Senior Project Manager - Lab Services

Senior Project Manager

Location: United States (East Coast or Central) or Canada

Full time

Remote or Hybrid

• Have you built a track record of owning study delivery end-to-end; budgets, clients, and everything in between?

• Do you thrive in environments where the playbook isn't fully written yet?

• Are you the PM that other PMs come to when things get complicated?

At Cerba Research, we are committed to finding the best talent to join our team. We have partnered with Vector Talent to manage the recruitment process for this role. Please direct all applications and questions to Vector Talent.

Our global project management team is hiring. We are looking for a Senior Project Manager to play a pivotal role in the delivery of our central laboratory and specialty services portfolio across the US, bringing the depth of experience and operational discipline that sets the standard for how studies are managed and how clients are served.

ABOUT CERBA RESEARCH

With over 40 years of clinical research expertise, Cerba Research has built a unique offering of services, which includes clinical trial management, specialty lab & biomarkers services and medical devices & diagnostics offerings.

Cerba Research supports clients from research and development all the way through clinical studies and commercialisation of therapies. We combine the deep therapeutic understanding and agility of a specialist with the capacity, breadth and global reach of a central lab.

Our extensive experience in central & specialty laboratory services is key to our success, allowing us to provide clients with early scientific insights that optimise protocol development.

We provide key laboratory services to biopharma, government and not-for-profit organisations, supporting clinical trials. Our global accredited laboratory network and connected logistical infrastructure covers the US, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Australia and Africa.

Our aim is to transform clinical research to deliver the promise of precision and predictive medicine to help people live healthier lives. It's our passion, expertise, and commitment to quality that drive Cerba Research.

WHY JOIN US?

Real Portfolio Ownership — Manage concurrent studies across central lab and specialty services, owning the full lifecycle with genuine accountability for outcomes.

Scope to Shape Things — We're moving toward a synergy model combining central and specialty projects. The people we bring in now will influence how that develops.

Global Reach — Work across an international client base spanning pharma and biotech, with studies running across the US, Europe, and beyond.

Strong Leadership Access — Work directly within a function led by experienced global PM and CRO leadership — real mentorship from people who've run programmes at scale.

Remote Flexibility — We operate with a flexible, remote-friendly approach that supports the way modern PM professionals work.

HOW YOU WILL ADD VALUE

As a Senior Project Manager within our US team, you will contribute to:

• Strengthening client partnerships through proactive, structured, and technically credible communication

• Enhancing the financial rigour of study delivery; owning budgets, reviewing invoices, and keeping forecasts accurate and client-facing

• Driving continuous improvement in how the PM team manages the complexity of lab services delivery; logistics, sample handling, and cross-functional coordination

• Shaping best practices that elevate delivery standards across the US PM function

YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES

• Manage a portfolio of concurrent central lab and specialty studies across the full project lifecycle

• Own study budgets with genuine accountability; invoice review, spend tracking against contract value, variance management, and proactive client forecasting

• Serve as the senior client contact for assigned sponsors, managing complex expectations and navigating difficult conversations without losing the relationship

• Translate technical laboratory processes and findings into clear, structured communication that non-scientific stakeholders can act on

• Coordinate across lab operations, logistics, quality, and finance to drive seamless execution, particularly around sample handling, accessioning, and shipment risk

• Monitor milestones, anticipate risks, and escalate with precision, keeping delivery on track without losing client confidence

• Contribute to the development of improved invoice review and budget management processes as part of a broader US PM capability initiative

Requirements

ABOUT YOU

You're a PM currently in lab services, you know how to manage a budget, handle a difficult client conversation, and bring order to complex, multi-team study delivery.

• Formal project management experience in a clinical or laboratory services environment, with clear evidence of independent ownership

• Demonstrated accountability for study budgets; invoice review, spend tracking, forecasting, not just milestone oversight.

• Experience in central lab, lab services, or pharma services; direct familiarity with sample handling, accessioning, and specimen logistics.

• Proven ability to manage multiple concurrent studies, prioritising effectively across a complex, dynamic portfolio

• Exceptional written and verbal communication in English — structured, clear, capable of simplifying technical complexity for non-scientific audiences

Travel: Minimal. Occasional client or internal meetings may require US or Canada (depending on your proximity to the New York or Montreal office) travel.

To apply or find out more, please contact Vector Talent directly.