Senior Project/Program, Biologics Discovery Automation

Senior Project/Program Manager Biologics Discovery Automation
Location: Can be remote but should be commutable to Spring House PA for occasional workshops
Reports to: Head of Research Systems Engineering or Biologics Discovery Product Owner

Role Summary

We are seeking a Senior Project / Program Manager to lead a strategic Biologics Discovery Automation initiative at the intersection of scientific research, laboratory automation, data, and technology. This individual will partner with discovery scientists, Business Technology product owners, data teams, automation engineers, and external vendors to drive planning, execution, governance, and delivery of automation-focused programs that enhance biologics discovery capabilities.

The ideal candidate brings strong program leadership experience within biopharma R&D environments and has successfully managed complex cross-functional initiatives involving laboratory systems, automation platforms, scientific workflows, data integration, and digital transformation. This role will focus on aligning stakeholders, driving decision-making, managing dependencies, mitigating risks, and ensuring successful delivery of automation and data initiatives that support scientific innovation.

Key Responsibilities

Program & Project Leadership

• Lead end-to-end planning, execution, and governance of Biologics Discovery Automation initiatives.
• Develop and maintain integrated project plans, timelines, milestones, budgets, resource plans, and dependency tracking.
• Drive program governance, status reporting, risk management, issue resolution, and executive communications.
• Facilitate decision-making across scientific, technical, and business stakeholders to ensure alignment and delivery success.

Stakeholder Management & Collaboration

• Partner closely with discovery scientists, Business Technology product owners, automation engineers, data teams, and vendors to align priorities and execution plans.
• Coordinate activities across multiple workstreams, ensuring clear ownership, accountability, and communication.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for program updates, escalations, and stakeholder engagement.

Automation & Scientific Workflow Enablement

• Support the assessment, prioritization, and implementation of laboratory automation initiatives and automated workcells.
• Collaborate with scientific and technical teams to understand assay workflows, automation requirements, data dependencies, and operational impacts.
• Facilitate evaluation and selection of automation technologies, instruments, and integration solutions.

Delivery & Change Management

• Drive execution of project deliverables while managing scope, timelines, risks, assumptions, and dependencies.
• Coordinate testing, validation, user acceptance activities, training, and deployment readiness.
• Lead change management efforts to support adoption of new automation capabilities, systems, and workflows.

Vendor & Cross-Functional Coordination

• Support vendor evaluations, RFP processes, contract deliverables, and implementation activities.
• Manage relationships with internal and external partners to ensure alignment with program objectives and timelines.
• Ensure successful integration of scientific, automation, data, and technology workstreams.

Required Qualifications

• 7+ years of Project or Program Management experience leading complex technology, automation, data, or digital transformation initiatives within the biopharma industry.
• Experience supporting scientific research, laboratory operations, R&D technology, automation, informatics, or related discovery-focused programs.
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams consisting of scientists, engineers, data teams, IT, business stakeholders, and external vendors.
• Strong experience with project planning, governance, risk management, budgeting, resource management, and executive stakeholder communication.
• Demonstrated success managing large-scale programs in matrixed organizations.
• Experience utilizing project management and collaboration tools such as Jira, Confluence, Smartsheet, MS Project, or similar platforms.
• Excellent communication, facilitation, and organizational skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting laboratory automation, biologics discovery, assay development, scientific workflows, or research informatics initiatives.
• Familiarity with laboratory systems including LIMS, ELN, data platforms, scientific instrumentation, or automation technologies.
• Experience leading vendor selection, implementation, and integration programs.
• PMP, PgMP, Agile, Scrum, or similar project management certification preferred.

Soft Skills & Competencies

• Strong leadership and stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence without direct authority.
• Ability to navigate ambiguity and drive alignment across diverse scientific and technical teams.
• Excellent problem-solving and decision-making capabilities.
• Highly organized, proactive, and execution-oriented.
• Intellectual curiosity and ability to quickly learn scientific concepts and emerging technologies.