Associate Director, Project Management

United StatesRemoteFull-timeexecutive

OperationsProject Manager

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Quick Summary

Key Responsibilities

Lead the planning and delivery of multiple complex projects and integrated workstreams across life sciences accounts,

Technical Tools

OperationsProject Manager

As Associate Director, Project Management, you will lead the planning and execution of complex healthcare communications projects for pharmaceutical and biotechnology clients. You will oversee multiple integrated workstreams, ensuring projects are delivered on time, within scope, and aligned with strategic objectives. Working closely with account, creative, medical, regulatory, production, and finance teams, you will bring structure and clarity to fast-moving initiatives. You will also manage project financials, anticipate operational risks, and navigate regulated Medical/Legal/Regulatory (MLR) review processes. In addition to overseeing delivery, you will mentor project management professionals and strengthen internal processes. This fully remote opportunity offers a chance to influence high-impact healthcare communications within a collaborative, international agency environment.

You will take ownership of complex project portfolios, ensuring effective coordination, financial oversight, regulatory compliance, and successful collaboration across multidisciplinary teams. Your main responsibilities will include:

Lead the planning and delivery of multiple complex projects and integrated workstreams across life sciences accounts, translating client objectives and strategic direction into actionable project plans.
Develop and manage integrated timelines, milestones, dependencies, approval pathways, risk management plans, and delivery standards throughout the project lifecycle.
Establish effective project workflows, including kick-off meetings, internal reviews, status meetings, client updates, and post-project evaluations.
Ensure teams have clear priorities, responsibilities, decision-making processes, and next steps while acting as a senior escalation point for delivery risks and competing priorities.
Oversee project planning for materials requiring Medical/Legal/Regulatory review, ensuring submission requirements, review timelines, and approval milestones are accurately incorporated.
Coordinate with medical, legal, regulatory, and client stakeholders to identify potential compliance, claims, fair balance, labeling, and approval risks.
Maintain a strong understanding of FDA promotional requirements and regulatory expectations for pharmaceutical and biotechnology communications.
Collaborate with account leadership to develop scopes of work, project estimates, timelines, and resource plans.
Monitor project budgets, hours, financial forecasts, resource utilization, and profitability while managing scope changes, revised estimates, change orders, reconciliation, invoicing, and financial reporting.
Partner with department leaders and Resource Management teams to anticipate staffing requirements, resolve resource constraints, and optimize internal and external resource allocation.
Coach and mentor Project Managers and Senior Project Managers, supporting their professional development and strengthening project management capabilities.
Contribute to the development and improvement of project management processes, tools, templates, best practices, and training initiatives.
Build trusted client relationships and act as a strategic partner on project planning, delivery, budgets, timelines, and risk management.
Represent project management in client meetings and strategic planning discussions.
Support new business opportunities through operational planning, resource modeling, and project delivery strategies.
Contribute to broader organizational initiatives that improve project management practices and operational efficiency.

Requirements

~2 min read

The ideal candidate is an experienced project management professional with a strong background in healthcare communications and the ability to lead complex projects in regulated environments. You should combine excellent organizational and financial management skills with confident leadership, effective communication, and a collaborative approach. Key qualifications include:

Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, Business Administration, Project Management, or a related discipline.
7–10 years of project management experience within healthcare, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical communications, advertising, or creative agency environments.
Previous experience supporting commercial communications for pharmaceutical or biotechnology brands.
Strong working knowledge of Medical/Legal/Regulatory review processes and regulatory requirements governing US promotional communications.
Demonstrated experience managing complex, integrated projects involving multiple functions, communication channels, and stakeholders.
Proven financial project management expertise, including scopes of work, estimates, budgets, forecasting, budget burn tracking, and financial reconciliation.
Experience leading, mentoring, and developing project management professionals.
Strong understanding of agency workflows, resource planning, and cross-functional team operations.
Excellent communication, facilitation, negotiation, and problem-solving abilities.
Ability to manage competing priorities, influence stakeholders without direct authority, and confidently escalate risks when necessary.
Proficiency with project management platforms such as Smartsheet, Workfront, Asana, or comparable tools, as well as Microsoft Office.

Additional qualifications that would be advantageous:

Experience supporting new business pitches, product launch planning, or large-scale integrated campaigns within regulated healthcare environments.
Willingness to travel occasionally for client meetings, team sessions, and industry or agency events.