Remote Pharmaceutical Project Manager - Drug Development

Placements24; LegKraal Gate; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote work environment

Competitive salary and benefits

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a highly organized Remote Pharmaceutical Project Manager to oversee drug development programs from discovery through regulatory submission. You will coordinate R&D, clinical operations, regulatory, and manufacturing activities across a remote team, ensuring on‑time delivery, budget adherence, and quality.

The role demands strong leadership, deep understanding of the drug development lifecycle, and excellent communication with stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Master's or Ph.D. degree in a scientific discipline or equivalent experience.
• 5–7 years of pharmaceutical project management experience.
• Knowledge of pre-clinical, clinical and regulatory submission stages.
• Experience with Agile or Waterfall methodologies.

Responsibilities

• Lead cross-functional drug development project teams through all lifecycle phases.
• Develop and maintain project plans, timelines, budgets, and resources.
• Identify risks and implement mitigation plans.
• Facilitate communication among teams, management and external partners.
• Track KPIs and provide status updates to stakeholders.
• Ensure milestones, deliverables and quality standards are met.
• Manage external vendors and service providers.
• Support regulatory submission strategies and PM process improvements.

Skills

Leadership

Organizational skills

Problem-solving

communication

Budget management

Stakeholder management

Independence

Remote teamwork

Negotiation

Education

Master's or PhD in Biology/ Chemistry/ Pharmacy

Tools

MS Project

Smartsheet

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a dynamic and innovative biopharmaceutical company focused on bringing novel therapies to market, is seeking a highly organized and experienced Remote Pharmaceutical Project Manager. This role is pivotal in overseeing the planning, execution, and successful completion of complex drug development projects from early discovery through to regulatory submission. As a fully remote team member, you will coordinate activities across various functional areas, including R&D, clinical operations, regulatory affairs, and manufacturing, ensuring projects stay on time, within budget, and meet quality standards. The ideal candidate possesses strong leadership skills, a deep understanding of the pharmaceutical drug development lifecycle, and exceptional communication and stakeholder management abilities. This is a fantastic opportunity to lead impactful projects within a cutting-edge pharmaceutical organization, enjoying the flexibility and autonomy of a remote work setup. We are committed to accelerating the development of innovative medicines.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage cross‑functional drug development project teams through all phases of the drug development lifecycle.
• Develop and maintain comprehensive project plans, timelines, budgets, and resource allocation strategies.
• Identify project risks and develop mitigation plans, proactively addressing potential challenges.
• Facilitate effective communication and collaboration among project team members, senior management, and external partners.
• Track project progress, monitor key performance indicators (KPIs), and provide regular status updates to stakeholders.
• Ensure adherence to project milestones, deliverables, and quality standards.
• Manage external vendors and service providers involved in project activities.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of project management processes and methodologies.
• Ensure compliance with relevant pharmaceutical regulations and industry best practices.
• Support the development of strategic project proposals and regulatory submission strategies.

Requirements

• Master's or Ph.D. degree in a scientific discipline (e.g., Biology, Chemistry, Pharmacy) or equivalent experience.
• Minimum of 5-7 years of experience in pharmaceutical project management, with a strong track record of successfully managing drug development projects.
• In-depth knowledge of the pharmaceutical drug development process, including pre‑clinical, clinical (Phases I-III), and regulatory submission stages.
• Proven experience with project management methodologies (e.g., Agile, Waterfall) and tools (e.g., MS Project, Smartsheet).
• Excellent leadership, organizational, and problem‑solving skills.
• Exceptional communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities, and thrive in a remote team environment.
• Experience in managing budgets and resources effectively.
• Familiarity with regulatory requirements (e.g., FDA, EMA, SAHPRA) is essential.
• PMP certification is a strong advantage.

Benefits

• This fully remote position offers a highly competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package.
• Excellent health, dental, and vision insurance coverage.
• Performance‑based bonuses and retirement savings plans.
• Opportunities for professional development, including leadership training and certifications.
• Flexibility and work‑life balance of a remote role while driving critical pharmaceutical innovation.
• Our client fosters a collaborative and dynamic remote work environment.
• Significant opportunities for career advancement within a growing biopharmaceutical company.