Senior Director, Head of PMO

Job Description

The Senior Director, Head of Project Management Office (PMO) is a strategic leader responsible for overseeing the Cell & Gene Therapy (CGT) and biologics CMC project portfolio within the Biopharmaceutical Sciences Cell and Gene Therapy (BiopharmSci CGT) organization. This position reports to the Executive Director, CMC Project Management and Strategic Operations, BiopharmSci CGT. The Head of PMO will lead a high-performing team of project managers who are responsible for translating CMC strategies into executable project plans and driving the project execution. This individual will drive project portfolio planning/execution and build scalable project management capabilities.

The successful candidate will bring extensive experience in CMC project and portfolio management, organizational leadership, financial and business acumen to the BiopharmSci CGT CMC Project Management and Strategic Operations (PMSO) team. The Head of PMO will establish a project management center of excellence that ensures on-time delivery, enhances efficiency, accelerates innovation, in compliance with regulatory and quality standards, all to support the development and commercialization of transformative CGT and biologics therapies.

Key Responsibilities:

Project Management Team Leadership

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of CMC project managers, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.

• Provide timely, actionable feedback and career development opportunities to team members.

• Identify training needs and oversee the development and execution of onboarding and PM capability-building programs.

Project and Portfolio Leadership

• Guide the development and review of integrated project plans (including CGT/ biologics CMC projects and capability projects), assessing scope, timelines, budgets, resources, and risks for complex projects.

• Provide strategic PM oversight and guidance to project managers, project teams and cross-functional stakeholders to ensure successful project delivery.

• Implement data-driven portfolio management practices to track progress, identify risks or bottlenecks, and support proactive decision-making.

• In collaboration with finance, drive the long-range planning (LRP) and annual operating planning (AOP) processes.

• Lead change-management initiatives to ensure smooth adoption of new systems, structures, and ways of working.

• Prepare and present executive-level reports on portfolio health, performance metrics, and risk mitigation strategies.

Project Management Capability Leadership

• Design and deploy standardized tools, templates, and methodologies to drive consistency and excellence in project planning and execution, project reporting dashboards, improving project outcomes and customer satisfaction.

• Implement and improve portfolio governance frameworks, including stage-gate processes, project policies, and best practices.

• Define and track key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure project success, team effectiveness, and portfolio outcomes.

• Develop and implement scalable resource planning and forecasting tools to optimize resource allocation.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in life sciences and related field required, PhD or MBA preferred.

• Minimum of 10 years of experience in CMC development and manufacturing within the biotechnology or pharmaceutical industry.

• Minimum of 5 years of direct project management experience. Proven track record of leading complex, cross-functional projects/programs, and significant experience in strategic portfolio management.

• PMP or equivalent project/program management certification preferred.

• Proficiency in project management platforms and collaboration tools (e.g., Smartsheet, SharePoint, Microsoft Teams).

• Strong leadership skills with experience managing and developing high-performing teams. Minimum of 5 years of people management experience required.

• Demonstrated ability to drive change, implement scalable systems, and enhance operational efficiency.

• Strong analytical and data interpretation skills; experienced in portfolio analytics and decision support.

• Ability to align stakeholders, build consensus, and resolve conflicts constructively.

• Excellent communication and presentation skills, both written and verbal.

• Strong business and financial acumen, particularly related to drug CMC development and manufacturing.

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Pay Range:

Disclosure Statement:

Flex Designation:

Flex Eligibility Status:

In this Hybrid-Eligible role, you can choose to be designated as:
1. Hybrid: work remotely up to two days per week; or select
2. On-Site: work five days per week on-site with ad hoc flexibility.

Note: The Flex status for this position is subject to Vertex's Policy on Flex @ Vertex Program and may be changed at any time.

Company Information

Vertex is a global biotechnology company that invests in scientific innovation.

Vertex is committed to equal employment opportunity and non-discrimination for all employees and qualified applicants without regard to a person's race, color, sex, gender identity or expression, age, religion, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, marital status, or any characteristic protected under applicable law. Vertex is an E-Verify Employer in the United States. Vertex will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with known disabilities, in accordance with applicable law.

Any applicant requiring an accommodation in connection with the hiring process and/or to perform the essential functions of the position for which the applicant has applied should make a request to the recruiter or hiring manager, or contact Talent Acquisition at ApplicationAssistance@vrtx.com