Associate Manager- R&D Project Management

Role Summary

The Associate Manager, R&D Project Management drives the application and integration of key project management processes across R&D teams to deliver assets and portfolio value on time, on budget, and within scope. The role implements sound project management practices across product development teams and partners, delivering global, sustainable PM solutions. It requires leadership behaviors that enable innovative solutions and a positive, motivating environment to accelerate innovation.

Responsibilities

• Project Planning & Execution: Coordinate with R&D project teams in planning and executing key deliverables using MS Project, Project Online (POL), project management principles, risk management tools, and other PM tools; monitor project timelines, budgets, and risks; maintain up-to-date project plans and documentation; ensure deliverables are completed on schedule and within budget, escalating deviations appropriately.
• Budget & Resource Management: Partner with project teams and procurement to update, track, and manage project budgets using POL, SAP and other systems; contribute to forecasting and variance analysis, providing insights into cost drivers and resourcing needs.
• Stakeholder Communication: Facilitate regular project meetings, document decisions, and follow up on key actions; communicate project progress, risks, and dependencies to stakeholders; build effective relationships with internal functions including Research and Development, Regulatory, Quality, Manufacturing, Innovation Strategy, Marketing, Finance and other key stakeholders.
• Risk & Quality Oversight: Lead risk identification and mitigation planning to proactively manage potential project issues; maintain accurate, phase-appropriate project documentation in compliance with internal quality standards and governance processes.
• Continuous Improvement: Contribute to PMO process improvement initiatives to enhance consistency and efficiency; promote a culture of operational discipline, collaboration, and continuous improvement within R&D teams.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Life Sciences, Pharmacy, Biotechnology, or a related technical field.
• Education: PMP or equivalent certification preferred.
• Experience: 5-6 years of project management experience in pharmaceutical, biotech, or R&D organizations.
• Experience: Experience with project and financial management tools (MS Project, Excel, SAP, Ariba).
• Experience: Familiarity with R&D, clinical, or regulatory processes is preferred.
• Experience: Working knowledge of Power BI or similar visualization tools. Familiarity with AI or digital productivity tools in project management is an advantage.

Skills

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills to manage cross-functional interactions.
• Analytical mindset with attention to detail and follow-through.
• Ability to prioritize, manage multiple tasks, and adapt to changing priorities.
• Agile learner with comfort navigating ambiguity.
• Demonstrated teamwork, accountability, and problem-solving capabilities.