Associate Director, R&D Project Management (Global Project Manager)
About Servier
With commercial stage products and a promising pipeline, Servier is a unique global organization headquartered in France. Operating in more than 150 countries and governed by a non-profit foundation, we have multiple medicines approved in oncology, cardiology, and other therapeutic areas. Servier’s 2030 Ambition aims to establish the Group as a recognized, innovative, and patient-centered leader in Oncology, Neurology, and Cardiometabolism & Venous Diseases (CMVD). Over half of our research and development efforts are focused on targeted therapies to address unmet patient needs.
Role Summary
The Associate Director, R&D Project Management / Global Project Manager acts as a strategic and operational partner to the Asset Leader / Project Leader and to the cross-functional Core Team. The role is accountable for translating asset strategy into an integrated, executable Global Plan and for driving delivery against timelines, budget, quality, value and key project milestones.
The position plays a critical role in ensuring cross-functional alignment, proactive risk and scenario management, governance readiness, budget and resource planning, and reliable project reporting. The Global Project Manager is expected to bring a business-partner mindset, strong operational discipline and the ability to influence without authority in a global matrix environment.
This role sits within the R&D Therapeutic Project Management group, reporting into the Strategy Portfolio Execution & Excellence Department (SPEED) organization with a dotted line working relationship with Project and Asset Leaders.
Primary Responsibilities
Strategic and operational project leadership
- Partner closely with the Asset Leader to translate asset strategy into an integrated Global Plan covering scope, timelines, budget, quality, value creation, key interdependencies and critical path activities.
- Drive execution of the Global Developpement Plan at Core Team / Global Team level, ensuring timely delivery of project objectives, milestones and governance commitments.
- Connect daily execution to project strategy by providing context, structure and decision-oriented support to Core Team / Global Team members and key stakeholders.
- Lead scenario planning and trade-off analysis when project objectives are at risk, supporting mitigation of impacts on timelines, budget, quality, value and resource allocation.
Cross-functional alignment and governance
- Coordinate Core Team / Global Team meetings, including agenda preparation, facilitation, documentation of key decisions, action tracking and follow-up.
- Support preparation of high-quality governance materials, pre-reads and executive-level presentations by integrating inputs from functional leads and ensuring a clear decision rationale.
- Support stage-gate and investment decision preparation, ensuring that options, risks, assumptions, budget impacts and recommendations are clearly articulated.
- Contribute to effective team dynamics, project-centric behaviors and cross-functional collaboration across R&D and, when relevant, beyond R&D.
Budget, resources, risks and reporting
- Consolidate budget estimates, support forecasting and monitor external costs and FTE assumptions by partnering with functional leads, Finance / Budget Controlling and relevant stakeholders.
- Proactively identify, assess and manage project risks, issues, assumptions and dependencies; ensure mitigation plans are defined, tracked and escalated as needed.
- Ensure the quality, consistency and reliability of project data in reporting systems and dashboards, including timelines, budget, risks, milestones and progress updates.
- Coordinate accurate project updates and progress reports to ensure timely information flow to management, governance bodies and other key stakeholders.
- Support planning and cross-functional coordination for major regulatory and development milestones, including submissions or key health authority interactions when relevant to the project scope.
Partnerships and Project Management excellence
- When applicable, collaborate with Alliance Management, Business Development & Licensing and external partners to integrate partner perspectives, contractual milestones, cost-sharing requirements and joint governance expectations into the Global Plan.
- Serve as an ambassador for standardized project management frameworks, tools, templates and best practices, including risk management, communication planning, stage-gate preparation and budget tracking.
- Capture lessons learned at the end of phases or projects and contribute as a subject-matter expert to transversal initiatives that improve project management excellence.
Education and Required Skills
- Master’s degree, PharmD or PhD in life sciences, pharmaceutical sciences, medical sciences, biotechnology or a related field.
- Typically 8+ years of relevant experience in pharmaceutical / biotech project or program management, including experience in global, cross-functional drug development programs.
- Project management certification such as PMP, PMI or equivalent is desirable.
Hard skills
- Strong knowledge of drug development across several stages, ideally including clinical development, late-stage development, launch preparation, lifecycle management and/or external innovation.
- Proven ability to manage integrated project plans, critical path activities, interdependencies, risks, issues, assumptions, decision points and milestones.
- Solid financial acumen, including budget planning, forecasting, resource assumptions, external cost tracking and variance analysis.
- Experience with governance preparation, executive-level reporting, stage-gate processes and decision-oriented materials.
- Strong command of modern project management and reporting tools such as Microsoft 365, MS Project, Smartsheet, Power BI, Timeline Pro or equivalent systems.
- Fluent English, with excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Leadership skills
- Ability to influence without authority in a complex global matrix environment.
- Strong strategic thinking, critical thinking and problem-solving skills, with the ability to translate high-level strategy into executable operational plans.
- Demonstrated stakeholder management, change management and performance management capabilities.
- Ability to drive alignment, accountability and constructive team dynamics across functions and geographies.
Soft skills
- Business-partner mindset, ownership, proactivity and strong sense of accountability.
- Collaborative mindset, sound judgment, resilience and ability to operate effectively in ambiguity.
- Clear, concise and impactful communication tailored to scientific, operational and executive audiences.
Travel and Location
- This position requires travel 10–15% of the time for conference attendance, partner meetings, and internal meetings at international sites.
- This role is 100% remote
Job Description
Candidate Profile
Servier’s Commitment
Servier is committed to modeling diversity, equity, and inclusion within the industry. We are dedicated to fostering an environment that maintains equitable treatment for all and we welcome applicants who are passionate, committed, and innovative individuals. We encourage candidates to apply to our open roles as we are always willing to consider experiences and skills beyond what is listed in the job description.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.
Salary Range
The salary range for this role is $171,000 - $203,000. An employee’s pay position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, performance, and business or organizational needs. We may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range, and the range may be modified in the future. Employees in this position are also eligible for Short-Term and Long-Term incentive programs. Servier also offers a competitive and comprehensive benefits package that includes benefits such as medical, dental, vision, flexible time off (Servier provides unlimited sick time and flex time, and does not accrue time off), 401(k), life and disability insurance, recognition programs among other great benefits (all benefits are subject to eligibility requirements). For more information on our benefits, please visit this link.
