Senior Director - IT Project Management Office

We are seeking a strategic and hands-on PMO Leader to build and lead our IT Project Management Office. In this role, you will lead a team of IT Project Managers delivering custom software solutions that support our clinical and business operations, while establishing the standards, processes, and governance that ensure those projects are delivered consistently, transparently, and in compliance with industry regulations. You will partner with IT leadership, business stakeholders, and engineering teams to align project portfolios with organizational priorities and drive measurable improvements in delivery performance.

Responsibilities

Team Leadership

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of IT Project Managers and Business Analysts, including hiring, performance management, and career development
• Allocate PM and BA resources across projects based on priorities, complexity, and team capacity
• Foster a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and collaboration between project management and engineering teams

PMO Governance and Process

• Establish, document, and maintain project management methodologies, standards, templates, and best practices (Agile, Waterfall, and hybrid approaches)
• Define and enforce project governance, including stage gates, approval processes, change control, and escalation paths
• Ensure software development projects meet regulatory, quality, and data integrity requirements applicable to a CRO environment (e.g., GxP, 21 CFR Part 11, validation requirements)
• Partner with Validation and Quality Assurance teams to align PMO processes with SDLC, computer system validation, and audit-readiness expectations
• Conduct periodic project health checks and audits to confirm adherence to PMO standards

Portfolio Management and Reporting

• Own the IT project portfolio, including intake, prioritization, and roadmap planning in collaboration with IT and business leadership
• Develop and deliver portfolio dashboards, status reports, and key performance metrics to senior leadership
• Oversee portfolio-level resource forecasting and capacity planning
• Identify cross-project dependencies, risks, and conflicts, and drive resolution at the portfolio level

Strategy and Continuous Improvement

• Define PMO strategy, goals, and maturity roadmap aligned with IT and corporate objectives
• Select, implement, and administer project and portfolio management tools (e.g., Jira, Azure DevOps, Smartsheet, Microsoft Project)
• Lead post-project reviews and use lessons learned to refine processes and improve delivery outcomes
• Serve as an escalation point for high-risk or high-visibility projects and provide direct project oversight when needed

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Business Administration, or related field (Master's degree preferred)
• 10+ years of experience in IT project management, including 3+ years in a leadership role managing project managers/business analysts or a PMO
• Demonstrated experience establishing or maturing PMO processes, governance frameworks, and project standards
• Strong knowledge of software development lifecycle (SDLC) methodologies, including Agile, Waterfall, and hybrid approaches
• Experience managing a portfolio of concurrent software projects, including budgets, resource planning, and risk management
• Proven ability to communicate effectively with executives, business stakeholders, and technical teams
• Strong leadership, coaching, and conflict resolution skills
• Proficiency with project and portfolio management tools and reporting platforms

Preferred:

• PMP, PgMP, PfMP, SAFe, or other relevant certification
• Experience in a Contract Research Organization, pharmaceutical, biotech, or other regulated life sciences environment
• Working knowledge of GxP, 21 CFR Part 11, HIPAA, and computer system validation practices
• Experience overseeing custom, internally developed software projects rather than only vendor/COTS implementations
• Experience with organizational change management and driving adoption of new processes across teams
• Familiarity with portfolio management tools and data visualization/reporting tools (e.g., Power BI, Tableau)

Medpace Overview

Medpace is a full-service clinical contract research organization (CRO) providing phase l-lV clinical development services to the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and medical device industries. Our mission is to accelerate the global development of safe and effective medical therapeutics through the advancement of clinical research. We leverage in-country regulatory and therapeutic expertise across all major therapeutic areas including oncology, cardiology, metabolic, endocrinology, central nervous system, and anti-viral and anti-infective. Headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, we employ more than 6,500 people across 40+ countries.

Why Medpace?

When you join Medpace, you become part of an innovative team that brings cutting-edge therapies to market while building a meaningful and rewarding career focused on scientific excellence and improving patient outcomes around the world through continuous learning and cross-functional collaboration.

Purpose-Driven Work

• • Work alongside physicians, scientists, and industry-leading experts committed to advancing the global development of medical therapeutics through clinical research excellence

Collaborative Culture

• • Contribute to an interactive team environment that empowers decision making, creative thinking, and continuous learning through open communication and mutual trust.
  • Leadership throughout Medpace is both accessible and approachable

Continuous Growth & Development

• • Office based environment with on-site mentors
  • Defined career paths with clear advancement opportunities
  • Industry renowned onboarding and training programs designed to accelerate professional development
  • Ongoing training and continuous learning opportunities throughout your career
  • An environment that encourages employees to influence change, contribute ideas, and grow quickly

Other Employee Benefits

• • Competitive compensation programs that recognize and reward performance
  • Comprehensive health, wellness, retirement, and PTO benefits
  • Office based culture with occasional WFH that provides flexibility for eligible positions after training
  • Company-sponsored social events and intramural sports

Cincinnati Headquarters Experience

• • A modern corporate campus designed to support collaboration and productivity
  • Multiple on-site dining options in the heart of Madison Square
  • Free on-site parking
  • Convenient access to on-site 24-7 fitness and wellness facilities

What to Expect Next

A Medpace team member will review your application and if your profile matches our current needs, you will be contacted for an interview. While we review all applications carefully, we are unable to respond to every applicant, and only candidates selected for interviews will be contacted.