Global Project Manager

Global Project Manager ​

Macclesfield, UK

Competitive salary and benefits

The Global Project Manager sits in the Project & Portfolio Office (PPO), within Pharmaceutical Technology and Development (PT&D).

PT&D is the bridge which turns forward-thinking science into actual medicines that help millions of people. We work across the entire value chain, crafting and delivering active ingredients, formulations and devices required to support new medicines – from supplies for use in clinical trials to developing the technology to ensure drugs can be scaled up for commercial manufacture.

The PPO provides accurate and timely project planning and management information, underpinning faster delivery of products to patients and brings project teams and governing bodies together through a single authoritative data set. It provides a key source of data for projects, functions and the Early and Late-Stage Product Committee (ESPC/LSPC). The PPO supports Project Leaders, Portfolio Leaders, Pharmaceutical Teams and PT&D Functions, through project planning and forecasting, tooling and process, that help PT&D drive delivery and productivity.

In this role you will be responsible for supporting project teams, project leaders and Therapy Area Heads to deliver their project and financial targets. You will provide excellent development and monitoring of cross functional project plans and forecasts, ensuring they reflect the agreed strategy, and stimulate Pharmaceutical Team thinking on planning and forecasting options, risks and opportunities. You will engage with key departments across Pharmaceutical Sciences, PT&D and - where appropriate - partnering companies to drive improved project productivity.

What you'll do:

• Take ownership of several drug project plans from the development and/or on-market portfolios.

• Pro-actively monitor key project parameters (planning assumptions, time, costs and risk) and manage critical path activities, flagging any deviations vs commitments made.

• Ensure excellence in project delivery through effective development and communication of cross functional PT&D project plans and budget forecasts, supporting both project and financial reporting cycle.

• Provide ongoing reporting on key CMC project performance such that it delivers within time, cost and quality targets and represent PT&D at Global Project Team level planning and control reviews

• Pro-actively champion and adopt digital project management tools and automated processes within own project scope and across the broader team.

• Identify productivity opportunities within and across projects, through a thorough understanding of activities and resources and influencing their adoption with Project Leaders.

• Communicate risks and opportunities, to enable informed decisions and actions to be taken optimally and efficiently.

• Identify continuous improvement opportunities, share best practice and promote standardisation within own projects and across broader Pharmaceutical Sciences and PT&D communities.

This role provides an outstanding opportunity to take a step into project management and gain experience working across both PT&D functions and other R&D functions. In addition, you will have the opportunity to influence the development of new ways of working within PT&D projects.

Essential skills & experience:

• Project Management accreditation such as PMP or equivalent

• BA/BS in a science or engineering subject area, or equivalent technical work experience

• The ability to create, coordinate, and maintain an integrated project plan and to control or respond to changes in strategy and scope

• Experience in the use of enterprise-wide pharmaceutical project management software solutions, including skills in critical path analysis

• Demonstrable experience of the use of lo-code / no-code tools and broader interest in digitization

• Experience of MS Project & Office Timeline Pro, or similar

• Understanding of financial and resource planning systems and processes and ability to coordinate project-level budget/resource estimates and manage actuals vs. plan

• Good knowledge of information management as a field and an understanding of tools available

• Excellent interpersonal and influencing skills

• Flexibility to travel domestically and internationally (minimal)

Desirable:

• Intermediate Certification in Project Management (APMP/PMP or higher)

• High level of knowledge/awareness of the overall CMC development process, including stages of development and role of different functional areas

• Experience in working on a cross functional team in a matrix organization.

• Experience in the use of the AZ R&D planning software PLANIT (or PLANISWARE suite)

When we put unexpected teams in the same room, we unleash bold thinking with the power to inspire life-changing medicines. In-person working gives us the platform we need to connect, work at pace and challenge perceptions. That’s why we work, on average, a minimum of three days per week from the office. But that doesn't mean we’re not flexible. We balance the expectation of being in the office while respecting individual flexibility. Join us in our unique and ambitious world.

Date Posted

09-Apr-2026

Closing Date

23-Apr-2026

Our mission is to build an inclusive and equitable environment. We want people to feel they belong at AstraZeneca and Alexion, starting with our recruitment process. We welcome and consider applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of characteristics. We offer reasonable adjustments/accommodations to help all candidates to perform at their best. If you have a need for any adjustments/accommodations, please complete the section in the application form.

AstraZeneca embraces diversity and equality of opportunity. We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse team representing all backgrounds, with as wide a range of perspectives as possible, and harnessing industry-leading skills. We believe that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be. We welcome and consider applications to join our team from all qualified candidates, regardless of their characteristics. We comply with all applicable laws and regulations on non-discrimination in employment (and recruitment), as well as work authorisation and employment eligibility verification requirements.