Staff Project Manager

Mesa Labs, Inc.•San Diego, CA

54d

About The Position

The Staff Project Manager leads medium to large, complex, cross-functional initiatives that are critical to Mesa Labs' strategic and operational success. This role applies advanced project and program management methodologies to deliver high-impact molecular RUO product and process development projects on time, within scope, and within budget. The position requires the ability to influence across functions, navigate ambiguity, and ensure alignment with divisional and corporate priorities. The Staff Project Manager serves as a key driver of operational excellence, applying continuous improvement principles and fostering accountability, transparency, and collaboration across functions and sites.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in a scientific, technical, or business discipline (e.g., Biology, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Engineering, or related field).
Minimum of 8-10 years project management experience overseeing molecular product development or RUO/IVD assay projects in a biotech setting.
Demonstrated success leading cross-functional teams and driving multiple complex projects to completion in a matrixed organization.
Deep understanding of project and program management methodologies (Agile, Waterfall, or hybrid).
Strong organizational and prioritization skills with the ability to manage multiple complex initiatives simultaneously.
Excellent stakeholder management, facilitation, and executive-level communication skills.
Analytical thinker with demonstrated problem-solving and risk-management expertise.
Proficiency in project management tools such as Smartsheet, MS Project, Jira, or Asana.
Operates independently with minimal supervision, exercising sound judgment in complex situations.
Leads high-impact projects or programs with significant cross-functional influence.
Serves as a subject-matter expert and mentor to peers and junior project managers.
Recognized for strategic contribution within their functional area and the broader organization.

Nice To Haves

PMP certification preferred.
Understanding of molecular biology principles and familiarity with RUO assay development, manufacturing, or lifecycle management preferred.
Familiarity with Lean, Six Sigma, or other continuous improvement frameworks.
Understanding of molecular biology principles and assay lifecycle management preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead large-scale, multi-site, cross-functional projects from initiation through completion, ensuring outcomes align with business strategy and corporate goals.
Translate strategic objectives into detailed project plans, defining scope, deliverables, milestones, and resource requirements.
Oversee execution, proactively managing dependencies, timelines, and risks to ensure successful delivery.
Apply structured governance processes, ensuring accurate documentation and adherence to quality and compliance standards.
Serve as escalation point for complex issues, balancing priorities and constraints to maintain momentum and delivery integrity.
Act as the central liaison between project teams, sponsors, and senior leadership to maintain visibility and alignment.
Communicate progress, risks, and mitigations to diverse audiences-executives, functional leaders, and technical teams-using concise, data-driven insights.
Facilitate decision-making forums and project reviews to drive accountability and cross-functional alignment.
Foster a culture of collaboration, empowerment, and continuous improvement across global project teams.
Champion continuous improvement in project management methodologies, tools, and reporting practices.
Develop and implement standardized templates and best practices for project execution, governance, and reporting.
Partner with functional and operations leaders to identify and deploy scalable process enhancements across divisions.
Promote data-driven decision-making to improve predictability and efficiency in project execution.
Establish and monitor KPIs to track project performance, resource utilization, budget adherence, and delivery success.
Prepare and present comprehensive project dashboards and post-project reviews to identify lessons learned and opportunities for improvement.
Ensure transparent communication of progress and results to all stakeholders, including senior and executive leadership.
Provide guidance and mentorship to junior project managers and cross-functional team members.
Lead by influence, promoting high standards of accountability, performance, and collaboration.
Support professional development within the project management community of practice.

Benefits

Competitive wages, including potential bonus opportunities, equity awards, commission, and a comprehensive benefits package based on the position.
Annual bonus opportunity of 15% based on company performance
Annual equity award of $14,000
Eligible for benefits the first day of the month after you start
Tiered Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance options, Health savings (HSA), healthcare & dependent care flexible spending (FSA) accounts
Company paid short term and long-term disability (unless covered by a state disability plan)
Company paid life insurance and AD&D
Flexible Time Off Policy
Paid sick leave of 48 hours per calendar year
Eligible employees may receive four (4) weeks paid Care Giver leave after 1 year of service or in accordance with state leave laws
401(k) plan that provides a 4% Safe Harbor company match on a 4% employee contribution that begins on Day 1
Employee Wellness and Financial Assistance Resources through Cigna and NY Life
Nine (9) paid company holidays per year