Assistant Project Manager III

Job Description: Operations Project Manager, Research.
Department: Research Operations.

Reporting To: Director, Research Operations.

Role Purpose

The Operations Project Manager is a key strategic partner to the Director of Research Operations, responsible for the execution of initiatives that modernize, streamline, and financially optimize the Research environment.
This role serves as a bridge between high-level strategy and laboratory execution, ensuring that scientists have the tools, technologies, and operational frameworks required to innovate.
The incumbent will navigate a complex matrix of stakeholders, driving consensus and managing change for both departmental and enterprise-wide initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

I. Strategic Operational Leadership.

Lab Modernization & Innovation: Lead the end-to-end lifecycle of initiatives to bring new technologies and automated workflows into the labs.
Operational Optimization: Design and implement "best-in-class" operating models to improve laboratory efficiency and establish "better ways of working" for the scientific community.
Enterprise Change Management: Represent the Research organization in enterprise-wide initiatives, driving tailored change management strategies to ensure seamless adoption of corporate shifts among the scientific staff.

II. Financial Stewardship.

Fiduciary Oversight: Support the Director in ensuring labs meet or exceed budget targets; lead specific workstreams dedicated to cost-savings, spend optimization, and resource allocation.
Investment Support: Assist in the development of business cases for capital expenditures and strategic laboratory investments.

III. Governance & Execution.

Stakeholder Management: Facilitate multiple weekly project team meetings, expertly navigating perspectives ranging from VP-level executives to bench scientists to drive consensus.
Action & Accountability: Maintain a high level of organizational rigor by tracking assigned action items, coordinating complex schedules across departments, and ensuring milestone delivery.
Executive Storytelling: Partner with the Director to architect and draft high-impact slide decks and briefing materials for leadership presentations and executive reviews.

IV. Community Partnership.

Influence without Authority: Build strong relationships across the Research community to act as a trusted advisor and change agent.
Strategic Alignment: Ensure that all operational and financial initiatives are aligned with the overarching scientific priorities of the Research organization.

Qualifications

• Professional Experience: 7–10+ years of progressive project management experience, preferably within a biotechnology, pharmaceutical, or complex R&D setting.
• Matrix Leadership: Proven ability to influence senior leadership and lead cross-functional teams in a non-hierarchical, science-driven culture.
• Communication: Exceptional formal communication skills; ability to distill complex operational or financial data into clear, persuasive narratives for executive audiences.
• Technical Proficiency: Expert-level capability modern project management software.
• Education: Bachelor’s degree required; an advanced degree (Scientific or MBA) or PMP certification is highly desirable.

Target Pay Rate Range: $60-70/hr depending on experience