Program Manager - NPI

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The essential duties and responsibilities include the following but other duties may be assigned.
• Own end-to-end delivery of NPI programs spanning tech transfer, process development, engineering runs, training runs, process validation (PPQ), and commercial handoff, coordinating across Manufacturing, Quality, Engineering, and Supply Chain.
• Compile and maintain integrated program timelines identifying critical path activities, key milestones, and interdependencies. Proactively identify risks and drive mitigation plans through completion.
• Manage program-level budgets on behalf of site leadership, including Capital Expenditure (CapEx) tracking, benefits realization reporting, and variance analysis.
• Ensure all NPI activities comply with PCI procedures, cGMP requirements, and applicable regulatory standards (FDA 21 CFR 211, ICH guidelines).
• Define and report on NPI performance metrics including launch on-time performance, validation success rate, budget variance, and cycle time from award to commercialization. Own the reporting cadence to site leadership and identify trends requiring corrective action.
• Serve as the primary PCI point of contact for assigned NPI clients throughout the program lifecycle, representing PCI in Joint Steering Committee (JSC) meetings, on-site reviews, and steering committee sessions.
• Drive Right First Time (RFT) and On Time In Full (OTIF) delivery across all client programs, proactively managing expectations and communicating status, risks, and escalations through structured governance cadences.
• Directly manage and develop a team of NPI Project Managers, setting clear performance expectations, providing coaching and mentorship, and building program management capability within the NPI function.
• Promote engagement and accountability at all levels of the program team, ensuring individuals understand their contributions to program success and client outcomes.
• Partner with the Director of NPI to define and evolve the NPI operating model, including program tiering frameworks, phase-gated process design, resource allocation models, and standardized governance structures (JSC cadences, kickoff protocols, handoff criteria).
• Lead the implementation of NPI strategic initiatives across the Philadelphia site, translating directional strategy into executable plans, standard work, and measurable outcomes.
• Contribute to the development of NPI client onboarding standards, training and readiness frameworks, and internal playbook documentation that codify how the function operates at scale.
• Design and own the Business Development-to-NPI handover process, defining documentation standards (TKO from Engineering, product detail sheets, launch questionnaires), technical inputs, billing setup, and internal launch preparation steps to ensure programs are fully scoped and resourced before customer kickoff.
• Develop and maintain an NPI training curriculum and on-the-job training (OJT) framework for Project Managers and Associate Project Managers, including standard work definitions that establish consistent execution expectations across the team.
• Work cross-functionally to evaluate and coordinate resource allocation across programs, ensuring appropriate capacity within each functional team and that deliverables are tracked to completion.
• Identify opportunities for process improvement throughout the NPI lifecycle and collaborate with PCI Global sites to harmonize ways of working on large-scale programs.
• Manage change at varying levels, ensuring site procedures are followed and change controls are raised with the appropriate approvers engaged from the outset.
• Own portfolio-level health monitoring across all active NPI programs, including schedule risk assessment, resource prioritization when constrained, validation readiness tracking, and revenue impact analysis for site leadership reporting.
• Build and maintain NPI reporting infrastructure in Smartsheet, including operational dashboards for program managers and executive-level dashboards for SLT, with standardized RAID logs and lessons learned integrated into every program provision.

Qualifications

• The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required for the stated position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Required Bachelor’s degree in a technical, engineering, or science discipline. 7+ years of experience in pharmaceutical project or program management, including oversight of multi-million dollar NPI, tech transfer, or capital programs.
• Proven experience managing concurrent programs across multiple clients in a CDMO or contract manufacturing environment. Sound working knowledge of cGMP, FDA 21 CFR 211, and regulatory inspection readiness.
• Experience serving as the primary client point of contact, including participation in JSC meetings and steering committees. Direct people management experience, including performance management, coaching, and team development.
• Proficiency with project management and reporting tooling, including demonstrated ability to build dashboards, trackers, and reporting infrastructure in Smartsheet or equivalent platforms, plus Microsoft 365 suite. Effective communication across all levels, including executive stakeholders and external clients.
• Strategic thinking with the ability to translate high-level direction into executable plans, standard work, and scalable processes. Ability to lead and develop high-performing teams in a matrixed, cross-functional environment. Ability to build trusted relationships with both internal stakeholders and external clients.
• Dependability, reliability, integrity, and attention to detail. Customer-centric mindset with a commitment to quality, ethics, and professionalism.