Sr. Program Manager, Contract Pharma Manufacturing

Planet Pharma; Seal Beach (CA); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Planet Pharma is seeking a Senior Project Manager to lead enterprise-wide initiatives in a GMP-biotech environment. You will guide cross-functional teams, translate strategic objectives into detailed plans, and ensure projects meet scope, schedule, and budget targets.

The role requires strong facilitation, negotiation, and leadership skills, with extensive experience in pharma/biotech project management and use of MS Project to track timelines.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree a plus.
• 5-8 years in pharma/biotech project management preferred, 10+ years in PM preferred.
• Ability to oversee project teams and independently manage projects with limited direction.
• PM tools proficiency: schedules, communication plans, risk plans, resource plans, scope/change management.

Responsibilities

• Manage complex, enterprise-wide projects ensuring on-time and on-budget delivery.
• Lead cross-functional teams to create integrated project plans with scope, schedule, risk and communication.
• Translate strategies into plans and drive projects to completion.
• Distribute agendas and minutes; follow up on action items.
• Maintain SharePoint and databases with project status and key information.
• Develop and implement PMO best practices in GMP environments.
• Foster continuous improvement; model lean leadership.
• Identify risks and support issue resolution; maintain stakeholder relationships.
• Interface with all management levels and present information to senior leadership.
• Collaborate with PMO and governance teams to resolve conflicts.

Skills

Cross-functional collaboration

Facilitation

Negotiation

Conflict resolution

Communication

Leadership

Education

BS/BA degree

Project Management Certification (PMP)

Tools

MS Project

Schedules

Risk plans

Job description

Responsibilities

• Manage complex, enterprise wide projects ensuring on-time and on-budget delivery of project goals.
• Lead cross-functional project teams to create integrated project plans including scope, schedule, risk and communication plans.
• Understand and translate requestor’s strategies into plans, and be able to drive the project to completion.
• Issue written agendas in advance of meetings and timely distribution of minutes.
• Follow-up on action items between team meetings and ensure accountability of team members.
• Maintain SharePoint and other databases with project status and key project information.
• Develop and implement Op Excellence project management best practices within a GMP environment.
• Champion and advocate for a culture of continuous improvement and model lean leadership principles.
• Identify risks and contribute to issue resolution.
• Foster positive business relationships.
• Interface with all levels of management and ensure alignment throughout the organization.
• Effectively frame and present information to senior leadership.
• Work with Project Management Director, functional management and governance teams to resolve conflicts and issues with projects.
• Follow and advocate for the PMO processes.
• Maintain a high level of expertise in the field of project management and within the biotech/pharma industry.

Qualifications

• Education: BS/BA degree required
• 5-8 years of experience in pharmaceutical/biotech preferred
• 10+ years of project management experience preferred
• The role requires a strong ability to oversee project teams and fully independently manage the projects with limited assistance. The senior project manager is expected to lead projects in an independent manner, requiring feedback direction on a few issues per month from management.
• Strong knowledge of project management tools including schedules, communication plans, risk plans, resource plans, scope & change management tools, action item trackers, and project plans
• Strong use of MS Project as a tool to create integrated timelines and monitor project progress
• Excellent facilitation, negotiation, conflict resolution skills, and cross functional collaboration skills with the ability to network with different functional areas
• Experience in cGMP, pharmaceutical R&D, and/or Manufacturing Operations a plus
• Project Management Certification (PMP) is a plus