Sr Manager, Project Management

Job Description

Kite is seeking a highly motivated individual to join us as Sr. Manager Business Strategy & Operations, located at our Santa Monica, California location. In this role you will support the Quality function reporting to the Global Head of Quality Strategy & Operations, working cross functionally with Finance, HR, and other departments within Technical Operations supporting our efforts in this exciting new area of cancer immunotherapy.

Business Strategy & Operations provides various types of support to the Global Quality functions – Project, Resource, and Portfolio Management, Operational Excellence, Business Continuity Management, Risk Management, Knowledge Management, Communications. As a member of the department, besides having a core area of expertise as a Project Manager, you will also be able to learn and contribute in other areas to bring benefit to the site.

Responsibilities:

This position will also play a critical role in the execution of the Kite quality project portfolio. In order to provide project management support for projects in the global portfolio, the following capabilities are expected:

• Project Leadership & Execution
  • Lead end-to-end planning, execution, and delivery of global quality initiatives.
  • Develop detailed project plans, timelines, and resource allocations.
  • Monitor progress, manage risks, and ensure projects are delivered on time and within budget.

• Stakeholder Engagement
  • Collaborate with quality leaders, operations, finance, and compliance teams.
  • Facilitate regular project updates, steering committee meetings, and executive reporting.

• Process Improvement & Standardization
  • Drive harmonization of quality processes and systems across geographies.
  • Identify opportunities for efficiency, automation, and innovation in quality operations.

• Change Management
  • Support adoption of new tools, processes, and behaviors through structured change management.
  • Develop communication and training plans to ensure successful implementation.

• Performance Measurement
  • Define and track KPIs related to project success, quality impact, and operational outcomes.
  • Use data-driven insights to inform decisions and continuous improvement.

Basic Qualifications:

• PHD/PharmD and 2+ years of relevant experience in portfolio management OR
• Master’s Degree and 6+ years of relevant experience in portfolio management OR
• Bachelors and 8+ years of relevant experience in portfolio management OR
• High School Diploma and 12+ years of relevant experience in portfolio management

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in pharma/biotech and/or cell therapy manufacturing is a plus
• Proficient in MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint, Outlook and visualization tools (e.g. Smartsheet, SpotFire, Tableau, Power BI, Onepager, and Plansiware); MS Project experience a plus
• Ability to effectively engage with internal and external stakeholders, facilitate discussions, influence effectively and develop relationships; problem solve, drive efforts and projects and delegate appropriate tasks to collaborators and follow-up as needed to meet deadlines
• Self-motivated, proactive and responsive, highly organized, results-oriented and attentive to detail
• Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) or Project Management Professional (PMP) certificate
• Demonstrated experience in managing multiple projects

Does this sound like you? If so, apply today!