Director, Project Management

Job Overview:

Project Directors oversee and direct multiple international projects concurrently. Additionally, PDs may lead to highly complex individual projects as needed. It is expected that a successful project director will use experience from previous projects and lessons learned to ensure process improvements are implemented successfully across all projects. Accountable for project execution to include managing project leaders and teams, developing and managing budgets, timelines, and quality guidelines for projects, thereby ensuring that expectations are met while identifying and mitigating risks. They ensure that variance from project plans is proactively mitigated, and client expectations are met by the team. The Project Director also ensures accurate documentation for the project, with timely data updates that are high quality. They assess the performance of the core team members and provide feedback to line managers. They ensure efficient and effective day to day operations, while maintaining good relationships with key internal and external stakeholders. The Project Director is expected to contribute to business development responsibilities.

Summary of Responsibilities:

• Accountable for overarching project delivery according to scope, schedule, and costs, and in alignment with the contract and financial performance targets. Initiate and implement appropriate actions to proactively manage the change control process both internally and externally while meeting customer needs and maintaining operational excellence. Develop the project delivery strategy, costing assumptions and resulting budget for assigned project(s).
• Serve as key client contact and point of escalation (both internal and external) for assigned projects, establishing working relationships with client project teams which result in client satisfaction, operational excellence and thereby increase potential for repeat business. Drive communication and collaboration with the client and project team across a matrixed, multi-cultural, environment. Proactively identify and resolve conflicts as needed. Accountable for the development of the project strategy and ensures prioritization with the project team and key stakeholders in the creation of clear, data driven strategies and proactive management of project scope, timelines, quality and budget. Leads the collaboration with relevant departments to prepare and deliver presentations for new and repeat business.
• Accountable for the identification of project, financial and quality risk leveraging end to end risk management practices and quality by design principles. Develop and manage key project performance indicators for client specified metrics, ensuring that the KPIs are within scope of the project contract. Appropriately utilize data sources, dashboards, and risk management strategies to drive innovation and proactive problem solving with the project and client teams. Oversee team management of and variance to required project plans. Ensure that all staff allocated to assigned project(s) adheres to professional standards and SOPs, managing team performance and adjustments, as necessary.
• Provides oversight to project team members and key stakeholders to manage project budgets, resources and scope ensuring adherence to contract and financial milestones. Ensures allocated resources are aligned with current and forecasted work in terms of capability, quantity, timing, and efficiency. Helps to establish succession plans for key resources.
• Accountable for accurately forecasting project revenue and managing project costs in adherence to the budget. Leading the timely management of changes to scope and the change order process.
• Provide inspiring leadership and play a key role in the creation of high performing project teams. Lead core project team(s) and facilitate team's ability to lead extended project team(s), ensuring effective cross-functional teamwork among project team members including both internal and external stakeholders. Facilitating communication and teamwork while driving delivery, ensuring that team members understand contracted scope, timelines, and budget.
• Serves as a PM Subject Matter Expert who will develop, train, and mentor team members in multiple areas of expertise strengthening and deepening talent bench and succession.
• Assesses project management competencies for project staff in collaboration with line management team to support individual developmental plans that will increase competencies and close performance gaps. Provide feedback as needed to respective line managers.
• People Responsibilities:
  Indicate the number of:
• As Required: Direct Reports
• As Required: Indirect Reports
• All other duties as needed or assigned.

Qualifications (Minimum Required):

• University/college degree (life science preferred) or certification in a related allied health profession (i.e., nursing, medical or laboratory technology) from an appropriately accredited institution.
• Fortrea may consider relevant and equivalent experience in lieu of educational requirements

Experience (Minimum Required):

• Minimum of nine (9) years of relevant clinical research experience in a pharmaceutical company/CRO, including at least four (4) years of full project management responsibility.
• On the Job Experience:
• Working knowledge of ICH Guidelines and GCP including international regulatory requirements for the conduct of clinical development programs.
• Advanced computer skills (e.g., Microsoft Word, Excel, Project, Access, and Power Point).
• Demonstrated ability to inspire effective teamwork and motivate staff within a matrix system.
• Excellent communication, planning, and organizational skills.
• Demonstrated ability to lead by example and to encourage team members to seek solutions independently.
• Demonstrated ability to handle multiple competing priorities and to utilize resources effectively.
• Experience managing full-service complex programs with significant financial value and complicated structure, multiple vendors and/or sub-CROs and Academic Research Organizations in a virtual environment.
• Advanced financial understanding and ability to actively utilize financial tracking systems.
• Excellent knowledge of project management processes.
• Ability to work independently and mentor junior project team members.
• Ability to negotiate and liaise with clients in a professional manner.
• Ability to present to staff at all levels.

Preferred Qualifications Include:

• Master or other advanced degree.
• PMP certification

Physical Demands/Work Environment:

• Standard office environment or remote-based work required.
• Weekend and off-hour work as required.
• Travel Requirements:
• Local, Domestic, Regional, Global
• Identify the expected travel requirements of the position on an annual basis:
• % of time: up to 30%
• % of the above that requires overnight stay: up to 30%
• Travel is primarily to where: Domestic and International travel.

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