Senior Program Manager

Job Description

The Senior Program Manager will be responsible for managing large-scale, highly complex, multi-faceted, new product development programs, strategic initiatives or integrations involving internal and external development partners.  All projects and programs will involve leading fully cross-functional and global core teams with both internal and external team members. 

The Sr. Program Manager is responsible for the planning of all program subsystem and project deliverables, synchronization and prioritization of Core Team activities. Scope includes driving the team in the development of a business case. They are accountable for product quality, program investment, delivery to schedule, product cost, and resource allocation. 

The Sr. Program Manager is responsible for directly and indirectly driving program execution and all development efforts (internal and external) while ensuring that all program deliverables and efforts are connected and meet internal and external customer requirements and follow OSTA’s (Olympus Surgical Technologies of America) Product Development Process (PDP), including communicating various progress reports and reviews with senior leadership. 

Job Duties

• Plan and execute highly complex, large-scale internal and external new product development programs (made up of multiple cross-functional projects with distinct goals).
• Lead the Core Team in the development of a project charter, objectives, project plan and schedule for assigned program.
• Develop and manage budgets for the program including resource loading, external expenses, and capital requirements.
• Proactively identify and assess areas of risk, escalate issues in a timely manner, and collaboratively develop and deploy solutions.
• Proactively assess program health and identify opportunities for project change; implement and manage changes and interventions to achieve timely project outputs.
• Proactively manage project-related actions and deliverables, holding team members and functional managers accountable for completion.
• Create, align, and provide regular project updates (written and verbal) to appropriate stakeholders and relevant management board; create presentations, dashboards, and executive summaries – both scheduled and ad hoc.
• Conduct highly effective cross-functional team meetings to ensure accountability and milestone achievements; create agendas and publish minutes/actions.
• Build team ownership and commitment to project and business plans and define project milestones, deliverables, and associated resource requirements.
• Actively lead cross-functional project teams (and external partners) through planning and execution, providing direction, guidance, coaching and mentoring for Core Team members when needed; prioritizes activities for team.
• Proactively manage performance issues and conflicts within project team; work to resolve these issues in alignment with functional management.
• Provide input to functional leaders on team member performance and functional management support.
• Cultivate a team culture of continuous improvement and teamwork that strives to improve in quality, safety, delivery, and cost.
• Actively build and foster collaborative relationships across all levels of internal stakeholders and external partners to improve overall outcomes and timely project execution.
• Gain collaboration, cooperation, and commitment from people through influence, rather than authority.
• May lead functional excellence initiatives.
• Lead early-stage business case development and planning efforts of a program; includes gathering customer input and defining user requirements.
• Define early-stage estimates of schedule, budget, and resources for a program; align estimates with functional leaders.
• May act as a program portfolio manager for a business unit, partnering with leadership to define priority and manage program conflict.
• Other essential duties as directed.

Job Qualifications

Required:

• BS degree in engineering or technical field required; MS or MBA preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years of Class 2 medical device industry experience in the medical device field.
• Minimum of 8 years of experience preferably in a R&D, engineering, or project management role, interfacing with new product development.
• Minimum of 6 years of successful demonstrated experience in managing large technically complex new product development programs.
• Experience with applicable FDA guidance, ISO 13485 regulations, and applicable industry standards.
• Position requires up to 20% domestic & 5% international travel.
• Effectively demonstrated planning and organizational skills with background and experience in project management principles, practices, techniques, and tools.
• Must be able to work independently and be self-motivated with a strong sense of urgency and drive for results.
• Ability to work in an environment with competing priorities; highly effective at dealing with change and ambiguity as business needs shift, responding well under pressure, and demonstrating flexibility while ensuring compliance.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and comfortable and adaptable presenting to different audiences and levels of the organization – including executive management teams.
• Master-level user of Microsoft Project; expertly proficient in Excel, Power Point, Visio, and Word.
• Formal training in project management completed; PMP certification required.
• Strong leadership skills and the ability to operate highly effectively in a team environment.
• Excellent group facilitation, mediation, and conflict resolution skills.
• Ability to expertly analyse complex problems, interpret operational needs, develop integrated, creative solutions – and to implement these solutions.
• Experience with and/or training in change management.