What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director of Project Management position at Southern Research?
General Summary
The Director of Project Management will lead the project management team, ensuring successful execution of preclinical studies and contract commitments. This role requires strategic oversight, operational excellence, and the ability to manage multiple, complex projects within regulatory and contractual guidelines. The Director of Project management will demonstrate a deep understanding of preclinical research, government and commercial contract management, and client relationship building. Individuals in this role will work closely with senior management and project team members across the organization to ensure the successful completion of projects and the safeguarding of organizational resources and reputation. They will be expected to directly manage projects as needed.
The Director of Project Management will lead the project management team, ensuring successful execution of preclinical studies and contract commitments. This role requires strategic oversight, operational excellence, and the ability to manage multiple, complex projects within regulatory and contractual guidelines. The Director of Project management will demonstrate a deep understanding of preclinical research, government and commercial contract management, and client relationship building. Individuals in this role will work closely with senior management and project team members across the organization to ensure the successful completion of projects and the safeguarding of organizational resources and reputation. They will be expected to directly manage projects as needed.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
• Oversee the planning, execution, and delivery of preclinical research projects, ensuring adherence to timelines, budgets, and regulatory requirements.
• Serve as the primary escalation point for project-related issues, proactively identifying risks and implementing mitigation strategies.
• Develop and optimize project management frameworks, processes, and best practices to drive operational efficiency.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing project management team, fostering a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.
• Work with senior leadership to establish training programs and career development pathways for project managers.
• Promote cross-functional collaboration between scientific, business development, and operational teams.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with both government agencies and commercial clients, serving as the primary contact for project-related discussions.
• Familiarity with government contracting requirements, including FAR, DFARS, and other relevant regulations.
• Assures adherence to schedules by interacting effectively with and providing information to various staff and client groups; prompts individuals and groups of needed results and approaching deadlines; and coordinates needs of one group or person with necessary individuals.
• Schedules and runs project meetings as required.
• Works across the organization to prepare and present presentations and/or updates to internal management and/or external customers as needed to provide reviews and updates on technical aspects, cost, and schedule.
• Ensures prompt resolution and communication of issues associated with assigned projects; they will work with the study director, subject matter expert, and others across the organization as needed to resolve such issues.
• Actively manages risk using risk management fundamentals and terminology. Applies processes and procedures to identify, analyze, classify, and mitigate the prioritized project risks.
• Completes financial reporting as required for government projects.
• Accountable for research project tracking, updating and maintaining project documentation.
• Responsible for establishing and tracking project and program timelines and milestones.
• Monitors and evaluates project plans to ensure there are no deviations from the established statement of work.
• Performs other duties as assigned by VP, Operations.
• Oversee the planning, execution, and delivery of preclinical research projects, ensuring adherence to timelines, budgets, and regulatory requirements.
• Serve as the primary escalation point for project-related issues, proactively identifying risks and implementing mitigation strategies.
• Develop and optimize project management frameworks, processes, and best practices to drive operational efficiency.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing project management team, fostering a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.
• Work with senior leadership to establish training programs and career development pathways for project managers.
• Promote cross-functional collaboration between scientific, business development, and operational teams.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with both government agencies and commercial clients, serving as the primary contact for project-related discussions.
• Familiarity with government contracting requirements, including FAR, DFARS, and other relevant regulations.
• Assures adherence to schedules by interacting effectively with and providing information to various staff and client groups; prompts individuals and groups of needed results and approaching deadlines; and coordinates needs of one group or person with necessary individuals.
• Schedules and runs project meetings as required.
• Works across the organization to prepare and present presentations and/or updates to internal management and/or external customers as needed to provide reviews and updates on technical aspects, cost, and schedule.
• Ensures prompt resolution and communication of issues associated with assigned projects; they will work with the study director, subject matter expert, and others across the organization as needed to resolve such issues.
• Actively manages risk using risk management fundamentals and terminology. Applies processes and procedures to identify, analyze, classify, and mitigate the prioritized project risks.
• Completes financial reporting as required for government projects.
• Accountable for research project tracking, updating and maintaining project documentation.
• Responsible for establishing and tracking project and program timelines and milestones.
• Monitors and evaluates project plans to ensure there are no deviations from the established statement of work.
• Performs other duties as assigned by VP, Operations.
Requirements/Minimum Qualifications
• Bachelor’s degree in a business or scientific field, with at least seven years of project management experience within a CRO, biotech, pharmaceutical, or government contracting environment.
• Demonstrated ability to use the fundamental concepts, practices, and procedures of project management.
• Proven track record of managing complex preclinical research projects, including government contracts (e.g., NIH, DOD, BARDA).
• Prior demonstration of ability to manage both cost-plus and firm fixed price type contracts.
• Knowledge of software applications, particularly those that run on the Microsoft (MS) Windows operating system, including Word, Access, Excel, MS Project and other programs.
• Prior demonstration of effective verbal and written communication skills; must be able to communicate difficult information with high level of decorum and tactfulness.
• Highly detail oriented with good planning, organization, task-efficiency, and time-management skills.
• Understand the importance of providing high-quality customer service to both internal and external customers.
• Must possess a general knowledge of Project Management principles.
• Strong leadership experience, including mentoring and managing project teams.
• Excellent knowledge of regulatory and compliance requirements in preclinical research (e.g., GLP, FDA, ICH).
• Bachelor’s degree in a business or scientific field, with at least seven years of project management experience within a CRO, biotech, pharmaceutical, or government contracting environment.
• Demonstrated ability to use the fundamental concepts, practices, and procedures of project management.
• Proven track record of managing complex preclinical research projects, including government contracts (e.g., NIH, DOD, BARDA).
• Prior demonstration of ability to manage both cost-plus and firm fixed price type contracts.
• Knowledge of software applications, particularly those that run on the Microsoft (MS) Windows operating system, including Word, Access, Excel, MS Project and other programs.
• Prior demonstration of effective verbal and written communication skills; must be able to communicate difficult information with high level of decorum and tactfulness.
• Highly detail oriented with good planning, organization, task-efficiency, and time-management skills.
• Understand the importance of providing high-quality customer service to both internal and external customers.
• Must possess a general knowledge of Project Management principles.
• Strong leadership experience, including mentoring and managing project teams.
• Excellent knowledge of regulatory and compliance requirements in preclinical research (e.g., GLP, FDA, ICH).
Preferred Qualifications
• MS or PhD in scientific discipline
• Strong business acumen and ability to contribute to strategic growth initiatives.
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification strongly preferred.
• MS or PhD in scientific discipline
• Strong business acumen and ability to contribute to strategic growth initiatives.
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification strongly preferred.
Core Values
Cultivating human connection – putting people first. We know that every individual makes a difference and that no one can do it alone. We believe the world’s most powerful resource is human potential. We are an inclusive and courageous team where innovation and diversity of though go hand in hand. We understand that relationships move at the speed of trust.
Operating with precise execution – measuring what matters and owning results as a team. We leverage data to drive decisions that advance science. We recognize the importance of a stable foundation coupled with an agile mindset. We hold ourselves accountable and take pride in our work. We give and receive candid feedback as a gift that keeps us growing.
Harnessing relentless curiosity – our unstoppable, innovative force. We are driven to ask sharp questions and push the boundaries of knowledge. We use creativity and critical thinking as catalysts for finding solutions that change lives. We learn by doing, consistently striving to improve our relationships, training, methodologies, questions and results.
Stewarding a healthy community – implementing sustainable operations for a safe, engaging environment. We don’t compromise on safety and health for our employees, customers or community. We believe a healthy community begins with inclusive economic opportunities. We respect the dignity of the patients we ultimately serve. We are motivated to serve communities that are underserved and markets that are overlooked.
Cultivating human connection – putting people first. We know that every individual makes a difference and that no one can do it alone. We believe the world’s most powerful resource is human potential. We are an inclusive and courageous team where innovation and diversity of though go hand in hand. We understand that relationships move at the speed of trust.
Operating with precise execution – measuring what matters and owning results as a team. We leverage data to drive decisions that advance science. We recognize the importance of a stable foundation coupled with an agile mindset. We hold ourselves accountable and take pride in our work. We give and receive candid feedback as a gift that keeps us growing.
Harnessing relentless curiosity – our unstoppable, innovative force. We are driven to ask sharp questions and push the boundaries of knowledge. We use creativity and critical thinking as catalysts for finding solutions that change lives. We learn by doing, consistently striving to improve our relationships, training, methodologies, questions and results.
Stewarding a healthy community – implementing sustainable operations for a safe, engaging environment. We don’t compromise on safety and health for our employees, customers or community. We believe a healthy community begins with inclusive economic opportunities. We respect the dignity of the patients we ultimately serve. We are motivated to serve communities that are underserved and markets that are overlooked.
Job Specific Behaviors
• Relationship Orientation. Develops positive relationships by making others feel their concerns and contributions are important.
• Continuous Learning. Proactively seeks performance feedback and identifies approaches to improve personal and others performance and learning.
• Tolerance for Stress, Ambiguity, and Change. Demonstrates flexibility in applying different approaches to changing work demands.
• Effective Communication. Creates a team environment in which information flows freely and decision making is based on a win-win philosophy
• Compliance. Applies an understanding of key legal precedents, policies, and practices to protect the interests of the organization.
• Cross-Team Collaboration. Ensures integration and cooperation across organizational boundaries.
• Attention to Detail. Utilizes established monitoring system; records data accurately and in a timely manner; and ensures accuracy of data.
• Planning and Organization. Systematically identifies issues to be addressed and helps plan a course of action for self and others to ensure the accomplishment of specific objectives
• Operational/Technical Excellence. Ensures that work product (whether service or process) enables the organization to deliver on the customer’s expectations.
Certifications, Licenses & Registrations
PMP preferred
PMP preferred
