Project Manager- Operations

Project Manager III – Operations

Location: Lake County, IL
Schedule: Hybrid — Tuesday–Thursday onsite, Monday/Friday remote
Contract Length: 6 months to start
$84-$89/HR based on health benefits

Orion Group is seeking an experienced Project Manager III – Operations to support increased project scope and workload within a fast-paced pharmaceutical environment. This role will lead cross-functional initiatives, manage project execution, and partner closely with stakeholders to ensure project goals, timelines, risks, and business outcomes are clearly defined and successfully delivered.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Lead cross-functional project teams while building strong working relationships with internal stakeholders.
• Partner with stakeholders to define project scope, objectives, success metrics, timelines, and deliverables.
• Translate business needs into clear project plans, actionable requirements, and structured execution plans.
• Develop and manage integrated project plans aligned with business, operations, purchasing, and enterprise strategies.
• Monitor project progress, identify risks, resolve issues, and support contingency planning to keep initiatives on track.
• Manage projects within established scope, schedule, and budget.
• Facilitate project meetings, drive alignment, manage change/conflict, and ensure follow-through on key actions.
• Track outcomes, measure business impact, and support continuous improvement.
• Provide regular leadership updates on project status, milestones, risks, and value realization.

What We’re Looking For

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in science or a related field.
• 6+ years of industry experience within pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, project management, purchasing, supply chain, or similar environments.
• 2+ years of project experience related to product development/launch, business process optimization, technology transfer, regulatory submission/compliance, quality assurance, or alliance management.
• Strong project leadership, stakeholder management, and communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, resources, risks, and critical situations.
• Strong analytical capabilities, technical aptitude, and ability to understand multiple disciplines.
• General understanding of business and financial principles.
• Strong computer skills and experience with project management tools/processes.

Nice to Have

• PMP certification.
• Six Sigma certification.
• Experience applying disciplined project management methodologies.

 


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.