Project Manager, Capex project, Neuchatel

Duration: Until 31/08/2026

OBJECTIVES:

• Provide strategic and technical direction to the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) concerning timing of major milestones and critical path deliverables, including budget and resource planning, implementation, and variances.

• Guide multi-disciplinary, highly technical teams through the finalization of a major capex project involving all internal functional area directors and stakeholder above site.

• Play the role of subject matter expert in project management disciplines and particularly in successfully orchestrating the execution of commissioning, qualification and validation of a new, state-of-the-art aseptic filling line.

ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• Responsible for the finalization of a major capex project including in assuring the success of the engineering runs (ER) and the process & performance qualification (PPQ) in collaboration with the site's Manufacturing team.

• Responsible for communicating project performance information to the SLT, stakeholder above site (OpU Biologics, Global Engineering), and external stakeholders

• Verify, control, and endorse complex inter-program related Gantt charts, budget forecast and variance reports, resource plans, communication plans, and risk mitigation plans

• Guide project teams in always working towards a clear scope of work and the delivery of project milestones on time, on budget and within scope

• Proactively lead change management during the handover of the project to the Lead End User.

• Create contingency plans for risk mitigation due to the nature of the project's complexity and high stakes.

• Organize and facilitate technical and project management meetings with audiences across different all the major stakeholder groups.

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

• Minimum of 15 years' project/operational management experience in biotechnology or pharmaceutical industries, in a multi-disciplinary, global environment.

• Minimum of 10 years of people/matrix management experience required.

• Experience in all the capital phases of a major construction project with emphasis on ER and PPQ in state-of-the aseptic filling lines in biologics.

• Deep knowledge and understanding of aseptic filling processes, commercial filling lines, preferably in biologics, and knowledge of cGxP.

• Proven leadership, team building skills and strategic problem-solving ability.

• Knowledge of risk management, project reporting, and project management tools.

• Strong interpersonal skills particularly motivational, negotiation, listening, judgment, analytic, and conflict management skills, demonstrated by ability to lead highly technical teams.

• Project management certification (PMP, Prince2, SCPM, etc.) or similar experience is required.

• Required languages: English and French