Senior Project Director (m/f/d) - Group Project Management

Become part of a vital chain and contribute to our common goal of making people’s lives better. Octapharma is one of the largest human protein manufacturers in the world, developing and producing medicines sourced from human plasma and human cell lines. We are a privately-owned company, where the warmth of family meets the scale of a global organisation.

With over 1600 employees, the Octapharma site in Vienna is the largest production site, and successful research and development location.

The Senior Project Director drives the implementation of a new comprehensive production facility, thereby enabling significant expansion across the entire global company. This strategic leadership role ensures compliant, on-time, and on-budget delivery of a complete large-scale pharmaceutical manufacturing program.

Join us in shaping our vision to provide new health solutions advancing human life.

Your main tasks and responsibilities

• Lead and govern large-scale pharmaceutical capital EPC projects (greenfield, brownfield, expansions), serving as the primary interface to executive leadership and key stakeholders
• Define and execute project strategy, scope, execution model, master schedule, budget across all project phases
• Oversee end-to-end project delivery, from engineering and construction through commissioning, qualification, validation (CQV) and operational handover
• Ensure regulatory and quality compliance in line with FDA, EMA, and GMP requirements, partnering closely with Quality and Regulatory Affairs
• Manage financial performance and risk, including CAPEX planning, cost control, change management and major procurement decisions
• Lead cross-functional and external teams, coordinating subprojects, internal functions and managing EPC/EPCM partners, contractors and suppliers

Your expertise and ideal skill set

• Degree in Engineering, Natural Sciences or a comparable technical discipline
• 15+ years of experience and proven track record leading pharmaceutical or other large-scale capital EPC projects (typically >€200M)
• Extensive experience in global, cross-functional project organizations; experience in GMP-regulated environments and the pharmaceutical or life sciences industry is an advantage
• High willingness to travel internationally, including assignments outside Europe
• Fluent in Englisch; German language skills are an advantage
• Proven leadership in managing international, multicultural teams with strong strategic, decision-making, and stakeholder communication skills

Your department - where you make an impact

• We, the Group Project Management Office department, together with our local PMOs at the production sites, are jointly responsible for the planning, management, and implementation of projects within the Octapharma Group. As such, we serve as a link between the specialist departments and external partners.
• Our mission is to ensure schedule, cost, and quality targets are met in all project phases using established project management methods.
• Structured knowledge transfer, lessons learned, and ongoing optimization of project processes and tools are promoted in our department.

Thrive with us

• Company restaurant & meal subsidy
• Training & further education
• Health promotion
• Parking spaces and good public transport connections
• Company and team events
  
  

Enjoy these attractive benefits! You can find all offers here: Benefits

The minimum gross salary according to the collective agreement (chemical industry) is EUR 5,598.85 based on 38 hours per week (full-time). As we strive to offer a salary that reflects your individual profile and qualifications, there is a willingness to pay above the minimum salary.

It´s in our blood

We live diversity and stand for equal opportunities as an employer! We therefore look forward to receiving your application - regardless of age, gender, origin, sexual orientation, and religion.

Do you have any questions? Then get in touch with your contact person.

Stephanie Pistauer, BA MSc