Project Manager

Project Manager – Pharmaceutical Greenfield Expansion

This role leads a major greenfield expansion project within a pharmaceutical manufacturing environment, coordinating work packages, stakeholders, and schedules from concept through delivery and into operation. The Project Manager explores and maps program gaps, develops remediation plans, and ensures alignment across cross-functional teams and vendors to deliver a complex capital project on time, within scope, and in compliance with industry standards and internal procedures.

Responsibilities

• Explore, map, and identify program gaps between work packages and translate findings into clear remediation plans with defined ownership and anchor points.
• Coordinate across work package areas and the overall execution schedule from design through delivery and transition into operation.
• Align designated work packages with cross-functional teams to ensure no scope items are missed or neglected.
• Identify, develop, and manage interface agreements between the central team, local site, work package vendors, and functional areas, including detailed milestones and schedules.
• Create detailed project plans and business cases suitable for presentation to leadership and other key stakeholders.
• Coordinate program-level and local stakeholders to support discovery activities and close program gaps.
• Provide periodic project status updates, including current risk assessments, mitigation strategies, and progress against key milestones.
• Collaborate extensively within the broader organizational network to capture best practices and specifications that can be transferred to the local site.
• Ensure adherence to mechanisms for monitoring project progress, and intervene proactively to resolve issues in collaboration with line managers and project personnel.
• Oversee and verify that installation, troubleshooting, qualification, and validation of buildings and equipment meet all commitments defined in the project scope.
• Follow all safety and environmental requirements in the performance of duties and promote a strong safety culture on site.
• Lead and manage the execution of capital projects in accordance with company policies, procedures, and governance processes.
• Work with external design firms to bring equipment and building projects from conceptual design through detailed design and execution.
• Maintain effective communication channels and ensure alignment among multiple project teams and stakeholders.
• Manage major milestones, detailed schedules, and monthly cost plans using the Clarity PEM process or similar project management tools.
• Oversee stakeholder management activities and ensure timely, transparent communications to management, project teams, and other involved units.
• Assist with planning and coordinating training for personnel who will support or operate new systems and facilities.
• Manage the project change control process to ensure the project remains within the defined scope, budget, and schedule, and that changes are properly documented and approved.
• Track project performance, metrics, and key performance indicators (KPIs) to drive continuous improvement and informed decision-making.
• Lead cross-functional project teams, providing direction, removing obstacles, and ensuring accountability for deliverables.
• Apply strong problem-solving, negotiation, and conflict management skills to resolve issues and maintain project momentum.
• Develop and maintain strong internal relationships to support collaboration and effective project execution.
• Influence stakeholders and team members to achieve project objectives and desired outcomes.
• Plan, organize, and manage execution across multiple simultaneous projects or work streams, revising work plans as needed for complex, cross-functional problems.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or a related technical field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum five (5) years of engineering experience in facility infrastructure and manufacturing within a pharmaceutical environment (preferred).
• Minimum five (5) years of proven project and/or portfolio management experience with major capital projects (preferred).
• 8–10 years of overall project management experience, including previous experience managing complex projects.
• Hands-on experience with greenfield and/or brownfield projects, including construction projects from the ground up.
• Strong pharmaceutical operations experience, particularly in assembly and packaging lines, aseptic environments, and capital (CAPEX) projects.
• Broad-based project management skills with solid fundamentals in scheduling, risk management, budgeting, and resource management.
• Ability to create detailed project plans and business cases suitable for leadership review and decision-making.
• Ability to read and review design drawings (CAD) with a basic understanding of P&ID, HVAC, and electrical systems (preferred).
• Understanding of GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) requirements and their application to pharmaceutical facilities and operations.
• Working knowledge and experience with building and utility equipment (preferred).
• Extensive knowledge of project management methodologies, tools, and best practices (preferred).
• Demonstrated leadership skills, including the ability to act as project lead and manage cross-functional project teams.
• Proficiency in problem solving, negotiation, conflict management, and interpersonal communication (preferred).
• Strong written and oral communication skills, with the ability to convey complex information clearly (preferred).
• Ability to influence others on objectives and project outcomes (preferred).
• Basic understanding of contractual documents and the ability to create work plans and detailed project schedules (preferred).
• Proven experience managing multiple projects simultaneously (preferred).
• Proven expertise in mentoring and developing team members, planning and organizing work, managing execution, and revising work plans for complex, cross-functional issues (preferred).
• Demonstrated initiative and ability to function independently with good judgment and strong leadership skills (preferred).
• Ability to function effectively in a team environment and build strong internal relationships (preferred).

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Advanced project management competencies obtained through formal project management training or equivalent experience (preferred).
• Experience with pharmaceutical greenfield start-up operations, particularly in finished production such as assembly and packaging (preferred).
• Experience with aseptic operations and associated facility and equipment requirements (preferred).
• Familiarity with standard operating procedures and complex product documentation, with the ability to understand and apply high-level concepts (preferred).
• Experience with capital project execution in a highly regulated environment, including qualification and validation activities.
• Working knowledge of Clarity PEM or similar project portfolio management tools for managing milestones, schedules, and cost plans.
• Experience collaborating with external design firms from conceptual design through execution for equipment and building projects.
• Comfort with tracking and reporting project metrics and KPIs, and using data to drive decisions and improvements.
• Ability to support and coordinate training activities for staff involved in new or modified systems and facilities.
• Strong organizational skills, with the ability to prioritize tasks and adapt to changing project needs.
• Experience working in environments that require strict adherence to safety and environmental standards.

Work Environment

The position is primarily on site in an office building within a pharmaceutical manufacturing campus, with frequent visits to the construction site and existing facilities to meet with various project stakeholders and oversee progress. The role involves direct, in-person customer and stakeholder contact five days per week, with potential for periodic hybrid work depending on project needs and phases. The Project Manager works closely with cross-functional teams, external design firms, and vendors in a dynamic environment where priorities may shift as different project needs arise. The project is expected to span multiple years, and the role is dedicated full time to this initiative. Work is conducted in standard office conditions as well as active construction and operational manufacturing areas, requiring adherence to all site safety and environmental procedures and any applicable site-specific attire or protective equipment requirements.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Clayton, NC.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $75.00 - $100.00/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: • Medical, dental & vision • Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital • 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available • Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) • Short and long-term disability • Health Spending Account (HSA) • Transportation benefits • Employee Assistance Program • Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Work