Senior Project Manager

Key responsibilities

• Own the integrated plan, budget, RAID log and governance cadence across a portfolio of R&D digital initiatives: Veeva Vault RIM implementation and QMS adoption, validation transformation, AI and ML enablement, and application managed services.
• Lead the new Veeva RIM implementation with an India based team, and drive adoption uplift for the recently implemented QMS.
• Run an independent review and harmonisation of validation SOPs across India and international sites, define a risk based CSA approach for SaaS platforms, and rationalise the contract validation resource base.
• Support the build of an R&D data fabric and delivery of pluggable AI use cases across the R&D value chain.
• Stand up a managed support model for the R&D application stack (ELN, LIMS, Veeva, chromatography data systems, standalone scientific software), including transition from the incumbent vendor and rationalisation of the application estate.
• Manage the client relationship at senior level across business, quality, R&D IT and site leadership, and act as single point of accountability for delivery.
• Manage platform vendors and third party partners against scope, milestones and quality commitments.
• Build, mobilise and retain the onsite and offshore team, with visible skill retention at the R&D centre rather than churn through sub contracting.
• Ensure deliverables meet GxP and data integrity expectations, with validation planned rather than retrofitted.
• Provide clear status reporting and early escalation of risk.

Experience

Essential

• 12 to 15 years in pharmaceutical or life sciences IT, with at least 5 years managing multi workstream programmes end to end.
• Delivery of at least one enterprise regulated platform implementation, ideally Veeva Vault (RIM or QMS).
• Working knowledge of computerised system validation, CSA and data integrity requirements in a regulated R&D environment.
• Experience standing up or transitioning application managed services for a scientific or R&D application stack.
• Proven vendor and stakeholder management at senior client level.
• Experience building and running distributed delivery teams in India.
• Strong written and verbal communication; credible in front of R&D scientists, quality leadership and IT.

Desirable

• Veeva RIM regulatory submissions exposure.
• Familiarity with the R&D application landscape (ELN, LIMS, chromatography data systems) and adjacent tools such as DoE or predictive analytics platforms.
• Experience replacing an incumbent managed services vendor.
• PMP, PRINCE2 or equivalent certification; Agile delivery experience.