Associate Director, R&D Project Management (Global Project Manager)

SERVIER MONDE • United States, CA

4d • $171,000 - $203,000 • Remote

About The Position

The Associate Director, R&D Project Management, also known as Global Project Manager, acts as a strategic and operational partner to the Asset Leader or Project Leader and cross-functional Core Team. The role translates asset strategy into an integrated, executable Global Plan and drives delivery against timelines, budget, quality, value, and key project milestones. It supports cross-functional alignment, proactive risk and scenario management, governance readiness, budget and resource planning, and reliable project reporting. The position requires a business-partner mindset, operational discipline, and the ability to influence without authority in a global matrix environment.

The role sits within the R&D Therapeutic Project Management group in the Strategy Portfolio Execution & Excellence Department (SPEED), with a dotted-line working relationship with Project and Asset Leaders. It is 100% remote and requires 10–15% travel for conferences, partner meetings, and internal meetings at international sites.

Requirements

• Master’s degree, PharmD, or PhD in life sciences, pharmaceutical sciences, medical sciences, biotechnology, or a related field.
• Typically 8+ years of relevant experience in pharmaceutical or biotech project or program management, including global, cross-functional drug development programs.
• Strong knowledge of drug development across several stages.
• Ability to manage integrated project plans, critical-path activities, interdependencies, risks, issues, assumptions, decision points, and milestones.
• Financial acumen, including budget planning, forecasting, resource assumptions, external cost tracking, and variance analysis.
• Experience with governance preparation, executive-level reporting, stage-gate processes, and decision-oriented materials.
• Command of project management and reporting tools such as Microsoft 365, MS Project, Smartsheet, Power BI, Timeline Pro, or equivalent systems.
• Fluent English and excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to influence without authority in a complex global matrix environment.
• Strategic thinking, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills, including translating high-level strategy into executable operational plans.
• Stakeholder management, change management, and performance management capabilities.
• Ability to drive alignment, accountability, and constructive team dynamics across functions and geographies.
• Business-partner mindset, ownership, proactivity, and a strong sense of accountability.
• Collaborative mindset, sound judgment, resilience, and ability to operate effectively in ambiguity.
• Clear, concise, and impactful communication tailored to scientific, operational, and executive audiences.

Nice To Haves

• Project management certification such as PMP, PMI, or equivalent.
• Drug development knowledge ideally including clinical development, late-stage development, launch preparation, lifecycle management, and/or external innovation.

Responsibilities

• Partner with the Asset Leader to translate asset strategy into an integrated Global Plan covering scope, timelines, budget, quality, value creation, interdependencies, and critical-path activities.
• Drive execution of the Global Development Plan at Core Team or Global Team level, ensuring timely delivery of project objectives, milestones, and governance commitments.
• Provide context, structure, and decision-oriented support to team members and stakeholders, connecting daily execution to project strategy.
• Lead scenario planning and trade-off analysis when project objectives are at risk, supporting mitigation of impacts to timelines, budget, quality, value, and resource allocation.
• Coordinate Core Team or Global Team meetings, including agendas, facilitation, decision documentation, action tracking, and follow-up.
• Prepare governance materials, pre-reads, and executive presentations by integrating functional inputs and ensuring clear decision rationales.
• Support stage-gate and investment decisions by clearly articulating options, risks, assumptions, budget impacts, and recommendations.
• Contribute to effective team dynamics, project-centric behaviors, and cross-functional collaboration across R&D and, when relevant, beyond R&D.
• Consolidate budget estimates, support forecasting, and monitor external costs and FTE assumptions with functional leads, Finance or Budget Controlling, and other stakeholders.
• Identify, assess, and manage project risks, issues, assumptions, and dependencies; ensure mitigation plans are defined, tracked, and escalated as needed.
• Maintain the quality, consistency, and reliability of project data in reporting systems and dashboards, including timelines, budgets, risks, milestones, and progress updates.
• Coordinate accurate project updates and progress reports for timely information flow to management, governance bodies, and other stakeholders.
• Support planning and cross-functional coordination for major regulatory and development milestones, including submissions and relevant health authority interactions.
• When applicable, collaborate with Alliance Management, Business Development & Licensing, and external partners to incorporate partner perspectives, contractual milestones, cost-sharing requirements, and joint governance expectations into the Global Plan.
• Promote standardized project management frameworks, tools, templates, and best practices, including risk management, communication planning, stage-gate preparation, and budget tracking.
• Capture lessons learned at the end of phases or projects and contribute subject-matter expertise to initiatives that improve project management excellence.

Benefits

• Short-Term and Long-Term incentive programs.
• Medical, dental, and vision benefits.
• Flexible time off, including unlimited sick time and flex time; time off does not accrue.
• 401(k).
• Life and disability insurance.
• Recognition programs.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior