Program Manager

Burke Porter, an Ascential Technologies Brand•Corvallis, OR

45d•Onsite

About The Position

The Program Manager will be fully accountable for program outcomes, focusing on Project Performance & Financials, and Project Execution & Relationships. This role involves managing programs from initiation through closure, leading cross-functional teams, and serving as the primary client interface. The Program Manager will also be responsible for financial management, client engagement, compliance, risk management, and contributing to the PMO's continuous improvement efforts.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Life Sciences, or a related field.
10+ years of program or project management experience in a CDMO, medical device, biotech, or regulated manufacturing environment.
Demonstrated experience owning program financials, including revenue, gross margin, and change order management.
Proven track record leading cross-functional teams through complex, multi-phase product development programs.
Strong leadership presence — able to drive decisions and lead with authority, not just influence.
Deep knowledge of standard project management processes, methods, and best practices.
Ability to create and manage complex schedules with detailed work breakdown structures.
Ability to build and manage program budgets; financial acumen is essential.
Excellent interpersonal skills for collaboration with both technical teams and executive clients.
Clear, confident communicator — written, verbal, and in formal presentations.
Skilled at risk identification: able to predict key risk areas and define actionable mitigations.
Comfort with ambiguity — able to assess complex situations and chart a path forward with incomplete data.
Willing and able to have direct, professional conversations with clients and colleagues when needed.
Proficient in Smartsheet or equivalent project management platforms; comfortable with dashboards and reporting.
Knowledge of NPI processes, design controls, and regulated product development (FDA, ISO 13485).
Calm under pressure — able to lead with clarity and composure in high-stakes situations.
Entrepreneurial mindset — willing to fill gaps, wear multiple hats, and help build something great.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree a plus.
PMP certification highly preferred.

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary client interface throughout program execution, maintaining clear communication and trusted relationships.
Manage programs from initiation through closure, including planning, feasibility, development, verification, and manufacturing transfer phases.
Lead cross-functional teams spanning R&D, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Quality, and Operations.
Navigate complex stakeholder environments and maintain alignment internally and externally.
Facilitate project kickoffs, phase-gate reviews, design reviews, and recurring client and internal status meetings.
Monitor scope, schedule, and resources; escalate issues and develop response plans to address proactively.
Develop and manage detailed project plans, schedules, and deliverables with clear milestones and dependencies.
Own program financial performance, including revenue, gross margin, change order management, and cash flow.
Develop and analyze monthly forecasts, proactively communicating risks and applying lessons learned to improve accuracy.
Provide proactive, transparent communication to clients on technical progress, schedule, budget, risks, and mitigations.
Build client trust through follow-through and accountability — deliver on commitments.
Collaborate with Business Development to ensure continuity from sales into execution, supporting scope and budget change conversations.
Support Business Development in scoping new client projects across requirements, assumptions, deliverables, schedule, and budget.
Ensure project execution aligns with the company Quality Management System (QMS), design controls, and applicable regulatory standards (FDA, ISO).
Identify and actively manage risks and opportunities, implementing mitigations proactively.
Participate as a program representative in client and regulatory audits.
Operate as a pillar of the PMO: go beyond execution to recognize patterns, improve processes, and share best practices.
Use Smartsheet as the central source of truth for project schedules, milestones, risks, and status updates.
Report regular project health updates to Leadership.
Drive standardization of tools and processes, using metrics to guide improvement.
Incorporate post-mortems and lessons learned into future project planning.