Manager R&D PMO

Job Function: Project/Program Management Group

Job Sub Function: R&D Project Management

Job Category: People Leader

Location: Irvine, California, United States of America

The Project Manager is responsible for the end‑to‑end leadership and delivery of global new product development programs. This role serves as the execution owner and integrator, guiding highly matrixed, cross‑functional teams to ensure projects are strategically aligned, delivered on schedule and within budget, and meet rigorous quality, reliability, and regulatory requirements. This role operates within a highly regulated, innovation‑driven healthcare environment and requires a technically strong project manager who can translate strategy into disciplined execution.

The Project Manager partners closely with Technical Leads, Functional Managers, and Business Leaders to identify, assess, and resolve technical, program, and organizational risks while maintaining focus on outcomes that benefit patients, customers, and the enterprise. In alignment with Johnson & Johnson’s leadership expectations, this role demonstrates strong business judgment, fosters collaboration, upholds compliance and quality standards, and leads with a Credo‑based, patient‑centric mindset.

End‑to‑End Program Leadership

• Lead global, cross‑functional new product development programs from early concept through commercialization.
• Own overall program execution, ensuring clear alignment to business strategy, platform objectives, regulatory standards, and quality expectations.
• Apply disciplined project management practices, tools, and governance to deliver predictable, high‑quality outcomes.

Planning, Execution & Governance

• Develop and maintain integrated project plans, including: project charter and scope, detailed schedules and milestones, budget and resource forecasts, and risk, issue, and dependency management plans.
• Ensure all project and technical deliverables are well understood, owned, and executed by the core team.
• Prepare and deliver high‑quality, confident, and impactful updates and presentations to senior leadership, including Global New Product Process (GNPP) stage‑gate reviews.
• Constantly advocate for time‑to‑market and sense‑of‑urgency, challenging schedule assumptions and looking for opportunities to accomplish goals early.

Cross‑Functional Leadership & Influence

• Serve as the primary point of contact for assigned programs, partnering closely with:
  Technical Leads on technical strategy, execution, and risk mitigation;
  Functional Managers on resource planning and commitments; and Executive Sponsors on program status, risks, trade‑offs, and decision making.
• Facilitate seamless collaboration across R&D, Marketing, Operations, Quality, Regulatory, and Clinical organizations.
• Lead effective project team meetings, driving clarity, accountability, and timely closure of action items.

Risk, Issue & Problem Resolution

• Challenge assumptions and lead the team in proactively identifying project, technical, regulatory, and operational risks.
• Resolve issues, conflicts, and resource constraints through influence, negotiation, and data‑driven decision making.
• Lead recovery and mitigation plans to protect program commitments when challenges arise.

Quality, Compliance & Enterprise Mindset

• Ensure projects execute in compliance with Design Control Regulations, quality systems, and all applicable corporate, divisional, and regulatory requirements.
• Advocate for appropriate resources and budget aligned to program priorities and enterprise value.
• Regularly update budget‑vs‑actual spend analyses with finance and support annual business cycle budget planning, delegating purchasing, invoicing, and reconciliation tasks when possible.
• Model Johnson & Johnson leadership behaviors, including integrity, accountability, collaboration, and inclusive leadership.
• Adhere to environmental, health, safety, and sustainability policies and actively support departmental objectives.
• May provide guidance, coaching, or oversight to junior project managers or team members.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a Science‑related field required.
• Advanced degree and/or Project Management…