Associate Director Strategic Business Solutions PMO

Work Schedule

Standard (Mon-Fri)

Environmental Conditions

Office

Job Description

Overview

Lead complex, strategic global programs that support Thermo Fisher Scientific’s growth, transformation, and operational excellence. This role operates as a key partner to senior leadership, driving high-impact initiatives across geographies and functions. You will play a critical role in delivering business transformation, system implementations, and process optimization programs while fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and innovation.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the planning and execution of complex, strategic global programs, ensuring alignment with business objectives and delivery against agreed timelines, budget, and quality standards.

• Provide leadership across multiple cross-functional and geographically dispersed teams, ensuring effective collaboration and clear management of interdependencies.

• Partner with senior leadership to define program scope, objectives, success metrics, and delivery strategy.

• Develop, maintain, and govern comprehensive project plans, including Work Breakdown Structures (WBS), resource strategies, key milestones, and critical dependencies.

• Own end-to-end program financials, including budget development, forecasting, tracking of actuals, and proactive management of variances.

• Establish and drive robust risk and issue management practices, ensuring timely escalation and transparent communication to senior stakeholders.

• Oversee and actively manage cross-project interdependencies, optimizing scope, schedule, budget, and resource utilization across the program portfolio.

• Analyze complex data and business challenges to inform decision-making and ensure effective implementation of solutions.

• Act as the primary point of contact for program status, providing clear, concise reporting on progress, risks, and performance.

• Ensure delivery of all program outputs in accordance with organizational standards for quality, compliance, and cost, while meeting stakeholder expectations.

• Build, lead, and support high-performing teams, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

• Contribute to the development of PMO capabilities, including supporting recruitment, onboarding, coaching, and mentoring of project management staff.

Program Scope & Exposure

• Deliver initiatives spanning digital transformation, strategic business programs, clinical operational system implementations, process optimisation, regulatory compliance, and M&A integrations.

• Work across global stakeholders and functions, with exposure to senior and executive leadership teams.

Requirements

• Advanced degree with 6+ years of experience, or Bachelor’s degree with 8+ years of experience managing complex, global programs and project initiatives.

• Degree in business, engineering, science, or a related field preferred.

• Strong experience leading cross-functional teams within a matrixed, global organization.

• Demonstrated success delivering large-scale initiatives such as digital transformation, system implementations, or business integrations.

• Strong understanding of project and program management methodologies and best practices.

• Experience in business functions such as finance operations, clinical operations, customer service, or related areas.

• Proven leadership capability with experience building, developing, and influencing teams.

• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to engage and influence stakeholders at all organizational levels.

• Excellent proven vendor and in-house management skills in software product  delivery and implementation

• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities.

• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple high-priority programs simultaneously.

• Experience with project management tools and systems (e.g., Planview or similar).

• Strong change management and stakeholder engagement expertise.

• Experience applying AI and automation to improve business processes and operational efficiency.

• Adaptability to changing business needs and dynamic project environments.

• Experience in regulated or GCP environments preferred, CRO background advantageous.

• Project Management certifications (e.g., PMP, PRINCE2, Agile, Safe ) highly desirable.

• Change Management certification (e.g., Prosci) a plus.

• Proficiency in English required (C level preferred) ; additional languages beneficial.

• Ability to travel up to 25% as required.

Success Measures

• Consistent delivery of global programs on time and within budget.

• Achievement of measurable business outcomes (e.g., cost savings, process efficiencies, system adoption).

• High levels of stakeholder satisfaction and sustained executive alignment.

Why This Role

This position offers the opportunity to work on high-impact, enterprise-level initiatives with direct exposure to global leadership. You will play a pivotal role in shaping and delivering strategic transformation programs that drive meaningful business outcomes across the organization.