Associate Program Manager

Axogen•Vandalia, OH

2h•$92,293 - $115,367•Onsite

About The Position

The Associate Program Manager is responsible for independently managing discrete Operations programs within Axogen’s Avance Processing Operations organization. This role provides both program-level leadership and direct project management support for critical initiatives within assigned programs. The Associate Program Manager is accountable for coordinating multiple related projects, managing interdependencies, aligning stakeholders, and ensuring execution remains consistent with technical objectives, business priorities, and Axogen’s Quality System. Embedded within Operations Engineering, this position partners closely with Operational functional leaders and cross‑functional stakeholders (Clinical, Regulatory, Quality, R&D, Supply Chain, IT etc.) to drive disciplined, compliant, and timely execution of assigned programs. This role typically manages 1-2 engineering programs while directly leading select business critical projects and serves as the primary point of accountability for program coordination, execution discipline, risk management and delivery of program objectives.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, biomedical engineering, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, biological sciences, chemistry, or related technical discipline required.
5+ years of experience managing engineering projects and/or programs in a regulated industry, preferably medical devices, biologics, tissue-based products, or pharmaceuticals.
Demonstrated experience managing multiple concurrent projects and coordinating project portfolios or programs of varying size, complexity, and lifecycle stage within a regulated quality system environment.
Strong working knowledge of PMP principles, including project lifecycle management, scheduling, risk management, stakeholder communication, resource coordination, and management of cross-functional project dependencies.
Understanding of validation and qualifications including IQ, OQ, PQ, and process validation activities.
Experience partnering cross-functionally with R&D, Clinical, Regulatory, Quality, IT and Operations teams.
Proficiency with project management and collaboration tools (e.g., Smartsheet, Microsoft Project, Microsoft Office).
Strong organizational skills with proven ability to manage competing priorities.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively across technical and non-technical audiences and provide concise project and program updates to leadership.

Nice To Haves

Project management and/or PMP certification preferred.

Responsibilities

Independently manage discrete Operations programs with an emphasis on Manufacturing Processing, Packaging & Labeling, Cleaning & Sterilization, or Facilities & Validations ensuring successful execution of program objectives within scope, schedule, quality, and budget requirements.
Provide project management support with engineering technical expertise on business critical small to mid-scale projects from initiation through closeout, including scope definition, planning, execution, monitoring, and project closure.
Coordinate multiple related projects within assigned programs, ensuring alignment to program objectives, deliverables, schedules, resource availability, project dependencies, and critical path activities; proactively identify and resolve constraints that may impact program success.
Develop and maintain integrated project plans, schedules, and deliverables using industry-standard project management practices consistent with PMP guidelines.
Drive cross-functional execution by coordinating activities across R&D, Clinical, Regulatory Affairs, Quality, Operations, Supply Chain, IT and other stakeholders as appropriate, ensuring alignment of priorities, resources, and deliverables across multiple projects within the program.
Facilitate program and project governance activities, including team meetings, agenda development, decision and action item documentation, follow-up for accountability, and delivering of program-level status reports for Operations leadership and cross functional stakeholders.
Maintain program and project risk registers by partnering with functional subject matter experts to identify, assess, mitigate, and monitor risks and opportunities. Pro-actively implement mitigation strategies and escalate issues as necessary to support successful program outcomes.
Manage program governance, including prioritization of initiatives, escalation of issues, monitoring of KPIs, and communication of decision affecting program execution.