Senior Project Manager – PMO (GMP & non-GMP)

AstraZeneca • Gaithersburg, MD

2d • $122,859 - $184,289 • Hybrid

About The Position

Summary of Role: The Senior Project Manager – PMO is responsible for end-to-end delivery of sophisticated capital and infrastructure projects across AstraZeneca’s U.S. R&D network, including GMP and non-GMP facilities. This role leads projects from early concept through closeout, partnering with Site Leadership and Global stakeholders to define scope, evaluate infrastructure capacity and impacts, assess risk, and build capital strategy early in the lifecycle. The Senior Project Manager ensures initiatives are aligned with site strategy and executable within active, regulated environments. The role provides full project lifecycle accountability, scope, budget, schedule, risk, governance, and partner alignment, ensuring delivery of safe, compliant, and operationally sustainable facilities. The Senior Project Manager leads cross-functional teams including Senior Project Engineers, external design firms, contractors, Quality, SHE, and Facilities to ensure projects are implemented with operational excellence and regulatory integrity. Responsibilities: Project Leadership & Accountability Lead front end planning: scope definition, feasibility, infrastructure capacity assessments, and cost modeling. Translate business needs into clearly defined charters, scope, and key assumptions. Develop and defend capital investment cases, incorporating cost, risk, and lifecycle considerations. Identify enabling projects, sequencing constraints, and long-term site impacts during early planning. Lead capital projects from initiation through closeout within active GMP and R&D environments. Own project scope, budget, schedule, and risk profile. Lead capital forecasts, cash flow planning and financial tracking. Ensure projects align with long-term site master planning strategy. Governance & Compliance Ensure adherence to PMO governance framework and stage-gate processes. Establish early-stage risk identification and mitigation strategies to reduce downstream execution uncertainty. Lead risk assessments and mitigation planning. Lead prioritization and formal change management to protect cost and schedule commitments. Ensure regulatory, safety, and environmental compliance throughout execution. Raise and resolve project risks impacting cost, schedule or operational readiness. Stakeholder & Cross-Functional Leadership Serve as primary project interface for Site Leadership and Global partners. Influence senior partners to align on scope definition, funding strategy, and risk tolerance. Align Engineering, Quality, SHE, Procurement, and Operations throughout planning and execution. Lead steering committee updates and executive reporting. Drive strong collaboration between GMP and non-GMP pillars. Contractor & Vendor Management Lead selection and oversight of design firms and contractors. Negotiate scope changes and lead contract performance. Ensure safe execution and adherence to project controls. GMP & Technical Integration Partner with Senior Project Engineers to ensure technical rigor. Ensure validation and regulatory expectations are coordinated early in project lifecycle. Be responsible for commissioning and qualification strategy alignment. Portfolio & Strategic Contribution Support capital prioritization decisions through project definition and cost clarity. Identify project interdependencies and sequencing risks across the capital portfolio. Contribute to multi-year capital planning. Identify program-level efficiencies and standardization opportunities. Drive sustainability integration across project portfolio. Experience and Education Requirements: Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management, or related field. 10+ years of experience in capital project delivery in pharmaceutical/biotech or similar regulated industry. Validated experience managing projects >$10M. Strong financial competence and capital governance experience. Experience leading cross-functional, multi-disciplinary teams. Front End Project Strategy & Definition Strategic Project Leadership Financial & Capital Management Executive Communication Risk & Governance Discipline Regulatory Awareness Organizational Influence When we put unexpected teams in the same room, we unleash bold thinking with the power to inspire life-changing medicines. In-person working gives us the platform we need to connect, work at pace and challenge perceptions. That's why we work, on average, a minimum of three days per week from the office. But that mean we're not flexible. We balance the expectation of being in the office while respecting individual flexibility. Join us in our unique and ambitious world.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management, or related field.
• 10+ years of experience in capital project delivery in pharmaceutical/biotech or similar regulated industry.
• Validated experience managing projects >$10M.
• Strong financial competence and capital governance experience.
• Experience leading cross-functional, multi-disciplinary teams.
• Front End Project Strategy & Definition
• Strategic Project Leadership
• Financial & Capital Management
• Executive Communication
• Risk & Governance Discipline
• Regulatory Awareness
• Organizational Influence

Responsibilities

• Project Leadership & Accountability Lead front end planning: scope definition, feasibility, infrastructure capacity assessments, and cost modeling.
• Translate business needs into clearly defined charters, scope, and key assumptions.
• Develop and defend capital investment cases, incorporating cost, risk, and lifecycle considerations.
• Identify enabling projects, sequencing constraints, and long-term site impacts during early planning.
• Lead capital projects from initiation through closeout within active GMP and R&D environments.
• Own project scope, budget, schedule, and risk profile.
• Lead capital forecasts, cash flow planning and financial tracking.
• Ensure projects align with long-term site master planning strategy.
• Governance & Compliance Ensure adherence to PMO governance framework and stage-gate processes.
• Establish early-stage risk identification and mitigation strategies to reduce downstream execution uncertainty.
• Lead risk assessments and mitigation planning.
• Lead prioritization and formal change management to protect cost and schedule commitments.
• Ensure regulatory, safety, and environmental compliance throughout execution.
• Raise and resolve project risks impacting cost, schedule or operational readiness.
• Stakeholder & Cross-Functional Leadership Serve as primary project interface for Site Leadership and Global partners.
• Influence senior partners to align on scope definition, funding strategy, and risk tolerance.
• Align Engineering, Quality, SHE, Procurement, and Operations throughout planning and execution.
• Lead steering committee updates and executive reporting.
• Drive strong collaboration between GMP and non-GMP pillars.
• Contractor & Vendor Management Lead selection and oversight of design firms and contractors.
• Negotiate scope changes and lead contract performance.
• Ensure safe execution and adherence to project controls.
• GMP & Technical Integration Partner with Senior Project Engineers to ensure technical rigor.
• Ensure validation and regulatory expectations are coordinated early in project lifecycle.
• Be responsible for commissioning and qualification strategy alignment.
• Portfolio & Strategic Contribution Support capital prioritization decisions through project definition and cost clarity.
• Identify project interdependencies and sequencing risks across the capital portfolio.
• Contribute to multi-year capital planning.
• Identify program-level efficiencies and standardization opportunities.
• Drive sustainability integration across project portfolio.

Benefits

• Benefits offered included a qualified retirement program [401(k) plan]; paid vacation and holidays; paid leaves; and, health benefits including medical, prescription drug, dental, and vision coverage in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable plans.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees