Operational Readiness Project Manager

Operational Readiness Project Manager Location: On-site, RTP, NC (operational pharmaceutical facility) Work Type: Full-Time, Monday - Friday, standard hours with occasional overtime Duration: 6-month contract Hourly Pay Rate: $85/hour This position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to a critical modernization project within a leading pharmaceutical manufacturing environment. You'll work on-site, regularly interacting with project teams, contractors, and operations staff in an open office setting. Job Summary As the Operational Readiness Project Manager , you'll play a vital role in the Large-Scale Manufacturing (LSM) Modernization project, which is focused on implementing a new Manufacturing Execution System (MES) . This system will introduce electronic equipment tracking, electronic batch records, and release-by-exception functionalities to the drug substance manufacturing area. Your primary responsibility will be to support the operational readiness workstream, ensuring the site is fully prepared to adopt this significant change and seamlessly integrate it into routine production operations. Key Responsibilities Support the Operational Readiness Program Manager in daily activities related to the MES and electronic batch record implementation. Collaborate with a cross-functional matrix team , including members from Manufacturing Technology Operations (MTO), Quality Assurance (QA), Quality Engineering (QE), Materials Planning, and Manufacturing, on MES functionality design and implementation. Lead meetings, accurately capture meeting minutes, identify and track action items, and develop risk registers and mitigation plans to drive team adherence to project schedules. Provide schedule development support and act as a central point of contact for routine schedule updates. Track operational readiness action items, develop plans to support project approaches, and deliver monthly status dashboards. Please note: This role does not have direct budgetary responsibilities. Education & Qualifications Required: Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Science, Project Management, or another technical field. At least 10 years of proven success leading projects or acting in a project management support capacity. Familiarity with Project Management Tools based on PMBOK and PMI principles. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with a demonstrated ability to work effectively within cross-functional, matrixed teams. Experience leading or supporting operational readiness elements of projects. Highly organized and detail-oriented, with the ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously in a fast-paced environment. Demonstrated ability to work within a highly regulated, compliance-driven setting (pharmaceutical industry). Proficiency with MS Office suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and other software platforms. Proficiency in MS Project, Smartsheet, Primavera P6, or other project management software. Desired: Experience working on or with Manufacturing Electronic Systems (MES) or electronic batch record implementation projects. Proficiency in project portfolio management software.