

Excel

PowerPoint

PM tools

Job description

Senior Project Manager, Laboratory Programs - Lenexa, KS - Full Time

ICON is a global healthcare intelligence and clinical research organisation united by a mission to bring new medicines and treatments to patients faster.

As a values-driven organisation, integrity, collaboration, agility, and inclusion are at the heart of how we work and interact with each other, customers, patients and suppliers.

At ICON, it’s our people that set us apart. Our diverse teams enable us to become a better partner to our customers and help us to fulfil our mission to advance and improve patients’ lives.

Our ‘Own It’ culture is driven by four key values that bring us together as individuals and set us apart as an organisation: Accountability & Delivery, Collaboration, Partnership and Integrity. We want to be the Clinical Research Organisation that delivers excellence to our clients and to patients at every touch-point. In short, to be the partner of choice in drug development.

That’s our vision. We’re driven by it. And we need talented people who share it.

If you’re as driven as we are, join us. You’ll be working in a dynamic and supportive environment, with some of the brightest and the friendliest people in the sector, and you’ll be helping shape an industry.

Overview

The Senior Project Manager serves as the primary client relationship lead for assigned bioanalytical programs, overseeing the successful delivery of complex clinical studies from startup through closeout. This role is responsible for providing strategic project leadership, ensuring operational excellence, managing study timelines and financial performance, mitigating risks, and driving cross-functional collaboration to achieve client expectations and business objectives.

The Senior Project Manager acts as a trusted partner to sponsors, building strong relationships while leading internal teams to ensure studies are executed in accordance with regulatory requirements, study protocols, contractual obligations, and company procedures.

This is a hybrid role requiring onsite presence three days per week in our Lenexa, KS location.

The Role

• Recognize, exemplify, and champion ICON's values centered around our commitment to People, Clients, and Performance.

• Serve as the senior-level sponsor contact and strategic partner for assigned bioanalytical studies and programs.

• Lead the planning, execution, monitoring, and closeout of multiple studies, ensuring delivery against scope, quality, budget, and timeline commitments.

• Build and maintain strong client relationships, providing proactive communication, strategic guidance, and issue resolution throughout the study lifecycle.

• Review contracts, protocols, amendments, and study‑specific requirements to ensure successful implementation and operational execution.

• Provide overall project leadership, coordinating cross‑functional teams to achieve study milestones and deliverables.

• Develop and maintain project plans, risk assessments, resource requirements, and mitigation strategies for assigned studies.

• Proactively identify, elevate, and resolve project risks, operational challenges, and client concerns.

• Lead sponsor governance meetings, study update calls, kick‑off meetings, and issue‑resolution discussions.

• Present study progress, key performance indicators, risks, and mitigation plans to both internal leadership and external stakeholders.

• Provide sponsors with regular study management reports, forecasting study timelines, deliverables, resource needs, and potential impacts to study execution.

• Drive accountability across functional teams to ensure adherence to protocol requirements, governing procedures, quality standards, and client expectations.

• Monitor study budgets, scope changes, and financial performance in partnership with Business Development and operational leadership.

• Support proposal development, bid defenses, and client presentations as needed.

• Gather, analyze, and interpret study metrics to support operational decision‑making and continuous improvement initiatives.

• Oversee study documentation, ensuring files remain inspection‑ready and compliant throughout the study lifecycle.

• Ensure proper archival of all study documentation upon project completion.

• Participate in and contribute to process improvement initiatives, SOP reviews, and the development of best practices to enhance operational efficiency and client satisfaction.

• Mentor and provide guidance to junior project managers and team members, supporting knowledge‑sharing and professional development across the organization.

• Represent ICON at sponsor meetings, investigator meetings, industry events, and other client‑facing engagements as required.

• Perform additional responsibilities as assigned by management.

To Be Successful in the Role, You Will Need

• Bachelor's degree or local equivalent in Life Sciences, Business, Project Management, or a related field.

• 5+ years of experience in clinical research, bioanalytical laboratory services, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, CRO, or related life sciences environments.

• 3+ years of project management experience leading clinical, laboratory, or drug development programs with direct client‑facing responsibilities.

• Demonstrated experience managing complex, multi‑phase clinical studies or laboratory service programs.

• Strong understanding of bioanalytical testing, clinical trial operations, laboratory services, and regulated environments.

• Proven ability to build and maintain executive‑level client relationships.

• Experience managing project financials, budgets, forecasting, and scope management.

• Strong risk management, problem‑solving, and decision‑making capabilities.

• Excellent verbal, written, presentation, and stakeholder management skills.

• Demonstrated ability to influence cross‑functional teams and drive results in a matrix environment.

• Experience mentoring, coaching, or leading less experienced team members is preferred.

• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and project management tools.

• Strong organizational, analytical, and strategic thinking skills.

• Ability to work in a hybrid environment with onsite presence three days per week.

Benefits of Working in ICON:

Our success depends on the quality of our people. That’s why we’ve made it a priority to build a culture that rewards high performance and nurtures talent.

We offer very competitive salary packages. And to keep them competitive, we regularly benchmark them against our competitors. Our annual bonuses reflect delivery of performance goals – both ours and yours.

We also provide a range of health‑related benefits to employees and their families and offer competitive retirement plans – and related benefits such as life assurance – so you can save and plan with confidence for the years ahead.

But beyond the competitive salaries and comprehensive benefits, you’ll benefit from an environment where you are encouraged to fulfil your sense of purpose and drive lasting change.

ICON is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer and is committed to providing a workplace free of discrimination and harassment. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.

If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process, or in order to perform the essential functions of a position, please let us know through the form below.

What ICON can offer you:

Our success depends on the quality of our people. That’s why we’ve made it a priority to build a diverse culture that rewards high performance and nurtures talent.

In addition to your competitive salary, ICON offers a range of additional benefits. Our benefits are designed to be competitive within each country and are focused on well‑being and work life balance opportunities for you and your family.

Our benefits examples include:

• Various annual leave entitlements
• A range of health insurance offerings to suit you and your family’s needs.
• Competitive retirement planning offerings to maximize savings and plan with confidence for the years ahead.
• Global Employee Assistance Programme, LifeWorks, offering 24‑hour access to a global network of over 80,000 independent specialized professionals who are there to support you and your family’s well‑being.
• Life assurance
• Flexible country‑specific optional benefits, including childcare vouchers, bike purchase schemes, discounted gym memberships, subsidized travel passes, health assessments, among others.

Visit our careers site to read more about the benefits ICON offers.

At ICON, inclusion & belonging are fundamental to our culture and values. We’re dedicated to providing an inclusive and accessible environment for all candidates. ICON is committed to providing a workplace free of discrimination and harassment. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.

If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process, or in order to perform the essential functions of a position, please let us know or submit a request here