Program Manager, Pharma

About the role

Varda is a space technology company focused on developing commercial space infrastructure. The pharmaceutical team is seeking a highly motivated and creative Pharma Program Manager to drive pharma programs to completion.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with program leads to develop and track schedules and milestones, identifying critical path activities and dependencies.
• Support pharma programs and meetings: set agendas, document decisions, assign owners, and follow up on action items.
• Establish program objectives, define scope, and align with departmental strategy.
• Ensure project deliverables meet expectations for quality, cost, and schedule.
• Partner with technical leads to identify and manage program risks and issues, while also proposing mitigation strategies and maintaining a risk register with mitigation plans.
• Align with technical leads to allocate resources, control costs, and ensure efficient use of personnel and resources.
• Communicate project status via SmartSheet, reports, and dashboards.
• Serve as the operational liaison to CDMOs, CROs, and contract testing laboratories on scheduling, deliverables, and issue escalation.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of program management experience, and 6+ years of experience in the biopharmaceutical industry.
• B.S. or M.S. in life sciences such as Chemistry, Biochemistry, or related fields.
• Effective communication (verbal and written), well organized, collaborative with peers.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• 10+ years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry.
• 3+ years of program management experience, PMP / PgMP certification.
• Demonstrated experience managing multiple programs.
• Excellent communication across a diverse group of stakeholders. Must be able to tailor messaging to each audience.
• Experience with program planning and coordination, aligning with organizational strategy.
• Cross-functional team influence. Without direct reports, this role must influence and drive task completion from multiple stakeholders.
• Strong critical thinking and troubleshooting experience to guide cross-functional teams toward achieving program objectives.
• Understanding and implementation of change management during program lifecycle.
• Extensive experience with MS Project and/or SmartSheet.

Pay

Pay Range: $125,000 - $170,000/per year
This role is on-site in El Segundo, CA
Leveling and base salary is determined by job-related skills, education level, experience level, and job performance
You will be eligible for incentives in the form of stock options and/or long-term cash awards

Benefits

• Health & Wellness: Flexible PTO policy + 12 paid holidays, 100% company-paid Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance plans for employees and dependents with FSA and employer-matched HSA options, Voluntary accident, hospital, critical illness, and pet insurance, $120/month wellness reimbursement for gym and fitness expenses, 12 weeks of parental leave (with supplemental disability leave for CA mothers), Family building, pregnancy, parenting and menopause benefits via Maven Clinic, Sponsored One Medical memberships for employees and their dependents
• Financial & Retirement: Substantial incentive equity in a fully funded space start-up, 401(k) retirement plan with 6% employer match (immediately vested), $20/pay period cell phone reimbursement
• Workplace Experience & Perks: Fully stocked kitchen with lunch provided daily and dinner provided twice weekly, Company and team-bonding events, happy hours and mission-success celebrations, Complimentary EV charging

ITAR Requirements

Varda, like all employers, must ensure that its employees working in the United States are lawfully authorized to work in the U.S. Additionally, our employees are exposed to and have access to certain export-controlled items. Because our employees are provided access to export-controlled items, our policy is to only hire “U.S. persons” who are permitted to have access to our technology without an export license.

E-Verify Statement

Varda Space Industries, Inc. participates in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security E-Verify program. The E-Verify program is an Internet-based employment eligibility verification system operated by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Learn more about the E-Verify program.

E-Verify Notice Right To Work Notice

Varda Space Industries is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Candidates and employees are always evaluated based on merit, qualifications, and performance. We will never discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability, or any other legally protected status.