About the role

As a Consulting Principal, Pharma Project Manager, you will make an impact by leading complex programs and driving disciplined delivery across governance, planning, financial management, and business value realization. You will be a valued member of the Life Sciences Consulting team and work collaboratively with senior stakeholders, cross-functional delivery teams, and pharma/biotech clients in the Greater Boston area.

In this role, you will:
• Establish and lead project governance structures to engage stakeholders, manage risks and issues, and enable effective decision-making that ensures successful program delivery.
• Own and manage project scope, maintaining alignment with business objectives and governing scope changes and value impact through appropriate controls.
• Lead integrated planning efforts, including development of work breakdown structures, scheduling, resource allocation, and dependency management.
• Oversee financial management including cost estimation, forecasting, and tracking performance against baseline plans.
• Drive risk, assumption, issue, and dependency (RAID) management while ensuring successful delivery of business value, adoption, and transition to operations.

Work model

We believe hybrid work is the way forward as we strive to provide flexibility wherever possible. Based on this role's business requirements, this is a hybrid position requiring 3 days a week in a client or Cognizant office in Boston, MA. Regardless of your working arrangement, we are here to support a healthy work-life balance though our various wellbeing programs.

The working arrangements for this role are accurate as of the date of posting. This may change based on the project you're engaged in, as well as business and client requirements. Rest assured; we will always be clear about role expectations.

What you must have to be considered
• Experience leading complex projects or program delivery in a consulting or professional services environment.
• Strong expertise in governance, scope management, scheduling, and resource planning.
• Proven experience managing project financials including forecasting, budgeting, and cost tracking.
• Demonstrated ability to manage risks, issues, and dependencies across cross-functional teams.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and communication skills across business and technical audiences.

These will help you succeed
• Experience operating within structured project delivery frameworks such as SDLC and formal governance models.
• Exposure to regulated environments and adherence to established policies and processes (e.g., GxP compliance).
• Strong decision-making capabilities leveraging governance frameworks and structured methodologies.
• Experience driving stakeholder alignment and transparent communications through reporting and governance forums.
• Ability to support change management, adoption planning, and business value realization initiatives.

We're excited to meet people who share our mission and can make an impact in a variety of ways. Don't hesitate to apply, even if you only meet the minimum requirements listed. Think about your transferable experiences and unique skills that make you stand out as someone who can bring new and exciting things to this role.

Compensation
• $122,400 - $190,500
• This position is eligible for Cognizant's discretionary annual incentive program, based on performance and subject to the terms of Cognizant's applicable plans.

Benefits

Cognizant offers the following benefits for this position, subject to applicable eligibility requirements:
• Medical, dental, vision and life insurance
• 401(k) plan and contributions
• Employee stock purchase plan
• Employee assistance program
• 10 paid holidays plus PTO
• Paid parental leave and fertility assistance
• Long-term/short-term disability
• Learning and development certifications and programs