Eye Care Program Manager – Pharmaceutical Manufacturing

Eye Care Program Manager – Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
(Program Manager III) 

Location: Lake County, IL
Contract Duration: 12 Months to start
Employment Type: W-2 Contract
Industry: Pharmaceutical / Biotechnology
Experience Required: 8–10 Years in Project / Program Management

$70-$74/hr based on benefit selections

 
Orion Group is seeking an experienced Eye Care Program Manager to support a leading global pharmaceutical organization in Lake County, IL.

This position will be responsible for leading and coordinating complex, cross-functional programs within a highly regulated pharmaceutical manufacturing environment. The Program Manager will oversee integrated project planning, execution, stakeholder alignment, risk management, and operational priorities to ensure programs are delivered successfully and aligned with business objectives.

The ideal candidate brings a strong background in project and program management, pharmaceutical manufacturing or technical operations, and cross-functional leadership, with the ability to manage competing priorities, influence stakeholders, and communicate effectively with senior leadership.

Key Responsibilities

Program & Project Management

• Lead the planning, coordination, and execution of complex programs involving multiple projects and workstreams.
• Develop and maintain integrated project plans, work breakdown structures (WBS), schedules, milestones, critical paths, resource plans, and deliverables.
• Monitor project progress, identify dependencies, and proactively address potential schedule or resource constraints.
• Manage multiple concurrent initiatives while ensuring alignment with overall program objectives and business priorities.
• Establish and maintain project governance, reporting structures, and performance tracking mechanisms.

 
 
Cross-Functional Leadership & Stakeholder Management

• Coordinate activities across Quality, Regulatory Affairs, Supply Chain, Technical Operations, Engineering, Manufacturing, Packaging, Finance, and other business functions.
• Lead and influence cross-functional teams within a matrixed organization, including stakeholders without direct reporting relationships.
• Facilitate project meetings, drive accountability, and ensure timely resolution of issues and decisions.
• Maintain strong relationships with technical, operational, and business stakeholders.
• Prepare and deliver clear, concise project updates, presentations, and recommendations to senior leadership.

Risk Management & Change Control

• Proactively identify, assess, and mitigate project risks, issues, and dependencies.
• Develop contingency plans and corrective actions to minimize disruptions to project timelines and deliverables.
• Manage changes to project scope, schedules, resources, assumptions, and priorities.
• Evaluate the impact of proposed changes and maintain alignment among affected stakeholders.
• Escalate critical issues appropriately and support timely decision-making.

Financial & Operational Management

• Support project budgeting, resource allocation, financial tracking, and cost management.
• Balance technical requirements, operational constraints, financial considerations, and business objectives.
• Identify opportunities to improve project execution, operational efficiency, and resource utilization.
• Collaborate with Finance and operational leadership to monitor project costs and business performance.

Project Tools, Reporting & Communication

• Utilize Microsoft Project, Smartsheet, or comparable project management tools to develop schedules and track deliverables.
• Maintain project documentation, dashboards, status reports, and executive presentations.
• Leverage Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, SharePoint, and other collaboration tools to support program execution.
• Ensure timely, accurate, and transparent communication across project teams and leadership.

Required Qualifications

• 8–10 years of project or program management experience, preferably supporting complex technical, manufacturing, or operational initiatives.
• Demonstrated experience developing and managing integrated project plans, schedules, milestones, dependencies, and resource requirements.
• Strong stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence cross-functional teams in a matrixed environment.
• Proven ability to identify and mitigate risks, resolve project issues, and manage competing priorities.
• Experience managing scope changes, project timelines, resource adjustments, and shifting business requirements.
• Proficiency with project management tools such as Microsoft Project, Smartsheet, or equivalent systems.
• Strong organizational, analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience presenting project updates to senior leadership.
• Ability to balance technical, operational, financial, and business considerations while driving successful program outcomes.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, or other regulated manufacturing environments.
• 8+ years of related experience involving plant operations, manufacturing, technical operations, or engineering programs.
• Educational background in Engineering, Chemistry, Industrial Pharmacy, or a related technical discipline.
• Experience coordinating initiatives across Quality, Regulatory, Engineering, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, and Packaging.
• Strong financial and business acumen, including project budgeting, project accounting, cost accounting, and resource forecasting.
• Familiarity with Microsoft Loop, SharePoint, Copilot, and other collaborative productivity tools.
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or comparable project management training is a plus.

Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate is a seasoned Project or Program Manager who has successfully led complex, cross-functional initiatives in a pharmaceutical manufacturing, technical operations, or similarly regulated environment.

This individual is highly organized, proactive, and comfortable working with technical teams and senior business leaders. They can independently develop integrated project plans, manage risks and dependencies, navigate changing priorities, and drive accountability across multiple functions.

Success in this role requires strong execution skills, effective stakeholder leadership, sound business judgment, and the ability to keep complex programs moving forward in a fast-paced, matrixed organization.


People are our business worldwide
 
Orion Group was founded in 1987 and is now one of the largest, independent, international recruitment companies. We have a network of 200 employees working from 24 offices, delivering a range of services – Talent Acquisition, Recruitment Outsourcing Services, Retained Search, Global Workforce Solutions, Completions & Commissioning and Materials Management – across 68 countries. As a global leader in workforce solutions, we recruit personnel across the Engineering & Technical, Office & Commercial, Scientific and Skilled Trades disciplines, for sectors including Oil & Gas, Life Science, Power & Utilities, Constructions & Infrastructure, Manufacturing and Renewables.