Remote Senior Project Manager - Pharmaceutical Development

Placements24; Johannesburg; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,700,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Performance-based bonuses

Health and wellness benefits

Retirement savings plan

Career advancement opportunities

Job summary

Placements24 seeks a Senior Project Manager to lead drug development programs in a fully remote setting. You will oversee all stages from discovery to regulatory submission, ensuring timely delivery within budget and high quality.

The role requires senior leadership and strong cross-functional collaboration across global teams. The ideal candidate has 7+ years in pharmaceutical project management, deep lifecycle knowledge, and experience navigating FDA/EMA guidance.

Qualifications

• 7+ years in pharmaceutical project management, with drug development focus.
• Strong knowledge of development lifecycle and regulatory requirements.
• Proven track record in complex drug development projects from concept to submission.

Responsibilities

• Lead cross-functional project teams through all phases of drug development.
• Develop detailed project plans with timelines, milestones, and budgets.
• Identify risks, implement mitigation strategies, and manage issues.
• Ensure effective communication among teams, stakeholders, and partners.

Skills

Project leadership

Communication

Regulatory understanding

Remote collaboration

Agile

Waterfall

PMP (desirable)

Education

Master's degree in a scientific discipline

PhD in related field

MBA (plus)

Tools

MS Project

Smartsheet

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a global leader in pharmaceutical innovation, is seeking a highly experienced and motivated Senior Project Manager to lead critical drug development projects. This is a fully remote position, offering the flexibility to work from anywhere while driving the success of our client's pipeline. You will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of drug development projects from initiation to completion, ensuring they are delivered on time, within budget, and to the highest quality standards. The ideal candidate possesses a strong background in pharmaceutical project management, exceptional leadership skills, and a comprehensive understanding of the drug development lifecycle. Join a forward-thinking organization that embraces remote collaboration to bring life-changing medicines to patients worldwide.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage cross-functional project teams through all phases of pharmaceutical drug development (discovery, pre-clinical, clinical, regulatory submission).
• Develop detailed project plans, including timelines, milestones, resource allocation, and budget management.
• Identify, assess, and manage project risks and issues, implementing mitigation strategies.
• Ensure effective communication and collaboration among project team members, stakeholders, and external partners.
• Monitor project progress, track key performance indicators (KPIs), and provide regular status reports to senior management.
• Facilitate project meetings, ensuring clear objectives, decisions, and action items.
• Drive decision-making processes and ensure alignment with strategic project goals.
• Manage project budgets, forecast expenditures, and control project costs.
• Ensure compliance with all relevant regulatory requirements (e.g., FDA, EMA, ICH) and internal company policies.
• Foster a collaborative and high-performance team environment, promoting innovation and continuous improvement.

Requirements

• Master's degree or Ph.D. in a scientific discipline (e.g., Pharmacy, Biology, Chemistry) or a related field; MBA is a plus.
• Minimum of 7 years of progressive experience in pharmaceutical project management, with a significant focus on drug development.
• Proven track record of successfully managing complex drug development projects from concept to regulatory submission.
• In-depth knowledge of the pharmaceutical drug development process, including key regulatory requirements.
• Strong understanding of project management methodologies (e.g., Agile, Waterfall) and tools.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and prioritize effectively in a remote environment.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with a strategic mindset.
• PMP certification is highly desirable.
• Proficiency in project management software (e.g., MS Project, Smartsheet) and collaboration tools.

Benefits

• This fully remote position offers a highly competitive salary, performance-based bonuses, comprehensive health and wellness benefits, retirement savings plan, and opportunities for significant career advancement within a leading global pharmaceutical company.