Cell & Gene Therapy Project Manager

About The Company:
At MustardSeed PMO, we’re a leading project management service provider, designing and delivering solutions for clients across multiple sectors within the Life Sciences industry including Biotech, Pharma, Med-Device, and Food Tech. We are focused on leading the pack in our industry, bringing together a heritage of creativity and technology, and applying the latest thinking in project management to deliver truly effective positive change.

This position is ** NOT ** a direct position with MustardSeed PMO, but rather with a pioneering biotechnology company dedicated to advancing cell and gene therapies to address unmet medical needs. We have partnered with this company to find the best Sr. Project Manager to join their team.

About The Role:
As a Cell & Gene Therapy Sr. Project Manager you will be contributing to end-to-end project delivery within specified timeframes, budgets, and quality standards. As an experienced scientific project manager already, you will collaborate closely with stakeholders to ensure optimal outcomes, steering multidisciplinary teams towards common goals.

The Cell & Gene Therapy Sr. Project Manager is the chief “make sure it happens – and happens right” person on the project and has the overall responsibility for ensuring that the outputs from each project phase – the initiation, planning, execution and closing phases – are delivered according to the requirements established and approved for that phase, and that these outputs are consistent across all phases.

This role demands strong communication skills, both written and verbal, to effectively engage with diverse stakeholders. Additionally, a high level of emotional intelligence is essential, enabling adept social regulation and effective collaboration with individuals of varying personalities. Resourcefulness is key, as the successful candidate must demonstrate the ability to manage time and resources efficiently, ensuring projects remain on track and within budget.

*If you possess prior experience in cell and gene therapy, particularly with a focus on vectors, and have a proven track record of working with Contract Development Manufacturing Organizations (CDMOs), we would like to talk with you! *

*Responsibilities include (but are not limited to): *

• Collaborating cross-functionally with scientific and technical teams to develop project plans and process workflows tailored to unique requirements of cell and gene therapy projects.
• Overseeing internal technical milestones, including research vector production, process/technology development, and GLP/GMP vector production.
• Coordinating with various stakeholders, including researchers, engineers, regulatory experts, and external partners to drive project success.
• Continuously assessing program risks as they are encountered, evaluating trade-offs between cost, time, quality, risk, and ultimately benefit.
• Developing detailed project plans encompassing vector design, production scale-up, process optimization, and analytical method development to monitor and track progress while managing project scope, project schedule, and project cost.
• Identifying and appropriately tracking interdependencies between key deliverables to ensure critical milestones are achieved right-first-time.
• Tracking project performance, specifically to analyze the successful completion of short and long-term goals.
• Aligning stakeholder expectations and facilitating timely decision-making to ensure project milestones are achieved efficiently and effectively within the dynamic landscape of cell and gene therapy development.
• Working directly with the COO, as the Company is in growth mode, the Sr. PM will be asked to manage projects related to other business functions until they have sufficiently matured.

*Qualifications: *

• Strong Scientific Background: Candidate MUST have prior experience in cell and gene therapy and transfection, with proficiency in both suspension and adherent methods for cell culture.
• Expertise in Vectors: Knowledge and experience in working with vectors, specifically AAV vectors, preferably with hands-on experience in their production and optimization.
• Equipment Knowledge: Familiarity with the equipment used in cell and gene therapy processes, including but not limited to bioreactors, centrifuges, cell counters, and transfection devices.
• Contract Manufacturing Experience: Candidate must have experience in contract manufacturing specifically with contract development manufacturing organizations (CDMOs).
• Location: Candidate must be based locally in the Philadelphia region or willing to relocate.
• Education: Bachelor's degree required; master’s degree in a scientific field is preferred but can be substituted by extensive experience in the field.
• General Experience: Mid-to-senior level experience in a related role.
• Certifications: Project Management Professional (PMP) or other project management certifications are advantageous but not required.

Compensation & Benefits:
This position offers competitive compensation and a comprehensive benefits package to support the well-being of employees. The salary range for this position is $125,000 – $165,000, commensurate with experience and qualifications.

Additional Information:
The employing organization provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by the law.
This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.