Job description

We are seeking a Senior IT Project Manager with demonstrated experience leading complex, cross-functional technology initiatives in global and regulated manufacturing environments. The immediate priority for this role will be the delivery of projects involving Manufacturing Execution Systems, with a primary focus on the Critical Manufacturing MES platform . The successful candidate should also bring experience that can be applied across adjacent enterprise technology domains, such as SAP/ERP, Quality Systems, Product Lifecycle Management, Supply Chain, Data and Analytics, and other manufacturing applications . This broader background will allow the Project Manager to support different strategic initiatives as portfolio priorities evolve. This role requires a proactive and hands-on project leader who can drive planning and execution, coordinate business and technical teams, manage vendors and system integrators, oversee financials and risks, and provide clear reporting to executive stakeholders. Experience working in regulated environments and managing validation and compliance requirements is highly desirable. Key Responsibilities: • Lead the planning and execution of complex global IT projects across manufacturing and enterprise application domains, with an immediate focus on Critical Manufacturing MES initiatives . • Manage MES implementations, upgrades, integrations, enhancements, and site deployments from initiation through stabilization and closure. • Coordinate cross-functional teams involving Manufacturing Operations, IT, Engineering, Quality, Validation, Supply Chain, Finance, and external partners. • Develop and maintain integrated project plans, implementation schedules, resource plans, budgets, RAID logs, and executive status reporting. • Manage project scope, schedule, financials, risks, issues, dependencies, decisions, and change controls. • Serve as a primary escalation point and drive timely resolution of project risks, delivery challenges, and cross-functional dependencies. • Coordinate integrations between MES and adjacent platforms, including SAP/ERP, Quality Systems, PLM, warehouse applications, automation solutions, and data platforms. • Oversee validation planning and compliance deliverables in accordance with applicable FDA, GxP, and 21 CFR Part 11 requirements. • Manage vendors and system integrators, including SOW governance, deliverable acceptance, commercial boundaries, dependencies, and delivery performance. • Lead steering committee meetings, executive communications, governance reviews, and decision-making forums. • Drive organizational change activities, including stakeholder engagement, communication, training, deployment readiness, and adoption planning. • Oversee project financial management, including budgeting, forecasting, cost tracking, resource planning, and financial reporting. • Apply Agile, Waterfall, or Hybrid delivery approaches based on project scope, technology, and organizational requirements. • Ensure appropriate transition to operations, completion of stabilization activities, business acceptance, and formal project closure. Qualifications, Skills and Experience: • Education & Experience: • Bachelor’s degree with at least eight years of relevant experience, or a master’s degree with at least six years of relevant experience. • At least eight years of experience leading medium-to-large IT projects in global, matrixed organizations. • Demonstrated experience managing complex implementations, upgrades, integrations, migrations, or technology transformations. • Experience working in manufacturing and regulated environments. • Domain Experience: • Proven experience leading Manufacturing Execution System projects, including implementations, upgrades, integrations, enhancements, or multi-site deployments. • Direct experience with Critical Manufacturing MES is strongly preferred. • Understanding of manufacturing processes, shop-floor operations, production execution, system integration, traceability, and deployment readiness. • Experience coordinating Manufacturing, Engineering, Quality, Validation, IT, and external delivery partners. • Experience in regulated industries, with a strong preference for exposure to medical validation projects. • Expertise in compliance frameworks like FDA, GxP, and 21 CFR Part 11. • Skills & Competencies: • Vendor Management: proven experience with third-party vendors/SIs. • Migration & Upgrade Experience: SaaS/cloud transitions, system upgrades, data migration strategies. • Communication & Governance: steering committees, executive reporting, RAID management. • Change & Adoption Management: OCM for upgrades. • Budget & Financial Tracking: cost sizing, forecasting, and financial control. • Preferred Certifications: • PMP (Project Management Professional) - Required. • CSM / Advanced ScrumMaster - Preferred. • Expertise in Agile, Waterfall, Hybrid, and DevOps methodologies - Preferred. • Tools Proficiency: • Experience with Azure DevOps, ServiceNow, Smartsheet, Microsoft Project, Power BI, or comparable project delivery and reporting tools. • Soft Skills: • Hands-on attitude leadership style with an ability to influence and engage teams. • Demonstrated ability to proactively lead delivery teams, drive decision-making, resolve complex project challenges, and influence stakeholders across all organizational levels. This role requires an active project leader who provides strategic direction and execution ownership, not solely project administration. • Requirements: PMP Certification and Agile/Scrum certification (CSM, A-CSM, SAFe, or equivalent). • 8+ years of IT Project Management experience, including delivery of medium-to-large scale global implementations, upgrades, and transformations. • Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) experience is required, preferably Critical Manufacturing. Experience leading MES deployments, rollouts, upgrades, integrations, or digital manufacturing initiatives across multiple sites. • Experience working in regulated manufacturing environments, including validation activities and compliance frameworks such as FDA, GxP, and 21 CFR Part 11. • Strong leadership, communication, stakeholder management, and governance capabilities, with demonstrated experience providing executive-level reporting and driving cross-functional alignment. • Experience managing global vendors, system integrators, and distributed delivery teams. • Strong knowledge of Agile, Waterfall, and Hybrid delivery methodologies. Pay: $60 - $65 per hour

Requirements

Must-haves

Lead the planning and execution of complex global IT projects across manufacturing and enterprise application domains, with an immediate focus on Critical Manufacturing MES initiatives .
Manage MES implementations, upgrades, integrations, enhancements, and site deployments from initiation through stabilization and closure.
Coordinate cross-functional teams involving Manufacturing Operations, IT, Engineering, Quality, Validation, Supply Chain, Finance, and external partners.
Develop and maintain integrated project plans, implementation schedules, resource plans, budgets, RAID logs, and executive status reporting.
Manage project scope, schedule, financials, risks, issues, dependencies, decisions, and change controls.
Serve as a primary escalation point and drive timely resolution of project risks, delivery challenges, and cross-functional dependencies.
Coordinate integrations between MES and adjacent platforms, including SAP/ERP, Quality Systems, PLM, warehouse applications, automation solutions, and data platforms.
Oversee validation planning and compliance deliverables in accordance with applicable FDA, GxP, and 21 CFR Part 11 requirements.
Manage vendors and system integrators, including SOW governance, deliverable acceptance, commercial boundaries, dependencies, and delivery performance.
Lead steering committee meetings, executive communications, governance reviews, and decision-making forums.
Drive organizational change activities, including stakeholder engagement, communication, training, deployment readiness, and adoption planning.
Oversee project financial management, including budgeting, forecasting, cost tracking, resource planning, and financial reporting.
Apply Agile, Waterfall, or Hybrid delivery approaches based on project scope, technology, and organizational requirements.
Ensure appropriate transition to operations, completion of stabilization activities, business acceptance, and formal project closure.
Bachelor’s degree with at least eight years of relevant experience, or a master’s degree with at least six years of relevant experience.
At least eight years of experience leading medium-to-large IT projects in global, matrixed organizations.
Demonstrated experience managing complex implementations, upgrades, integrations, migrations, or technology transformations.
Experience working in manufacturing and regulated environments.
Proven experience leading Manufacturing Execution System projects, including implementations, upgrades, integrations, enhancements, or multi-site deployments.
Understanding of manufacturing processes, shop-floor operations, production execution, system integration, traceability, and deployment readiness.
Experience coordinating Manufacturing, Engineering, Quality, Validation, IT, and external delivery partners.

Nice-to-haves

Direct experience with Critical Manufacturing MES is strongly preferred.
CSM / Advanced ScrumMaster - Preferred.
Expertise in Agile, Waterfall, Hybrid, and DevOps methodologies - Preferred.

Application prep

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Keywords to mirror

agileazurescrum

Platform: betterteam
Effort: medium