Senior Program Specialist - Bloemfontein at PAREXEL

About The Job

Parexel is in the business of improving the world’s health. We do this by providing a suite of biopharmaceutical services that help clients across the globe transform scientific discoveries into new treatments. From clinical trials to regulatory, consulting, and market access, our therapeutic, technical, and functional ability is underpinned by a deep conviction in what we do.   We believe in our values; Patients First, Quality, Respect, Empowerment & Accountability.

This role has the flexibility to be based remotely anywhere in South Africa or Romania.

As the Senior / Program Specialist you will be responsible for the day-to-day project management of assigned projects, working closely with all members of the delivery team across departments.

Key Accountabilities

• Project Planning and Delivery
• Assist with project/program requirements with Senior Program Specialist/Account Manager or Account Director/Scientific & Editorial Services/Meeting Services; participate in scope definition
• Assist Scientific Team Lead and Account Director/ Manager with defining staffing requirements and raise issues relating to staffing levels as appropriate
• Create project plan and delivery schedule Assist Account Director or Account Manager with establishing team roles and responsibilities in conjunction with Scientific & Editorial Services/Meeting Services
• Monitor and control freelance resource progress with Scientific Team Lead
• Establish essential lines of communication internally and externally
• Establish client approval processes
• Support Functional Managers in establishing project processes
• Undertake program/project scheduling
• Initiate project kick-off meetings
• Ensure appropriate project folders are set up and understood by internal project team
• Set up appropriate tracking systems.
• Undertake the project management of assigned projects according to agreed internal and client processes
• Maintain detailed awareness of project status in order to respond appropriately to client/faculty/internal questions
• Serve as key internal and external point of contact regarding project status ensuring proactive communication of project status with client, faculty, and internal team
• Ensure project is aligned with product strategy and messages as appropriate through liaison with and involvement of Account Manager/ Director and functional areas as needed
• Coordinate cross-functional/internal project team
• Lead cross-functional project team meetings:
• Draft and circulate minutes and action points from internal and client teleconferences/meetings
• Follow-up with project team to ensure action items are completed and projects are on target, providing support as required
• Adjust assignments/targets according to feedback from team members
• Identify issues and problems and recommend solutions internally and to clients; promote significant opportunities for improvement to management
• Ensure project budget and delivery timing is achieved
• Review project reports ensuring quality and accuracy of information; address exceptions as needed

Skills

• Ability to deliver projects to completion on time and within budget
• Team player with strong negotiation and organizational skills
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills, both verbal and written
• Project management expertise
• Proactive approach
• Ability to relate to key client personnel and faculty in a professional fashion
• General knowledge of EACCME/ACCME/FDA/AMA and publications guidelines
• Competent in the use of Word (Advanced), PowerPoint (Advanced), Excel (Advanced), and Outlook and a sound knowledge of databases (eg, Access)
• A confident self-starter who is capable of knowing how best to action/respond to specific requests and information received from a variety of external and internal sources

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Business or life sciences preferred
• Language Skills
• Proficient use of English language