Project Manager

Location: Remote - Newbury Park, CA (PST preferred)

Employment Type: Contingent Worker (Contract, W2)

Contract Length: 6 months (possible extension)

Compensation: $42/$48 per hour (based on experience)

Summary of the Role

Join a big biopharma leader’s Precision Medicine Unit to manage key clinical development and biomarker programs in obesity, related diseases, and cardiovascular disease. As a hands-on Program Manager, you will independently drive deliverables, manage multiple projects, and lead cross-functional teams. You will play a central role in operationalizing biomarker strategies and ensuring the smooth execution of precision medicine initiatives across research and development. This is an opportunity for a proactive, experienced biotech/pharma PM to step in and add immediate value in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Support strategic planning and execution of integrated, cross-functional Precision Medicine plans in alignment with asset strategy.
• Manage research collaborations, reverse translational initiatives, and day-to-day program operations with internal and external partners.
• Develop and oversee program budgets, monitor expenses, and ensure alignment with financial goals.
• Create, maintain, and track execution timelines, promptly identifying and escalating any deviations or risks.
• Lead PMT and technical meetings with effective agenda setting, minute-taking, and follow-up on outcomes.
• Serve as the operational point of contact for biomarker strategy, facilitating biospecimen management, data management, and vendor integration.
• Apply program management best practices across planning, execution, quality control, and project closure phases.
• Support preparation of content and documentation for cross-functional meetings and leadership reviews.
• Strengthen integration between product, clinical, and research teams, ensuring clear, timely communication and risk management.
• Drive process improvements in team collaboration, meeting effectiveness, and planning tool adoption.

Required Experience & Skills

• 6–10 years of biotech/pharma project or program management experience, including clinical development or clinical trial operations.
• Proven ability to manage biomarker, precision medicine, translational medicine, or translational biology projects.
• Demonstrated success managing multiple projects, stakeholders, meetings, and competing priorities simultaneously.
• Independent leader who drives deliverables, follows up effectively, and resolves risks and issues quickly.
• Strong cross-functional leadership and communication skills with the ability to engage both working teams and senior stakeholders.
• Proactive, adaptable, collaborative, and accountable approach; comfortable adding value with minimal training.

Preferred Qualifications

• Technical or scientific background with 6+ years of industry and/or academic experience.
• Prior experience in pharma, consulting, or drug development, specifically research & clinical development.
• Strong program/project management skills in the healthcare or biopharma industry, including cross-functional planning and execution.
• Demonstrated emotional intelligence and ability to influence within a matrix environment.
• Experience with Project Management and AI/ML tools, and biopharma industry best practices.
• Expertise in MS Suite (PowerPoint, Excel), Smartsheet, Planisware, SharePoint, and similar tools.
• Finance and budget management capability.
• Understanding of SOPs, GCP, and regulatory requirements.
• Project planning and management credentials (PMP preferred).
• Exceptional leadership skills in motivating and managing cross-functional teams.

Top 3 Must Have Skills

1. Strong clinical development and scientific foundation, with experience in biomarker and translational medicine projects.
2. Proactive program management and execution - able to independently drive timelines, deliverables, and budgets across multiple priorities.
3. Collaborative, adaptable team leadership with effective cross-functional communication and influencing skills.

Day-to-Day Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate Precision Medicine and Biomarker Technical Operations Meetings, including agenda setting, minute-taking, action tracking, and follow-up.
• Work with PMed and Biomarker Leads to resolve operational issues and maintain accurate project tracking tools.
• Develop and manage integrated project plans, milestones, dependencies, and deliverables.
• Track progress, identify risks or delays, facilitate mitigation, and escalate issues as needed.
• Serve as operational point of contact for biomarker execution, liaising across biospecimen, data management, and vendor partners.
• Support preparation of status updates, governance materials, and leadership presentations.
• Monitor and forecast budgets for biomarker activities and vendor work.
• Manage external research collaborations and ensure clear communication across all teams.
• Maintain project documentation and improve planning processes and tool use within the team.

Basic Qualifications

• Doctorate degree or Master's degree and 2 years of relevant program management experience
• Bachelor's degree and 4 years of relevant program management experience
• Associate's degree and 8 years of relevant program management experience
• High school diploma / GED and 10 years of relevant program management experience

This posting is for Contingent Worker, not an FTE