Project/Program Manager– Drug Development (Hybrid – Lawrenceville, NJ)

About

We are seeking a Project/Program Manager– Drug Development for our global pharmaceutical client. You will be responsible for ensuring seamless continuity and quality of project plans as they transition from the Project Planning function to Program Managers. This role oversees and executes the end‑to‑end handoff process for project plans, ensuring plans are converted into optimized templates, and manages the governance readiness of cost and resource estimates across the portfolio.

Working under the leadership of the Senior Director, PM Systems & Infrastructure, and in close partnership with Program Management Leads, Project Planners, Finance, and Resource Management teams, this Manager ensures all project plans transferred into ePlan (Planisware) and associated scheduling tools are accurate, complete, and governance‑ready. You will play a key role in building Program Manager capability through Planisware training, maintaining data quality standards, driving process consistency, and supporting timely decision‑making at portfolio review milestones.

This is a 40‑hour per week, 6‑month contract (extensions possible), 50% onsite at the client’s office either in Lawrenceville, NJ; Cambridge, MA; San Diego, CA; or Seattle, WA. Hours: Monday‑Friday (Normal Business Hours).

This is a W2 role as a Stage 4 Solutions employee. Health benefits and a 401K are offered.

Responsibilities

• Project Plan Transition Management: support the end‑to‑end process for transitioning project plans from Project Planning to Program Managers, ensuring clear handoff protocols, accountability, and documentation standards are followed.
• Validate that all project plans are accurately modeled in ePlan (Planisware) prior to transition, including scheduling metadata, study drivers, milestone dates, and critical path alignment.
• Enable the conversion of existing project plans into new, optimized ePlan templates, ensuring templates reflect current best practices, scheduling standards, and enterprise data quality requirements.
• Serve as the primary point of contact during the transition period, facilitating cross‑functional alignment between Project Planners and Program Managers to resolve discrepancies, gaps, or scheduling conflicts before handoff is finalized.
• Conduct structured transition reviews with both outgoing Project Planners and receiving Program Managers to ensure continuity of plan intent, development strategy, and near‑term deliverables.
• Maintain detailed transition records and track handoff status across the portfolio, escalating delays or quality issues to the Senior Director as appropriate.
• Planisware Training & Program Manager Enablement: support the Planisware training program for Program Managers, ensuring all PMs — including new hires and existing staff onboarding to new projects — are trained to the required proficiency level before taking ownership of transitioned project plans.
• Develop, maintain, and continuously improve Planisware training materials, job aids, quick reference guides, and onboarding curricula in alignment with current system standards, optimized templates, and enterprise best practices.
• Assess Program Manager proficiency in Planisware on an ongoing basis, identifying skill gaps and coordinating targeted training interventions or refresher sessions as needed.
• Track training completion and proficiency status across the PM community, providing regular updates to PM Leadership and escalating gaps that may impact governance readiness or data quality.
• Governance‑Ready Cost & Resource Estimate Management: lead and manage the process to ensure all cost and resource estimates are accurate, complete, and governance‑ready ahead of portfolio review milestones.
• Partner with Program Managers, Project Planners, Resource Managers, and Finance Resource Managers to coordinate timely input, review, and validation of resource forecast drivers and budget estimates within ePlan.
• Establish and maintain a governance readiness tracker to provide real‑time visibility into the status of cost and resource estimates across all assigned projects.

Requirements

• 3–5 years of experience in drug development, project/program management, or a related function within the pharmaceutical or biotech industry.
• Direct experience with project scheduling creation, planning, and management, including hands‑on use of Planisware.
• Experience designing or delivering training programs for enterprise software tools, particularly Planisware or equivalent project planning systems, is a plus.
• Strong command of project planning and scheduling methodologies, with the ability to understand and communicate critical path, development scenarios, and data quality standards.
• Demonstrated ability to design and implement optimized project plan templates that improve scheduling consistency, data quality, and governance readiness across a diverse portfolio.
• Bachelor’s degree in a scientific, engineering, business, or information systems discipline required.
• An advanced degree (MS, MBA, or equivalent) is a plus.

Stage 4 Solutions is an equal‑opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to providing employees with an inclusive environment that is free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions are based on the job requirements and candidates’ qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion/belief, national origin, gender identity, age, disability, marital status, genetic information, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.

Compensation

$68/hr. – $70.79/hr.