Technical Program Manager

Abzena PLC; San Diego (CA); Hybrid; USD 135,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

Abzena is seeking a technically trained Technical Program Manager to guide integrated development and manufacturing programs at the San Diego site. You will manage client relationships, coordinate with internal partners and functional teams, and ensure contract commitments are delivered from proposal to closeout.

The role advances biologics development through manufacturing, impacting client success. Qualifications include a BS in life sciences or engineering; MS/PhD preferred; 3+ years in PM

Qualifications

• PM experience leading complex projects/programs.
• Experience managing client relationships.
• Strong communication and organizational skills.
• Knowledge of cGMP and regulatory concepts.
• Proficiency with MS Office Suite and project tools.

Responsibilities

• Guides integrated development and manufacturing programs to contract milestones.
• Acts as liaison between customers, internal partners and functional teams.
• Develops and maintains detailed project plans from kickoff to close-out.
• Defines critical path and creates decision criteria for programs.
• Plans and facilitates customer site visits and audits.
• Reports project status to stakeholders and escalates issues.
• Ensures accurate entry and update of project data in management tools.
• Collaborates across site functions to follow established processes.
• Supports proposals with BD partners and manages change orders.

Skills

Project management

Client relationships

Communication

Cross-functional leadership

Problem solving

Education

BS in life science/engineering

MS/PhD desired

Tools

MS Office

MS Project

MS Visio

Smartsheet

IFS experience

Job description

With extensive experience in developing biologics and bioconjugates, we offer a seamless service delivered by fully integrated teams, from early discovery to commercial manufacturing.

Forward-thinking and committed, we find the best solution and use the right technologies to design, develop and manufacture your products to ensure we get vital medicines to patients quickly and safely.

We are dedicated to quality excellence. We are driven to get better treatments to market, efficiently and responsibly by reducing timelines and delivering the highest quality products and services.

We are Abzena. More than a CDMO, we are a responsible and dedicated partner that takes care of your products from concept to patient.

The Technical Program Manager (TPM) is a technically trained project manager with direct responsibility for guiding integrated development and manufacturing programs through the Abzena San Diego Site processes. The Technical Program Manager is an excellent communicator that manages client relationships by acting as a liaison between customers, internal business partners and functional teams. This role ensures the delivery of contract commitments via thorough planning and active management of each stage of the customer project lifecycle from proposal to closeout. The TPM will play a critical role in advancing biologics from development through manufacturing, directly impacting client success and patient outcomes.

Responsibilities

Ensures all project documents align with the vision, strategy, and goals of the customer program and accurately follow contract milestones and deliverables.

• Serves as a primary escalation point for internal and external project stakeholders.
• When leading projects, the Technical Program Manager serves as a single over-arching point of contact for all internal and external project stakeholders.
• Develops and maintains detailed project plans for all activities from kickoff to contract close-out.
• Clearly defines the critical path and generates simple, easily interpreted decision criteria for each customer program based on project team recommendations.
• Plans and facilitates interactions between customers and internal projectile teams.
• Collaborates with workstream sponsors, leads, and team members to identify problems, trends, and impacts on project success along with proposed corrective actions.
• Provides project reports to stakeholders regularly, articulating project status and escalating issues that require additional support.
• Ensures accurate and timely entry and update of all program data to site management and tracking tools.
• Collaborate with the business and technical teams to ensure prospective customer proposals are complete, accurate and communicated in a timely fashion.
• Maximizes project value through collaboration with BD business partners on new proposals and by raising change orders at appropriate times during project execution.
• Plans and manage customer site visits to ensure positive customer experience.
• Monitors customer audit actions through completion.
• Provides guidance and reinforces Project Management best practices to teams during all project phases through one-on-one interactions and group settings.
• Develop and leverage a network across all site functions to ensure established processes are followed.
• Use judgement and discretion to maintain consensus and support among independent stakeholders in a rapidly changing environment.

Qualifications

• BS in life science/engineering or project management related discipline.
• Advanced degree (MS/PhD) desired.
• PMP certification desired.
• Minimum of three (3) years of project management experience in a relevant field leading complex projects/programs.
• Minimum of three (3) years experience managing client relationships.
• Previous Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) experience preferred.
• Strong communication, analytical, problem-solving, organizational, project management, and interpersonal skills.
• Knowledge of and expertise in a range of project management methodologies and tools.
• Demonstrated understanding and strong knowledge of the overall drug development process.
• Previous direct experience working in cGMP environments including an understanding of related regulatory compliance requirements preferred.
• Must be able to work and communicate efficiently with employees on all levels in one-on-one and group settings.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and motivate cross-functional teams and deliver results with minimal supervision.
• Organized, flexible and easily adapts to changing conditions.
• Excellent customer service skills, with a strong bias toward action and owning/resolving issues.
• Proficiency in MS Office Suite, MS Project, MS Visio and Smartsheet. IFS experience preferred.
• Ability to rapidly learn new software and systems.

$135,000 - $165,000 a year

FLSA: Exempt

Abzena is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws.

This policy applies to all employment practices within our organization, including hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, leave of absence, compensation, benefits, and training.