Lab Automation Project Manager

We are seeking an experienced Lab Automation Project Manager to lead the planning implementation and delivery of laboratory automation initiatives across a global pharmaceutical R&D organization.

This role will be responsible for managing complex cross-functional automation programs that improve laboratory efficiency data quality reproducibility throughput and compliance. The successful candidate will partner closely with scientists laboratory operations automation engineers IT data and digital teams quality validation and external technology vendors to translate scientific and business requirements into scalable automation solutions.

The ideal candidate combines strong project management capabilities with a practical understanding of modern laboratory environments automation technologies and pharmaceutical R&D workflows.

Key Responsibilities

Project & Program Management

• Lead end-to-end delivery of laboratory automation projects from concept and requirements definition through implementation validation deployment and operational handoff.
  
• Develop project charters scope schedules budgets resource plans risk registers and implementation roadmaps.
  
• Establish project governance milestones decision points and success criteria.
  
• Manage multiple concurrent projects while balancing priorities dependencies resources and business objectives.
  
• Identify and proactively mitigate project risks issues and dependencies.
  
• Provide clear status reporting and executive-level communication to project sponsors and stakeholders.
  
• Ensure projects are delivered on time within budget and in accordance with agreed quality and performance requirements.
  

Laboratory Automation

• Partner with laboratory scientists and technical teams to identify opportunities for automation workflow optimization and digital transformation.
  
• Translate laboratory workflows and scientific requirements into functional and technical requirements for automated systems.
  
• Coordinate implementation of technologies such as liquid handlers robotic platforms automated sample management analytical instrumentation scheduling/orchestration software and laboratory information systems.
  
• Support evaluation selection and integration of automation platforms and technology vendors.
  
• Coordinate system integration across laboratory equipment robotics software data systems and enterprise platforms.
  
• Promote standardized scalable automation architectures and reusable solutions across laboratory environments.
  

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Serve as the primary project leader across R&D laboratory operations automation engineering IT data science quality validation facilities procurement and external partners.
  
• Facilitate requirements workshops design reviews technical discussions and project governance meetings.
  
• Build strong relationships with scientists and technical stakeholders to understand current-state workflows and future-state requirements.
  
• Drive alignment among stakeholders with competing priorities and perspectives.
  
• Coordinate internal teams and external vendors to ensure effective execution and accountability.
  

Quality Compliance & Validation

• Ensure automation projects are executed in accordance with applicable pharmaceutical quality safety data integrity and regulatory requirements.
  
• Partner with Quality and Validation teams on validation strategies documentation testing change control and system release.
  
• Incorporate appropriate GxP data integrity cybersecurity and computerized-system considerations into project planning.
  
• Maintain appropriate project documentation and ensure deliverables are audit-ready.
  

Continuous Improvement

• Establish metrics to evaluate automation performance including throughput cycle time utilization error rates quality cost savings and user adoption.
  
• Identify opportunities to standardize and continuously improve laboratory processes.
  
• Develop business cases and ROI analyses for new automation investments.
  
• Establish best practices for future automation deployments.
  
• Help develop and mature the organizations laboratory automation roadmap and operating model.
  

Required Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in engineering life sciences computer science operations or a related technical discipline.
  
• 5 years of project management experience preferably within pharmaceutical biotechnology medical device or another highly regulated environment.
  
• Demonstrated experience delivering laboratory automation laboratory technology digital laboratory or scientific technology projects.
  
• Strong understanding of laboratory workflows and automation technologies.
  
• Experience managing complex cross-functional projects involving technical and scientific stakeholders.
  
• Proven ability to manage project scope schedule budget risks vendors and executive stakeholders.
  
• Strong written verbal organizational and presentation skills.
  
• Experience working in environments requiring formal quality validation change-control or regulatory processes.
  

Preferred Qualifications

• PMP or equivalent project management certification.
  
• Experience with GxP environments
  
• Experience with laboratory robotics liquid handling automated analytical instrumentation or high-throughput laboratory systems.
  
• Familiarity with LIMS ELN LES laboratory scheduling/orchestration platforms or scientific data systems.
  
• Experience integrating laboratory instruments and automation systems with enterprise IT platforms.
  
• Familiarity with Agile Scrum Lean Six Sigma or hybrid project delivery methodologies.
  
• Experience managing strategic technology vendors and system integrators.
  
• Masters degree in a relevant scientific or technical discipline.