At Johnson & Johnson, we believe health is everything. Our strength in healthcare innovation empowers us to build a world where complex diseases are prevented, treated, and cured, where treatments are smarter and less invasive, and solutions are personal. Through our expertise in Innovative Medicine and MedTech, we are uniquely positioned to innovate across the full spectrum of healthcare solutions today to deliver the breakthroughs of tomorrow, and profoundly impact health for humanity. Learn more at https://www.jnj.com

Job Function:

Enterprise Management

Job Sub Function:

R&D Management

Job Category:

People Leader

All Job Posting Locations:

Raritan, New Jersey, United States of America

Job Description:

About Innovative Medicine

Our expertise in Innovative Medicine is informed and inspired by patients, whose insights fuel our science-based advancements. Visionaries like you work on teams that save lives by developing the medicines of tomorrow.

Join us in developing treatments, finding cures, and pioneering the path from lab to life while championing patients every step of the way.

Learn more at https://www.jnj.com/innovative-medicine

We are searching for the best talent for an Associate Director, Project Management Business Operations, to be located in Raritan, NJ. This is a hybrid position and requires you to be onsite 3 days a week.

The Business Operation Project manager in Pharmaceutical R&D is responsible for supporting and overseeing multiple optimization projects within global R&D and potentially with other departments in J&J. This role will help to transform the way R&D operates. The role requires strong project management skills, as well as a strategic mindset to optimize business operations and drive down development costs. The ideal candidate will have a solid understanding of pharmaceutical R&D processes, excellent communication and leadership abilities, and a track record of successfully managing cross functional initiatives with a focus on cost saving & efficiency. Continuous improvement and stakeholder management are also key aspects of this role.

You will be responsible for:

Project management:

• You will work closely with SBO directors and Sr directors to oversee various initiatives within R&D, ensuring that they are executed successfully and within the given timelines. This includes coordinating with cross-functional teams, tracking progress, and managing any potential risks or issues that may arise.

Operations Strategy:

• You will play a key role in developing and implementing strategic plans to optimize the business operations. This includes identifying areas for improvement, streamlining processes, and ensuring that operational efficiency is maximized
• You will support the governance model for the SBO, create standardized portfolio prioritization framework and stage-gate process. Define, monitor, and analyze KPI’s regularly reporting to management

Stakeholder Management:

• You will interact with various stakeholders, both internal and external to R&D, to ensure alignment and collaboration across the organization. This includes building relationships with key stakeholders, managing their expectations, and effectively communicating project updates and progress.

Continuous Improvement:

• You will constantly seek opportunities for process improvement and innovation within R&D operations. This involves identifying bottlenecks, implementing best practices, and driving a culture of continuous improvement to enhance overall efficiency and effectiveness.

Communication:

• Encourage open communication and collaboration among team members. Create an environment where everyone feels safe to share ideas, ask questions, and provide feedback, enabling a culture of continuous improvement.

People leadership

• Ability to inspire, guide, and positively influence individuals and teams towards achieving common goals. It involves effectively managing and developing people to reach their full potential, fostering a positive work culture, and creating an environment that encourages collaboration, growth, and engagement.

Qualifications / Requirements:

• A minimum of a bachelor’s degree, preferably in Life Sciences or Engineering                                       
• 8-15 Years in project management/leadership in pharmaceutical environment (preferred R&D)    
• Highly organized and able to work independently.
• Well develop influencing skills and interest om building relationship across functional area
• Able to negotiate through complex and difficult decision-making processes.
• Goal oriented and strategic thinker
• Problem solving skills.
• Coping well with tight timeline
• People management in matrix organization
• Travel of up to 10%, domestic and possibly international

Preferred:

• PMP Project Management, Process Excellence, or equivalent Training / Certification

The anticipated base pay range for this position in the US is $137,000 to $235,750.

The compensation and benefits information set forth in this posting applies to candidates hired in the United States.

The Company maintains highly competitive, performance-based compensation programs. Under current guidelines, this position is eligible for an annual performance bonus in accordance with the terms of the applicable plan. The annual performance bonus is a cash bonus intended to provide an incentive to achieve annual targeted results by rewarding for individual and the corporation’s performance over a calendar/performance year. Bonuses are awarded at the Company’s discretion on an individual basis.

Employees and/or eligible dependents may be eligible to participate in the following Company sponsored employee benefit programs: medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short- and long-term disability, business accident insurance, and group legal insurance. Employees may be eligible to participate in the Company’s consolidated retirement plan (pension) and savings plan (401(k)). Employees are eligible for the following time off benefits:

• Vacation – up to 120 hours per calendar year
• Sick time - up to 40 hours per calendar year; for employees who reside in the State of Washington – up to 56 hours per calendar year
• Holiday pay, including Floating Holidays – up to 13 days per calendar year
• Work, Personal and Family Time - up to 40 hours per calendar year

For additional general information on Company benefits, please go to: https://www.careers.jnj.com/employee-benefits

For more information on how we support the whole health of our employees throughout their wellness, career and life journey, please visit www.careers.jnj.com.

This job posting is anticipated to close on January 19th, 2026. The Company may however extend this time-period, in which case the posting will remain available on https://www.careers.jnj.com to accept additional applications.

Johnson & Johnson is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by federal, state or local law. We actively seek qualified candidates who are protected veterans and individuals with disabilities as defined under VEVRAA and Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act. 

Johnson & Johnson is committed to providing an interview process that is inclusive of our applicants’ needs. If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request an accommodation, external applicants please contact us via https://www.jnj.com/contact-us/careers , internal employees contact AskGS to be directed to your accommodation resource.

#LI-Hybrid

 

 

Required Skills:

 

 

Preferred Skills:

Business Planning, Competitive Landscape Analysis, Corporate Management, Customer Intelligence, Design Mindset, Developing Others, Inclusive Leadership, Industry Analysis, Interdisciplinary Work, Leadership, Market Savvy, Operational Excellence, Product Development, Product Development Lifecycle, Qualitative Research, Research and Development, Stakeholder Engagement, Team Management