IT Senior Project Manager

As a leading global contract research organization (CRO) with a passion for scientific rigor and decades of clinical development experience, Fortrea provides pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device customers a wide range of clinical development, patient access and technology solutions across more than 20 therapeutic areas. With over 19,000 staff conducting operations in more than 90 countries, Fortrea is transforming drug and device development for partners and patients across the globe.

Job Overview:

The Senior Project Manager oversees and manages domestic, regional and/or global projects. Responsibilities typically include developing and managing project teams, communications, risk, scope, schedule, cost, quality, and stakeholders, effectively ensuring that variance from plan is proactively and effectively mitigated and client expectations are met. The Senior Project Manager is expected to have a working knowledge of IT solution development, solution deployment, data migration, solution retirement and/or IT infrastructure and IT cyber security. They also compile and drive documentation for the project, ensuring the accuracy and quality of regulatory data. The Senior Project Manager may also have line management and/or business development responsibilities.

Summary of Responsibilities:

Project delivery

• Responsible for project delivery with regards to agreed time, scope, cost, quality, successful outcomes, and project value
• Serve as key business/client contact for assigned projects, establishing working relationships with business/client project teams which result in business/client satisfaction, operational excellence and thereby increase potential for project ROI or repeat client business
• 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. Depending on size and scope of project(s), this job duty may be performed in collaboration with a Project Director
• Serve as escalation point for project issues to internal and external stakeholders, as appropriate
• PLANNING: Create, maintain, and manage detailed Project Plans using approved PMO Tools; clearly articulating work breakdown structures of deliverables by phase, activity, and task; with role assignments and estimates to complete on each task
• RESOURCE MANAGEMENT: Partner with resource managers and functional owners to identify all resources required to execute your plan, negotiate, and place resource requests and manage the resource plan for your projects
• TEAM COMMUNICATION: Proactively identify and resolve conflicts as needed
• COST: Understand the project delivery strategy, costing assumptions and resulting budget for assigned project(s). Create and maintain project accounting records to accurately reflect, by month, by expenditure type and class; project spend-to-date, estimates to complete and estimates at complete; analyzing with explanation any variance between budget, plan, actuals and forecast.
• SCOPE: Deliver project(s) to scope, schedule, and costs, ensuring all remain on track with the contract and with financial performance targets. Initiate and implement appropriate actions to proactively manage the change control process both internally and externally
• RISK: Proactively lead both quality control and risk assurance activities to ensure project deliverables are met according to regulatory, and business/client requirements
• QUALITY: Create and manage variance to required project plans. Per SOPs, implement and monitor progress against project plans and revise as necessary. Ensure that all staff allocated to assigned project(s) adheres to professional standards and SOPs, providing performance feedback to team member's respective supervisors. Ensure that projects are delivered meeting GxP Quality compliance rules and regulations as it applies to IT projects
• Aid in development and maintenance of key project performance indicators ensuring that the KPIs are within scope of the project charter/contract
• Define and manage project resource needs and establish succession plans for key resources
• Ensure that Steering Committee is established for projects and lead or co-lead the meeting with the business to ensure that leadership is kept appraised of status, upcoming activities, dependencies, risks, and roadblocks
• Develop an understanding of Agile ways of working and Product mindset and assist in moving the organization towards adopting these ways of working

Business Development

• In collaboration with relevant departments, support presentations for new projects and client business as required
• Perform other duties as assigned by management

Line Management & Talent Development

• Trains & mentors new Project Managers in multiple areas of expertise
• Ensures allocated resources are aligned with current and forecasted work in terms of capability, quantity, timing, and efficiency
• May be responsible for on-boarding, development, and retention of high performing talent; strengthening and deepening talent bench and succession
• Assesses project management competencies for assigned staff to create developmental plans that will increase competencies and close performance gaps
• Provides line management and technical support to assigned project leaders, including training, development, and performance review of assigned staff

Qualifications (Minimum Required):

• University/college degree (Information Technology preferred) or certification in Information Technology (Fortrea may consider relevant and equivalent experience in lieu of educational requirements).

Experience (Minimum Required):

• Proven IT project experience in the related functional area - Data analysis and transformation projects in the Clinical space, including full project management responsibility
• Working knowledge of regulatory requirements and IT technologies for the related functional area.
• Advanced computer skills (e.g., Microsoft Word, Excel, Project, and Power Point)
• Experience managing projects in a matrix and virtual environment
• 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
• Demonstrated ability to inspire effective teamwork and motivate staff within a matrix system
• Financial awareness and ability to actively utilize financial tracking systems
• Good knowledge of project management processes and methodologies
• 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
• Certifications in Project Management, Program management, SAFE, Agile, Scrum, Big Data
• Experience as an Agile Lead, facilitating planning and working sessions, promoting alignment and managing team dynamics with program management experience
• Knowledgeable in the SAFe methodology
• Global project management experience
• Understanding of Agile ways of working and Product mindset preferred
• Understanding of GxP Quality rules and regulations as it applies to delivering IT projects

Physical Demands / Work Environment:

• No physical demands / work environment factors defined at this time

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Fortrea is actively seeking motivated problem-solvers and creative thinkers who share our passion for overcoming barriers in clinical trials. Our unwavering commitment is to revolutionize the development process, ensuring the swift delivery of life-changing ideas and therapies to patients in need. Join our exceptional team and embrace a collaborative workspace where personal growth is nurtured, enabling you to make a meaningful global impact.