Senior Manager, Research Program Management

Working with Us
Challenging. Meaningful. Life-changing. Those aren’t words that are usually associated with a job. But working at Bristol Myers Squibb is anything but usual. Here, uniquely interesting work happens every day, in every department. From optimizing a production line to the latest breakthroughs in cell therapy, this is work that transforms the lives of patients, and the careers of those who do it. You’ll get the chance to grow and thrive through opportunities uncommon in scale and scope, alongside high-achieving teams. Take your career farther than you thought possible.

Bristol Myers Squibb recognizes the importance of balance and flexibility in our work environment. We offer a wide variety of competitive benefits, services and programs that provide our employees with the resources to pursue their goals, both at work and in their personal lives. Read more: careers.bms.com/working-with-us.

Position Summary

We are seeking an accomplished Research Program Manager (Senior Manager level) to join our dynamic Research organization. This role will support multiple complex, cross-functional research programs and bring strategic AI/LLM expertise to transform how we manage programs and operate as a project management organization. Reporting to the Director of Research Program Management, the senior manager will support programs that span early discovery through development candidate identification and recommendation for development.

Key Responsibilities

• Program Leadership
  • Partner closely with Research Program Leaders and Team Leads to execute program strategies, integrating cross-functional plans, and guiding programs from early discovery stages through the development phase.
  • Provide leadership to research core teams to develop presentations and updates for therapeutic areas and governance forums. Prepare and advise teams on governance expectations and key decision-making points.
  • Accountable for the development of integrated, cross-functional project timelines, defining operational strategies, managing timelines, and executing risk assessment and mitigation plans.
  • Provide an independent voice in shaping project strategy to drive optimal decisions with a focus on broader portfolio value and science-based business decisions.
  • Partner with Drug Development Program Managers, Global Program Leaders, and strategic partners to form transition teams and deliver strong data packages and forward-looking clinical plans.
  • Foster and monitor the health and operating efficiency of high-performing teams. Lead the creation of operating principles, ensuring cross-functional input and accountability.
  • Ensure key issues and decisions are effectively communicated to stakeholders across research and development functions.
  • Ensure appropriate resourcing of research teams in preparation for the transition into the development phase.
  • Facilitate effective business decisions by generating multiple development scenarios and options, highlighting interdependencies and downstream impacts of strategic decisions.
  • Coach project team members to drive excellence and accountability, serving as a Change Agent to spearhead continuous improvements and transformational initiatives within the program management function.

• AI/LLM Strategy & Integration –
  • Apply publicly available AI/LLM tools (for example: ChatGPT, GitHub Copilot) and enterprise/Research AI platforms to enhance program management workflows, decision-making, and knowledge management.
  • Serve as a power user of LLM tools for the project management team, identifying best practices, training peers, and surfacing user feedback to enterprise product teams for continuous improvement.
  • Pilot and refine use cases where AI/LLM solutions can enhance research planning, reporting, and cross-functional collaboration.
  • Mentor program managers and project team leaders on leveraging AI/LLM for research workflows, literature synthesis, and experimental design support
  • Stay at the forefront of AI, LLM, and digital transformation trends in R&D; assess and pilot emerging tools relevant to scientific research.

Qualifications

Required

• Advanced degree in life sciences, computational sciences, or related field
• 8+ years of experience in biotech/pharmaceutical/health care industry, including at least 1+ year in project management or leadership of cross-functional matrix teams
• Demonstrated competency in early phase drug development, a solid understanding of disease area and early phase drug development pathway with the ability to facilitate and contribute to strategic discussions.
• Leadership skills including situational leadership, ability to lead a team of experts and influence without authority
• Strong communicator - able to integrate and succinctly summarize the various parts of a project and effectively tailor messages to a specific audience including senior leaders.
• Excellent Project Management Skills – drives execution while balancing speed, quality, and cost.
• Demonstrated familiarity with publicly available AI/LLM tools (for example: ChatGPT, GitHub Copilot) and enterprise/Research AI platforms.
• Experience applying AI/LLM tools in program management use cases (e.g., meeting preparation, milestone tracking, documentation, stakeholder communication).

Preferred

• PMP or equivalent program management certification.
• Certifications from recognized programs (for example: OpenAI, Google) in AI/LLM tools or prompt engineering.
• Experience in drug discovery, translational research, or computational biology.
• Hands-on familiarity with domain-specific LLM platforms used in life sciences R&D.
• Experience gathering and communicating user feedback to inform enterprise AI/LLM product development.
• Demonstrated ability to lead change management initiatives involving digital adoption in R&D.

If you come across a role that intrigues you but doesn’t perfectly line up with your resume, we encourage you to apply anyway. You could be one step away from work that will transform your life and career.

The starting compensation range(s) for this role are listed above for a full-time employee (FTE) basis. Additional incentive cash and stock opportunities (based on eligibility) may be available. The starting pay rate takes into account characteristics of the job, such as required skills, where the job is performed, the employee’s work schedule, job-related knowledge, and experience. Final, individual compensation will be decided based on demonstrated experience. 

Eligibility for specific benefits listed on our careers site may vary based on the job and location. For more on benefits, please visit https://careers.bms.com/life-at-bms/.

Benefit offerings are subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable plans then in effect and may include the following: Medical, pharmacy, dental and vision care. Wellbeing support such as the BMS Living Life Better program and employee assistance programs (EAP). Financial well-being resources and a 401(K). Financial protection benefits such as short- and long-term disability, life insurance, supplemental health insurance, business travel protection and survivor support. Work-life programs include paid national holidays and optional holidays, Global Shutdown Days between Christmas and New Year’s holiday, up to 120 hours of paid vacation, up to two (2) paid days to volunteer, sick time off, and summer hours flexibility. Parental, caregiver, bereavement, and military leave. Family care services such as adoption and surrogacy reimbursement, fertility/infertility benefits, support for traveling mothers, and child, elder and pet care resources. Other perks like tuition reimbursement and a recognition program.

Uniquely Interesting Work, Life-changing Careers
With a single vision as inspiring as “Transforming patients’ lives through science™ ”, every BMS employee plays an integral role in work that goes far beyond ordinary. Each of us is empowered to apply our individual talents and unique perspectives in a supportive culture, promoting global participation in clinical trials, while our shared values of passion, innovation, urgency, accountability, inclusion and integrity bring out the highest potential of each of our colleagues.

On-site Protocol

BMS has an occupancy structure that determines where an employee is required to conduct their work. This structure includes site-essential, site-by-design, field-based and remote-by-design jobs. The occupancy type that you are assigned is determined by the nature and responsibilities of your role:

Site-essential roles require 100% of shifts onsite at your assigned facility. Site-by-design roles may be eligible for a hybrid work model with at least 50% onsite at your assigned facility. For these roles, onsite presence is considered an essential job function and is critical to collaboration, innovation, productivity, and a positive Company culture. For field-based and remote-by-design roles the ability to physically travel to visit customers, patients or business partners and to attend meetings on behalf of BMS as directed is an essential job function.

BMS is dedicated to ensuring that people with disabilities can excel through a transparent recruitment process, reasonable workplace accommodations/adjustments and ongoing support in their roles. Applicants can request a reasonable workplace accommodation/adjustment prior to accepting a job offer. If you require reasonable accommodations/adjustments in completing this application, or in any part of the recruitment process, direct your inquiries to adastaffingsupport@bms.com. Visit careers.bms.com/eeo-accessibility to access our complete Equal Employment Opportunity statement.

BMS cares about your well-being and the well-being of our staff, customers, patients, and communities. As a result, the Company strongly recommends that all employees be fully vaccinated for Covid-19 and keep up to date with Covid-19 boosters.

BMS will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records, pursuant to applicable laws in your area.

If you live in or expect to work from Los Angeles County if hired for this position, please visit this page for important additional information: https://careers.bms.com/california-residents/

Any data processed in connection with role applications will be treated in accordance with applicable data privacy policies and regulations.