Sr Technical Project Manager - R&D Delivery

About us

For more than 25 years, our global network of passionate technologists and pioneering craftspeople has delivered cutting-edge technology and game-changing consulting to companies on the brink of AI driven digital transformation. Since 2001, we have grown into a full service digital consulting company with 6000+ professionals working on a worldwide ambition. Driven by the desire to make a difference, we keep innovating. Fuelling the growth of our company with our knowledge worker culture. When teaming up with Xebia, expect in-depth expertise based on an authentic, value-led, and high quality way of working that inspires all we do.

At Xebia, we put ‘People First’—committed to attracting diverse talent and fostering an inclusive, respectful workplace where everyone is valued for their contributions. We welcome all individuals and evaluate solely on the quality of their work and teamwork.

Position Overview

We are seeking a Senior Technical Project Manager to lead strategic R&D delivery initiatives supporting digital transformation programs for a global leader in the pharmaceutical space. This senior role requires exceptional technical literacy, multi-vendor coordination expertise, and the ability to orchestrate complex delivery across platform-based, interconnected systems serving scientific research and drug discovery.

As a Senior Technical Project Manager, you will serve as a delivery orchestrator for large cross-functional initiatives OR coordinate multiple tactical projects simultaneously. You'll work within a hybrid delivery model that combines waterfall-style governance with agile/Scrum execution, ensuring seamless integration across the client's delivery lifecycle governance checkpoints.

This is a leadership role requiring strategic thinking, proactive risk management, and strong technical understanding to bridge engineering complexity with business outcomes. You'll report under client Program Managers while maintaining accountability for project-level metrics, dependency resolution, and delivery excellence.

What You'll Do

Strategic Delivery Leadership

Lead large, strategic cross-functional initiatives spanning multiple engineering teams and vendors Orchestrate delivery across platform-based, interconnected R&D systems (data platforms, AI/ML, scientific applications, HPC) Own end-to-end delivery accountability from planning through launch and operational handoff Manage complex dependencies across application engineering, data platform, infrastructure, and support teams Drive projects through all four governance checkpoints: Strategy Alignment → Requirements Validation → Architecture/Design Review → Launch

Robust Planning & Execution

Define comprehensive Product Delivery Plans with clear milestones, resource allocation, and risk registers Commit to accurate story point estimations and sprint velocity targets Manage bi-weekly sprint planning, retrospectives, and delivery reviews Track sprint health, burndown accuracy, and dependency resolution in Jira Ensure on-time milestone delivery tracked via Jira dashboards and program governance reviews

Multi-Vendor Coordination & Dependency Management

Actively coordinate with other vendors across engineering, data platform, and support teams Maintain dependency tracking with cross-team and cross-vendor visibility Facilitate weekly cross-vendor syncs and proactive dependency mapping Resolve bottlenecks to maintain delivery momentum across distributed teams Navigate integration points and technical handoffs between vendor teams

Risk & Escalation Management

Identify delivery risks and blockers proactively with clear escalation pathways Escalate critical issues through Program Managers → Program governance review with clear data and recommendations Calculate risk scores for stories based on complexity, dependencies, and team capacity Implement mitigation strategies and contingency plans for high-severity risks Manage scope changes through formal PDP Review process

Technical Literacy & Engineering Partnership

Strong technical understanding to bridge engineering complexity with business outcomes Navigate complex R&D technical architectures (cloud platforms, HPC, data pipelines, AI/ML systems) Understand GCP services (BigQuery, Workflows, Batch, Dataproc, Cloud Run, GCS) Communicate fluently with engineering teams on technical constraints and trade-offs Support technical decision-making on architecture, design approaches, and technology choices

Governance & Stakeholder Communication

Provide transparent stakeholder updates with timely escalations Deliver comprehensive sprint dashboards, milestone tracking, and executive reporting Ensure Program governance review readiness with clear status, risks, and decision requirements Participate in bi-weekly Program Management Reviews with client Program Managers Present monthly portfolio health reporting to client leadership

AI-Powered Project Management

Leverage Gemini Pro and Atlassian AI for predictive delivery analytics Use sprint completion probability forecasting based on historical velocity patterns Apply intelligent burndown forecasting and automated JIRA hygiene Implement bot-driven ceremony facilitation and automated status reporting Co-develop AI use cases for project management optimization (target: 1-2 per quarter)

Knowledge Management & Documentation

Maintain complete and current Confluence documentation for all projects Ensure runbook completeness for operational handoffs (especially for new product launches) Integrate knowledge capture into daily workflows Create executive-ready PowerPoint materials for business stakeholder reviews

Requirements

Essential Qualifications

Core Project Management Skills

8+ years of technical project management experience in software delivery Expert in hybrid delivery frameworks combining waterfall governance with agile execution Deep experience in dependency management and multi-vendor coordination Proven track record leading large, strategic cross-functional initiatives Strong technical literacy with ability to navigate complex system architectures Expert user of Jira for sprint management, dependency tracking, and delivery reporting Comprehensive understanding of agile methodologies (Scrum, Kanban, SAFe)

Technical Expertise

Strong understanding of cloud platforms, with GCP experience required Working knowledge of Google Cloud services: BigQuery, Workflows, Batch, Dataproc, Dataflow, Cloud Run, GCS Understanding of high-performance computing (HPC) concepts and scientific computing environments Familiarity with data engineering pipelines, AI/ML platforms, and application architectures Ability to read technical documentation and participate in architecture discussions Knowledge of DevOps practices, CI/CD pipelines, and infrastructure as code

Leadership & Communication

Exceptional communication and stakeholder management abilities Proven ability to lead without direct authority across matrixed organizations Strong conflict resolution and negotiation skills Executive presence with ability to present to senior leadership Demonstrated leadership in coordinating technical teams across multiple time zones

Preferred Qualifications

Domain Experience (A Plus, but Not Required)

Previous experience in pharmaceutical or life sciences industries Understanding of GxP and compliance-driven environments (21 CFR Part 11) Familiarity with scientific research workflows and R&D delivery challenges Knowledge of regulated software delivery practices and validation requirements Understanding of bioinformatics, cheminformatics, or computational biology workflows

Certifications & Advanced Skills

Project Management certification (PMP, PRINCE2, Agile/Scrum certifications) Cloud certification (Google Cloud Professional, AWS, Azure) ITIL or similar service management framework experience Six Sigma, Lean, or continuous improvement methodologies

Advanced Technical Knowledge

Experience with HPC in cloud environments, particularly GCP's HPC offerings Understanding of containerized workloads and orchestration (Kubernetes, Docker) Knowledge of scientific computing software stacks and computational workflows Experience with infrastructure as code and automation principles for HPC environments Familiarity with batch processing systems for large-scale computational workloads

Strategic Delivery Experience

Experience managing programs with budgets >$5M Track record of successful cloud migrations and platform transformations Background in portfolio management and strategic initiative prioritization Experience with vendor management and contract negotiation Capability in capacity planning and resource optimization across vendor teams

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

You will be evaluated quarterly through 360° reviews (starting at 3 months post-start) and objective delivery metrics:

360° Review Criteria

Robust Planning & Delivery Plan Definition: Clear Product Delivery Plans, accurate story point commitments Clear Communication: Transparent stakeholder updates, timely escalations, proactive risk management Comprehensive Reporting: Sprint dashboards, milestone tracking, Program governance readiness Jira Maintenance/Upkeep: Sprint health, burndown accuracy, dependency tracking

Objective Delivery Metrics

On-time milestone delivery tracked via Jira dashboards and Program governance reviews Sprint velocity consistency and predictability across teams Dependency resolution speed: Multi-vendor coordination effectiveness Process improvements implemented per quarter (post-onboarding stabilization)

Service Level Agreements (SLAs)

Lead bi-weekly sprint planning, retrospectives, and delivery reviews Maintain continuous backlog grooming and sprint health monitoring Daily stand-ups and weekly status reporting for assigned projects Complete and current Confluence documentation for all projects Timely risk identification and escalation through Program Managers → Program governance Proactive dependency tracking with cross-vendor and cross-team visibility Active participation in PDLC checkpoints and governance forums Monthly portfolio health reporting to client leadership

Why Join Us

Strategic Leadership: Lead mission-critical R&D delivery initiatives at a top pharmaceutical company Complex Technical Challenges: Orchestrate delivery across AI/ML platforms, HPC, data engineering, and scientific applications Multi-Vendor Coordination: Navigate sophisticated delivery ecosystems with multiple technology partners Innovation Focus: Drive AI-powered project management practices and process optimization Executive Visibility: Present to senior leadership and participate in strategic decision-making forums Career Growth: Expand into program management, portfolio leadership, or specialized delivery domains Global Impact: Enable scientific discovery and drug development at global scale

Our Commitment

Partnership mindset: Deliver excellence first, then drive process improvements after earning trust Delivery-first culture: Proactive communication, transparent collaboration, and no surprises AI-native workflows: Embedding intelligent automation into project management from day one Continuous improvement: Post-delivery innovation in delivery optimization and efficiency gains

Equal Opportunity Employment

Xebia is committed to creating an inclusive and diverse environment and is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, or age.