Project Manager - Pharma

Why this role matters

Our New Product Development (NPD) and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) (PLM) programmes are instrumental in bringing innovative pharmaceutical products from early ideation through to development, launch and post-market evolution.  This role is pivotal in driving both new product and post-market developments and is the critical link between the commercial management of the product strategy and the successful delivery of approved projects. The programmes encompass multiple product-related projects spanning the full product lifecycle - from new product development to launch and commercialisation projects and include product discontinuation among multiple streams of product change activities.

This is a high-impact Project Manager role at the heart of delivering critical Product lifecycle projects in pharmaceutical manufacturing. You’ll lead complex, business-critical initiatives from concept to completion, driving real change across timelines, resources, quality, and compliance. With strong stakeholder engagement and best-practice project leadership, you’ll help unlock strategic growth priorities, shape operational excellence, and deliver measurable benefits that make a lasting difference.

What you'll do

• Lead end-to-end lifecycle management projects, including in-house new product development, contract manufacturing & development, post-approval changes, CMC (Chemistry, Manufacturing and Controls) variations, tech transfers, site changes, new market registrations, and divestitures.
• Develop detailed project plans, timelines, resource strategies, and benefits maps
• Drive execution against key milestones, budgets, quality standards, and compliance requirements
• Lead cross-functional teams and build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders
• Prepare and support business cases, project governance, and steering committee engagement
• Monitor and manage project risks, scope changes, and critical path activities
• Provide clear project reporting, status updates, and forecasts to programme leadership
• Maintain robust project documentation, tools, templates, and network file storage
• Support continuous improvement by implementing best-practice frameworks and auditing existing projects

What you'll bring

• Hold a relevant tertiary qualification preferably in science, health, engineering or a related technical field
• 5+ years of proven Project Management experience delivering complex, high-impact projects, ideally in the Pharmaceutical, FMCG or Nutraceutical field
• Strong background and understanding of PMI-aligned project management disciplines and best practice frameworks
• Excellent communicator — clear, confident, and professional
• Ability to influence, align, and inspire stakeholders at all levels
• High drive, energy, and strong ownership mindset — you make things happen
• Strong planning and organisational skills with exceptional attention to detail
• Natural problem-solver with sound judgement and decision-making ability
• Experience leading organisational change and embedding new processes
• Collaborative team player who builds trusted, effective relationships
• Exceptional documentation, reporting, and governance capability
• Advanced capability in Microsoft Office Suite, including Microsoft Project
• Confident user of modern project management tools and systems, such as Smartsheets
• Passion for continuous improvement and operational excellence

Why join us?

• Award-winning culture- Join a team that's genuinely a great place to work (and we've got the awards to prove it).
• Career growth- We're big on developing our people and promoting from within.
• Extra leave- After six years with us, you'll get five weeks of annual leave.
• Parental perks- Get 16 weeks of top-up payments during your parental leave.
• Security matters- We've got you covered with life and income protection insurance.
• Feel good with THRIVE- Our wellbeing program helps you be your best, inside and out.
• Exclusive discounts- Enjoy special deals on big-name brands like Clinicians, BraveFace, Avene, Ego, and more.

About Us

At Douglas, we're more than just a company—we're a community of people driven to make a difference. We're proud to be one of New Zealand's biggest pharmaceutical success stories, and we're growing globally. Privately owned and future-focused, our team of 700 includes scientists, engineers, and all kinds of experts, working together to create high-quality healthcare products that help people around the world.

Come join us on this mission to improve lives!

Next Steps

If you're invited to complete a video interview as the next stage of your application, we'd love you to embrace it. Video interviews allow more people the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities to the hiring manager in a new and innovative way, giving you a better chance of securing your ideal role. Relax, be yourself and don't worry, we all feel a bit awkward in front of the camera.