Sr. Delivery Manager - Life Sciences/Pharmaceuticals

Job description

We are seeking an experienced **IT Delivery Leader** to oversee and ensure the successful execution of a portfolio of technology projects, with a preference for candidates who have supported or operated within the pharmaceutical or life sciences sector. This role requires a strategic, delivery-driven leader with exceptional client-facing skills, a deep understanding of enterprise IT delivery models, and the ability to manage and grow relationships with senior stakeholders. The ideal candidate brings a blend of delivery excellence, portfolio leadership, and domain knowledge in pharma environments. **Responsibilities** - Lead end-to-end delivery of a portfolio of IT projects, ensuring on-time, on-budget, and high-quality outcomes - Establish and manage delivery roadmaps, resource plans, and performance metrics across multiple workstreams - Coordinate cross-functional teams (client, vendor, onshore) to drive accountability and resolve delivery issues proactively - Ensure adherence to project governance frameworks, SDLC/Agile methodologies, and compliance requirements (including GxP, where preferrable) - Leverage and promote adoption of AI in project SDLC - Identify delivery risks and implement mitigation strategies to ensure project continuity and success - Serve as the primary point of contact for senior client stakeholders, fostering trust and credibility - Understand client business needs, industry challenges, and strategic objectives to propose value-aligned solutions - Manage expectations, provide transparent communication, and ensure stakeholder alignment throughout the project lifecycle - Facilitate executive-level presentations and status reporting, translating complex technical concepts into business-relevant insights - Provide strong leadership to project managers, business analysts, architects, developers, and QA teams - Mentor team members, promote continuous improvement, and instill a high-performance delivery culture - Support talent planning, capability development, and team motivation across distributed teams - Manage portfolio budgets, forecasts, and financial controls - Oversee vendor and partner performance, including contract adherence, quality, and service levels - Drive cost optimization while maintaining high delivery standards **Requirements** - 15 to 18 years of experience in IT project or program delivery, including leadership of complex multi-project portfolios - Extensive experience in Life Sciences/Pharmaceuticals - Proven experience managing enterprise technology initiatives (e.g., digital transformation, cloud migration, data platforms, application development) - Strong, demonstrable client stakeholder management and executive communication skills - Solid understanding of SDLC, Agile/Hybrid methodologies, and IT governance frameworks - Experience working with cross-functional, global delivery teams - English language proficiency at an Upper-Intermediate level (B2) or higher