ROLE SUMMARY
The Program Manager (PMO) is a member of the Extended Leadership Team (ELT), accountable for shaping, governing and accelerating the site transformation agenda. This role supports implementation of the site strategic objectives and leadership across Program Management to deliver strong outcomes in Safety, Quality, Supply, Cost and People.
The PMO partners with site team to convert strategic priorities, customer needs and business development opportunities into executable programs. The role supports product and process changes, and enables delivery of the site's long-term objectives.
The Program Manager leads the site PMO governance framework and oversees a portfolio of strategic projects, including Technology Transfers, New Product Introductions, product and process changes, and selected capital and digital initiatives such as iTRM (Technology Roadmap). The role is responsible for portfolio governance, prioritisation, resource oversight, executive reporting, risk management, escalation and continuous improvement of project management standards across the Melbourne site. It is accountable for delivering portfolio outcomes integrated with and complimentary to current site BAU processes. Serves as the single point of accountability for the centralised artwork and NPL team (located at the Vizag site).
As a member of the Extended Leadership Team (ELT), the position plays a critical role in optimising the supply of world-class, life-saving medicines to patients through cross-functional collaboration and leadership. The role contributes to a culture of understanding, belief and commitment to excellence, while enabling timely decisions aligned to site goals and priorities. It also promotes wellbeing, inclusivity, equity and diversity; fosters simplification and continuous improvement; and works collaboratively across teams to build trust, engagement and capability.
ROLE RESPONSIBILITIES
- Execute the site transformation agenda as a member of the extended Leadership Team, ensuring clear alignment between strategic priorities, execution plans and measurable business outcomes.
- Provide management for Program Management governance, portfolio visibility, prioritisation, resource alignment, risk escalation and executive reporting. Establish and maintain PMO governance standards.
- Own project lifecycle management processes and stage-gate governance by chairing portfolio review meetings and governance forums.
- Maintain portfolio visibility across all programs, monitor project health, schedule adherence, budget performance and benefits realization.
- Liaise with Capital projects manager(s) to ensure budget performance aligns with site capital funding
- Support site prioritization and resource allocation decisions through executive dashboards and portfolio reporting.
- Manage portfolio risks, escalations and interdependencies.
- Drive continuous improvement across PMO practices by coaching Project Managers, enhancing PM standards, templates and governance processes.
- Serves as the single point of accountability for the centralised artwork and NPL team (located at the Vizag site).
- Responsible for managing the iRTM roadmap and implementation, by translating site strategy into an integrated transformation roadmap covering technical, operational, project, readiness and continuous improvement priorities.
- Ensure Operational Readiness plans are integrated into project delivery and influence project design, achieved throughout process/equipment design, construction/development and commissioning/qualification phases, with clear focus on delivering procedures, training, staffing, systems, maintenance, quality, product supply and change implementation requirements.
- Partner with Operations, Quality, Engineering, Supply Chain, Regulatory, EHS, Finance and global functions to remove barriers, manage dependencies and enable timely decisions.
- Monitor transformation progress, benefits realisation, project health, risk profile and functional performance through governance forums, dashboards and site leadership reviews.
- Champion a patient-focused, compliant and improvement-driven culture that enables sustainable site performance and future growth.
- As a member of the leadership team, foster a culture of excellence through collaborative leadership, colleague development, accountability and continuous improvement. Champion Pfizer Values, safety, inclusion and high-performance ways of working to support business and people outcomes.
QUALIFICATIONS
Qualifications and Experience
- Degree in Science, Engineering, Pharmacy, Business, or a related discipline; postgraduate qualification.
- Extensive experience in pharmaceutical manufacturing, biotechnology or another highly regulated manufacturing environment.
- Demonstrated experience leading portfolio management functions.
- Strong understanding of GMP, quality systems, regulatory expectations, technical transfer, product lifecycle management, operational readiness and manufacturing performance systems.
- Proven ability to convert strategy into executable programs, manage complex portfolios and deliver measurable performance, compliance and business outcomes and experience with project management tools (eg: MS Project, Smartsheet, Primavera)
- Strong senior stakeholder management, executive communication, governance, influencing and decision-making capability.
- Experience leading cross-functional teams, developing people, managing change and building high-performing cultures.
- Leading Project management, change management or equivalent Six Sigma or Lean qualifications are desirable.
Work Location Assignment: On Premise
At Pfizer we care about our colleagues' wellbeing and offer a range of great benefits for them, including:
- Paid parental leave
- Access to Health & Wellness apps
- Career Growth Experiences program
- Recognition & rewards program
- Paid volunteer days
- Life Insurance Benefits
- Pfizer Learning Academy access to top content providers
- Access to flu vaccines & skin checks
- Options to purchase additional leave
- Salary packaging & novated lease options
*Benefits listed may vary depending on your position and location and may be subject to change.
Pfizer Australia and New Zealand's diverse workforce represents the patients we serve and the communities in which we operate. With a focus on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I), Pfizer ANZ ensures our people are heard and cared for. We offer engagement opportunities in both Colleagues Resource Groups (CRGs) and workstreams across: Culture and Tradition, Reconciliation @ Pfizer (RAP), Gender Equity (GEN), Disability and through the Out Pfizer Employee Network (OPEN) for our LGBT + colleagues and allies.
If you require reasonable adjustment during your application, please reach out to the Talent Acquisition Manager.
To learn more about acceptable and prohibited uses of AI during the recruitment process, please review our candidate AI-use guidelines available on Pfizer Careers .
Continuous Imprv and Proj Mgmt
Skills Required
- Degree in Science, Engineering, Pharmacy, Business, or a related discipline
- Postgraduate qualification
- Extensive experience in pharmaceutical manufacturing, biotechnology, or another highly regulated manufacturing environment
- Demonstrated experience leading portfolio management functions
- Strong understanding of GMP, quality systems, regulatory expectations, technical transfer, product lifecycle management, operational readiness, and manufacturing performance systems
- Experience converting strategy into executable programs and managing complex portfolios
- Experience delivering measurable performance, compliance, and business outcomes
- Experience with project management tools such as MS Project, Smartsheet, or Primavera
- Senior stakeholder management, executive communication, governance, influencing, and decision-making capability
- Experience leading cross-functional teams, developing people, managing change, and building high-performing cultures
- Project management, change management, Six Sigma, or Lean qualifications
Pfizer Compensation & Benefits Highlights
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Healthcare Strength — Health coverage is described as comprehensive across medical, dental, vision, and mental‑health support, with strong plan options and provider networks. Feedback suggests these programs are a clear standout within the total rewards package.
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Retirement Support — Retirement programs feature a 401(k) with company matching plus an additional company retirement contribution. Feedback suggests these elements are consistently highlighted as valuable components of overall compensation.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Paid vacation, holidays, and sick time are often characterized as generous, with some locations offering the ability to purchase additional vacation days. Feedback suggests this breadth contributes meaningfully to work‑life balance.
Pfizer Insights
What We Do
Our purpose ensures that patients remain at the center of all we do. We live our purpose by sourcing the best science in the world; partnering with others in the healthcare system to improve access to our medicines; using digital technologies to enhance our drug discovery and development, as well as patient outcomes; and leading the conversation to advocate for pro-innovation/pro-patient policies.
Why Work With Us
We are the inventors, the problem solvers, the big thinkers — those who surmount any hurdle to deliver breakthrough medicines to the people who are counting on them the most.
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