Sr Program Manager

The Sr Manager is responsible for leading complex product development and manufacturing programs within our Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO). Acting as the primary client interface for program execution, this individual ensures programs are delivered within scope, schedule, and budget while meeting quality and regulatory requirements.

This role requires a hands-on leader who combines strong financial acumen, technical program management expertise, and client engagement skills. The Senior Program Manager will lead cross-functional teams across R&D, Operations, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and Quality, driving program execution from initiation through closure. The position is accountable for project financial performance, proactive risk management, and fostering long-term client relationships by consistently delivering results.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS (Primary Responsibilities):

Program Leadership

• Serve as the primary client interface throughout program execution, maintaining effective communication and professional relationships.
• Manage programs from initiation through closure, including planning, feasibility, development, verification and transfer phases.
• Lead cross-functional teams spanning R&D, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Quality, and Operations.
• Ability to navigate complex environments and manage diverse groups of stakeholders, ensuring alignment internally and with the client.
• Establish and facilitate project kickoff, phase-gate reviews, design reviews, and client and internal status meetings.

Program & Financial Management

• Develop and manage detailed project plans, schedules, and deliverables, with clear milestones and dependencies.
• Monitor scope, schedule, and resources, escalating issues and developing contingency plans as needed.
• Report program status, financial performance, risks, and opportunities to executive management and clients with transparency.
• Own program’s financial performance, including revenue, gross margin, change order management, and cash flow.
• Develop and analyze monthly forecasts ensuring target accuracy is obtained. Proactively communicate risks and apply lessons learned to future forecast periods to improve accuracy.

Compliance & Risk Management

• Ensure project execution in alignment with company Quality Management System (QMS), design controls, and applicable regulatory standards (e.g., FDA, ISO).
• Participate in client and regulatory audits as a program representative.
• Identify and actively manage risks and opportunities, implementing response plans and mitigations proactively.

Client Engagement

• Provide clear, proactive communication to clients regarding technical progress, schedule, budget, risks, and mitigations.
• Maintain client satisfaction by delivering commitments according to agreed upon success criteria. Build trust through transparency and accountability.

• Collaborate with Business Development to ensure continuity between sales objectives and program execution, supporting scope and budget change discussions as needed.
• Support Business Development with scoping new client projects regarding technical requirements, assumptions, deliverables, schedule, resources, and budget, as needed.

Continuous Improvement

• Contributing to success of the PMO by going beyond execution into recognizing patterns, improving processes, and sharing best practices.
• Drive standardization of tools and processes, using metrics to measure impact to guide improvement.
• Incorporate post-mortems and feedback into future planning to strengthen program execution.

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:

Education:

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, life sciences, or related field (advanced degree a plus).

PMP certification highly preferred.

Experience:

10+ years of program/project management experience in a CDMO, medical device, biotech, or regulated manufacturing environment.

Essential Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Demonstrated leadership skills.
• Knowledge of standard Project Management processes and methods.
• Ability to “get things done” in a growing organization – willingness to fill gaps and wear multiple hats.
• Understanding of product development and manufacturing for regulated medical products.
• Ability to create and manage complex schedules with detailed work breakdown structures.
• Ability to create and manage program budgets.
• Excellent interpersonal skills for collaboration and teamwork (internally and with clients).
• Excellent communication and presentation skills (written and oral).
• Ability to listen, hear, and accurately assess what is being said (by engineers and clients).
• Ability to predict key business risk areas and determine mitigation steps.
• Ability to assess complex situations, ask insightful questions, and determine the best path forward (often with incomplete data).
• Ability and willingness to have challenging program conversations with clients and/or employees when required (in a timely and professional manner).
• Ability to produce high quality Power Point presentations for Phase Gate Reviews and client presentations.
• Ability to remain calm and professional in stressful situations.
• Knowledge of NPI processes, complexities, and best practices.
• Positive attitude with the ability to motivate and inspire the best in others.

Job Complexity:

Works independently on highly complex issues of diverse scope where analysis of situation or data requires evaluation of a variety of factors, including an understanding of client needs, company capabilities, risk factors, and program trade-offs. Goals are generally communicated in "solution" or project goal terms. Provides leadership in the work group through knowledge in the area of specialization. Develops solutions to address complex issues on highly constrained projects. Overall responsibility for the success of the project.

INTERACTION:

Frequently interacts with subordinate supervisors, customers, and/or functional peer group managers, normally involving matters between functional areas, other company divisions or units, or customers and the company.  Often must lead a cooperative effort among members of a project team.

SUPERVISION:

Manages, perhaps through subordinate supervisors, the coordination of the activities of a section or department with responsibility for results, including costs, methods, and staffing. In some instances, this manager may be responsible for a functional area and not have any subordinate employees.

This is an on-site position in San Diego with a salary range of $162,000-$180,000 annually.

Compensation is based on several factors, including experience, skills, education, and job-related knowledge.  In addition to base salary, Ascential offers a comprehensive benefits package.