Program Manager, Pharma
Join Varda as a Pharma Program Manager to drive pharmaceutical programs in the emerging low Earth orbit economy.
Posted by employer 3 months ago
First seen on Joblaze 2 months ago
Last verified on the company career page 1 day ago
Requirements
- Experience
- 6–10 years
- Education
- Bachelor's degree
Not disclosed in this posting: visa sponsorship.
Benefits
Joblaze summary
The Pharma Program Manager at Varda Space is responsible for overseeing the execution of pharmaceutical projects, ensuring they meet quality, cost, and schedule expectations. This role requires a solid background in biopharmaceuticals, with a focus on program management skills, including risk management and resource allocation. Ideal candidates will have significant experience in the pharmaceutical industry and a collaborative mindset to influence cross-functional teams. Varda's innovative environment, driven by a team of industry veterans, positions this role at the forefront of the emerging low Earth orbit economy.
Joblaze insights
- Listed about 2 months ago — first seen on Joblaze August 1, 2026. Last confirmed on Varda Space's careers page October 7, 2026.
- Salary band is below the typical range for Management roles (median ~$170,000).
- Starts above 57% of 175 comparable mid management roles in United States we track (median $120,000 across 93 companies).
Quick facts
- Is the Program Manager, Pharma role remote?
- No — this is an on-site role in El Segundo, California, United States.
- What's the salary range?
- Varda Space lists $125,000–$170,000 for this role.
- How much experience is required?
- 6–10 years of relevant experience for this Program Manager, Pharma role.
- Where is the role based?
- Varda Space is hiring for this position in El Segundo, California, United States.
- What seniority level is this role?
- Varda Space targets mid-level candidates for this position.
- Is this full-time or contract?
- Full-time for this Program Manager, Pharma role at Varda Space.
From the original posting
About Varda
About this Role
Our pharmaceutical team is looking for a highly motivated and creative Pharma Program Manager who will manage efforts in driving pharma programs to completion and report to the VP, Pharma Program Management, This is an opportunity in an exciting area of growth for Varda, the role will shape Varda’s product culture and will play a significant role in establishing the low Earth orbit economy.
Responsibilities
- Collaborate with program leads to develop and track schedules and milestones, identifying critical path activities and dependencies.
- Support pharma programs and meetings: set agendas, document decisions, assign owners, and follow up on action items.
- Establish program objectives, define scope, and align with departmental strategy.
- Ensure project deliverables meet expectations for quality, cost, and schedule.
- Partner with technical leads to identify and manage program risks and issues, while also proposing mitigation strategies and maintaining a risk register with mitigation plans.
- Align with technical leads to allocate resources, control costs, and ensure efficient use of personnel and resources.
- Communication of project status via SmartSheet, reports, and dashboards.
- Serve as the operational liaison to CDMOs, CROs, and contract testing laboratories on scheduling, deliverables, and issue escalation.
Basic Qualifications
- 2+ years of program management experience, and 6+ years of experience in the biopharmaceutical industry.
- B.S. or M.S. in life sciences such as Chemistry, Biochemistry, or related fields.
- Effective communication (verbal and written), well organized, collaborative with peers.
Preferred Skills and Experience
- 10+ years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry.
- 3+ years of program management experience, PMP / PgMP certification.
- Demonstrated experience managing multiple programs.
- Excellent communication across a diverse group of stakeholders. Must be able to tailor messaging to each audience.
- Experience with program planning and coordination, aligning with organizational strategy.
- Cross-functional team influence. Without direct reports, this role must influence and drive task completion from multiple stakeholders.
- Strong critical thinking and troubleshooting experience to guide cross-functional teams toward achieving program objectives.
- Understanding and implementation of change management during program lifecycle.
- Extensive experience with MS Project and/or SmartSheet.
Pay Range
- Salary range: $125,000 - $170,000/per year
- This role is on-site in El Segundo, CA
- Leveling and base salary is determined by job-related skills, education level, experience level, and job performance
- You will be eligible for incentives in the form of stock options and/or long-term cash awards
Standard company text repeated across Varda Space's postings is omitted here.