Senior Project Manager

In this role you will provide strategic and technical direction to the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) concerning timing of major milestones and critical path deliverables, including budget and resource planning, implementation, and variances. You will guide multi-disciplinary, highly technical teams through the finalization of a major capex project involving all internal functional area directors and stakeholder above site.

You will play the role of subject matter expert in project management disciplines and particularly in successfully orchestrating the execution of commissioning, qualification and validation of a new, state-of-the-art aseptic filling line. Strictly ensure a timely transition from project phase to operations according to plan and budget.


General Information:
 

• Start date: ASAP
• Duration: until 31/08/2026
• Extension: to be discussed
• Contract: temporary contract via Randstad
• Location: Neuchatel
• Workload: 100%
• Working hours: standard

Tasks and Responsibilities:
 

• Responsible for the finalization of a major capex project including in assuring the success of the engineering runs (ER) and the process & performance qualification (PPQ) in collaboration with the site's Manufacturing team.
• Responsible for communicating project performance information to the SLT, stakeholder above site (OpU Biologics, Global Engineering), and external stakeholders (contracted teams, suppliers).
• Ensure that all project customers are fully informed and knowledgeable of project activities and their status, including high-level project planning to detailed meeting minutes communicating outcomes and decisions.
• Verify, control, and endorse complex inter-program related Gantt charts, budget forecast and variance reports, resource plans, communication plans, and risk mitigation plans.
• Ensures project work complies with established practices, policies and processes.
• Guide project teams in always working towards a clear scope of work and the delivery of project milestones on time, on budget and within scope through utilization of project management tools.
• Proactively lead change management during the handover of the project to the Lead End User. Create contingency plans for risk mitigation due to the nature of the project's complexity and high stakes.
• Participate in all the capital phases of a major construction project with emphasis on ER and PPQ in state-of-the aseptic filling lines in biologics.
• Perform various project management tasks and any other relevant administrative tasks deemed necessary.
• Organize and facilitate technical and project management meetings with audiences across different all the major stakeholder groups.
• Participate in authorized on and off-site meetings and group activities related to the project, if relevant.

Your profile:
 

• Minimum Bachelor's/Master's degree or combination of advanced degree, specifically in engineering, biological sciences or other relevant discipline with capex project management.
• Fluent in English and French.
• Project management certification (PMP, Prince2, SCPM, etc.).
• Minimum of 15 years' project/operational management experience in biotechnology or pharmaceutical industries, in a multi-disciplinary, global environment.
• Minimum of 10 years of people/matrix management experience.
• Experience managing a global, matrix team.
• Deep knowledge and understanding of aseptic filling processes, commercial filling lines, preferably in biologics, and knowledge of cGxP.
• Proven leadership, team building skills and strategic problem-solving ability.
• Demonstrated ability to manage and lead others through change.
• Demonstrated ability at managing matrix teams, influencing outcomes and key project decisions.
• Proven ability to communicate and collaborate effectively with senior management.
• Experience interacting with external collaborators with ability to build strong relationships.
• Knowledge of risk management, project reporting, and project management tools.
• Strong interpersonal skills particularly motivational, negotiation, listening, judgment, analytic, and conflict management skills, demonstrated by ability to lead highly technical teams.
• Excellent organization, verbal and written communication skills to explain project goals and inspire support.
• Ability to work well with cross-functional teams to accomplish objectives.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, rapidly changing technology environment, and to work on multiple work streams and simultaneously.
• Demonstrated time-management organizational skills.