Senior Director, PM Systems Product Manager

The Senior Director of PM System Product Manager will serve as an influencing business partner throughout the organization, proactively identifying unmet needs, developing strategies to address and oversee solution execution/implementation. This role will serve as the lead product manager for PLANIT, APOLLO, and MYTIME. He/She will be responsible for maintaining and developing strong organizational relationships to drive high-quality project information from all areas of the organization. The Senior Director of PM System Product Manager will create a culture of continuous system/process improvements which encourages organizational feedback and continuous improvement of quality information/system enhancements. The Senior Director of PM System Product Manager is accountable for providing technical leadership on a global basis to the PLANIT Technical Project Information Management team. The Senior Director of PM System Product Manager will support the Head of GPPM Systems in his/her accountability, as Product Manager of PLANIT, for the effective and efficient running of the Planisware system; ensuring that customer needs and trust of PLANIT information is maintained at all times.

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

• This leader will be the product manager of AstraZeneca’s R&D Project Management System (PLANIT/Planisware), APOLLO (MS Project Server), and MYTIME which is the R&D timekeeping system

• Maintain excellent relationships with internal PLANIT stakeholders to influence and ensure partner buy-in and acceptance of PLANIT’s short and long-term vision.

• Provide consultancy services to GPPM Global Project Managers and Functional Project Managers on best practices for plan maintenance and handle unique project situations and guide the organization through best practice project information management techniques / approaches.

• Executes ongoing system improvement initiatives

• Directs the workload and priorities of the Technical Project Information Managers (system integrations, system upgrades, change initiatives, etc)

• Directs an ongoing continuous commitment to increasing the accuracy and reliability of project information through enhanced training, system modifications and data quality reporting techniques.

• Directs and leads business requirement sessions and serves as improving system functionality - spanning project activities, resource forecasts, budget forecasts and reporting, and algorithm development.

• Accountable and leads/directs major enterprise change initiatives

• Will assist in the wider system roadmap discussions on an annual basis

• Oversees the execution of PLANIT user acceptance testing, IT system support relationships and routine PLANIT monthly processes.

• Develop and maintain PLANIT BAU, e.g.:

  • Monthly Reference Line Process

  • Project Baselining

  • Portfolio and Business Update Review Process

Requirements/Qualifications:

Education:

• BA/BS in science or engineering discipline or equivalent technical work experience is required with 8+ years of experience.

• Project Management Certification (e.g. PMP) is desirable

Experience:

System software/Project Management

• Knowledge of project management as a discipline including the ability to create, coordinate, and maintain an integrated product plan and to control or respond to changes in strategy and scope.

• Expertise in use of enterprise-wide pharmaceutical project management software solutions. MS Project and/or Planisware experience is required in a Pharmaceutical/Biotech environment.

• Understanding financial and resource planning systems and processes and ability to coordinate project-level budget/resource estimates and manage actuals vs. plan.

• Experience with reporting software such as Business Objects and Power BI is a plus.

Product Development Process

• A level of knowledge/awareness of the overall biologic/pharmaceutical product development process, including stages of development and role of different functional areas.

• Experience in working on a cross functional team within a wider organization.

Other Experience/Abilities

• Must be professional, dedicated, and detail-orientated and have the flexibility to travel domestically and internationally.

• Excellent oral and written communication, interpersonal, analytical, and computer skills.

• Strong organizational skills required, including good time management skills.

• Highly organized and able to work independently on multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment.

Date Posted

Closing Date

AstraZeneca embraces diversity and equality of opportunity. We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse team representing all backgrounds, with as wide a range of perspectives as possible, and harnessing industry-leading skills. We believe that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be. We welcome and consider applications to join our team from all qualified candidates, regardless of their characteristics. We comply with all applicable laws and regulations on non-discrimination in employment (and recruitment), as well as work authorisation and employment eligibility verification requirements. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.

AstraZeneca requires all US employees to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 but will consider requests for reasonable accommodations as required by applicable law.