Sr Program Director

Summary & Responsibilities:

This posting covers two positions—one supporting our Blood Culture portfolio and one supporting Vitek AST. Candidates will be considered for both roles and may indicate a preference during the interview process.

The Program Management function is accountable for providing expertise, support, and control for programs including: developing program management best practices/templates and providing training/mentoring to project teams, monitoring dependencies across multiple inter-related projects, prioritizing projects and resources, aligning program with specific goals, gathering and reporting consolidated project status and financial information to leadership, balancing the program for risk and return, and communicating program status to stakeholders.

The Senior Director provides high-level strategic leadership and operational oversight across multiple programs, departments, or functions. This role is responsible for driving organizational performance, aligning initiatives with long-term goals, and fostering cross-functional collaboration. The Senior Director serves as a key advisor to executive leadership, translating vision into actionable plans, and ensuring the successful execution of complex initiatives that deliver measurable impact.

• Align project and program priorities with company and portfolio strategy, contributing to long-term roadmaps and ensuring resource and operational alignment across departments.
• Provide guidance to senior leadership for portfolio optimization, including project prioritization, scoring, and balancing to maximize value.
• Lead the development and execution of integrated, cross-functional plans, ensuring compliance with quality systems, regulatory standards, and best practices.
• Manage and mentor project teams, fostering collaboration, improving performance, and ensuring consistent application of project management and product development processes."
• Provide direct leadership and development to a team of project management professionals
• Ensure alignment of program execution with organizational strategy, goals, and priorities
• Oversees multiple interrelated strategic projects of high complexity spanning enterprise or division-wide initiatives
• Partner with SVP-level, business unit/franchise, and executive leadership to drive strategic outcomes.
• Drive on-time delivery of complex, cross-functional and multi-regional projects
• Synthesizes program health, risks, and key insights into executive summaries and presentations for senior leadership
• Lead program planning, prioritization and governance
• Manage program budgets, forecasts, and resource plans to ensure financial discipline and transparency
• Deliver clear, compelling communications and presentations to internal and external stakeholders, translating technical content into strategic business insights
• Lead high-performing teams that exemplify accountability, collaboration, and operational excellence
• Build and Sustain strong partnerships with many functions, such as Engineering, Regulatory, Quality, Manufacturing and Commercial, to achieve program Objectives
• Champions consistency in delivery, tools, methodologies and KPIs for the program
• Ensure audit readiness and compliance across all program activities
• Approximately 35% travel required (domestic and international combined)

Education, Skills, & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree required - MBA preferred
• PMP or Advanced Portfolio Management certificate preferred
• 10 years of Program or Project Management experience, including at least 5 years in a senior leadership role overseeing complex, cross-functional product development portfolios.
• Experience with cost accounting and/or managing/controlling budgets are a plus
• Proven experience in a regulated environment, ideally within IVD, medical device, or life sciences, with strong knowledge of design control, quality systems (ISO 13485), and regulatory requirements (FDA, IVDR, CE).
• Demonstrated success leading new product development (NPD) or product lifecycle programs from concept through commercialization, with accountability for timeline, budget, and compliance outcomes.
• Experience presenting to and influencing executive leadership (C-suite) through clear, data-driven communication and strategic insights.
• Demonstrated expertise using portfolio and resource management systems (e.g., Planisware, Clarity PPM, Smartsheet, or equivalent) to drive visibility, scenario planning, and strategic decision-making across a complex, multi-program environment. Experience leading or supporting tool rollouts is a plus
• Proven experience leading, mentoring, and managing a team of Project Managers, including developing talent, establishing performance expectations, and driving successful project delivery across complex, multi-program initiatives.