Associate Project Director, GRAPS

Ascendis Pharma

. Lead assigned GRAPS projects and programs from definition through closeout .

Posted 9/25/2026full-timePrinceton • New Jersey • United StatesLead💰 $180,000 - $190,000 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in project and program management within highly regulated industries, focusing on cross-functional delivery, stakeholder engagement, and governance. Proficient in developing integrated project plans, monitoring execution, and preparing executive-level communications.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Project Management PracticesRegulatory Affairs ExperienceExecutive Dashboard PreparationStakeholder ManagementProject Management Certification

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Project ManagementDrug Development KnowledgeBudget ManagementRisk ManagementChange ControlData AnalysisResource PlanningGxP ComplianceAgile MethodologiesProcess Improvement

Soft Skills

Analytical ThinkingEffective CommunicationCollaborationCultural AwarenessInfluencing Skills

Tools & Technologies

Microsoft 365Project Management ToolsDashboarding SoftwareCollaboration PlatformsKnowledge Management Systems

Certifications & Qualifications

PMPPRINCE2Agile Certification

Industry Keywords

PharmaceuticalBiotechnologyRegulatory OperationsPharmacovigilancePatient Safety

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

PMP

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Lead assigned GRAPS projects and programs from definition through closeout
Translate strategic priorities into integrated roadmaps and sequenced execution plans
Maintain a consolidated view of the GRAPS project portfolio, capacity constraints, interdependencies, and required decisions
Facilitate project initiation, prioritization, stage reviews, lessons learned, and benefits realization
Establish and run proportionate governance, including core teams, steering forums, decision logs, action tracking, and escalation pathways
Develop and maintain integrated project plans, critical paths, resource assumptions, budgets, RAID logs, and change controls
Monitor execution against scope, schedule, quality, cost, and expected outcomes; identify issues and drive recovery plans
Prepare executive dashboards, status reports, decision memos, and recommendations
Coordinate stakeholders across Regulatory Affairs, Patient Safety, Clinical Development, Medical Affairs, Quality, IT, Finance, HR, Legal, Procurement, and external partners
Clarify roles, accountabilities, interfaces, and handoffs using RACI or equivalent tools
Facilitate complex workshops and working sessions to align stakeholders, resolve ambiguity, and convert discussion into decisions and actions
Communicate proactively and tailor content for executive, technical, and operational audiences across cultures and time zones
Standardize, simplify, and scale GRAPS processes, templates, tools, and operating practices
Partner with process owners and Quality to support GxP, regulatory, pharmacovigilance, documentation, training, inspection-readiness, and records-management requirements
Use data and trend analysis to monitor performance, identify root causes, and recommend sustainable improvements
Support adoption of digital project-management, collaboration, dashboarding, workflow, and knowledge-management capabilities
Coordinate resource planning and surface trade-offs requiring leadership action
Support vendor selection, statements of work, onboarding, purchase-order coordination, deliverable oversight, and performance monitoring
Develop stakeholder and change-impact assessments, communication plans, readiness activities, and adoption measures
Provide direction, coaching, and project-methodology support to workstream leads and junior project-management colleagues; may lead contractors or matrixed team members
Deliver projects with agreed scope, governance, milestones, risk controls, measurable outcomes, and timely escalation

Requirements

What you’ll need

Bachelor’s degree in life sciences, business, project management, engineering, or a related discipline
Advanced degree preferred
Typically 8 or more years of relevant experience in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or other highly regulated industry
Substantial responsibility for cross-functional project or program delivery
Experience leading small-to-medium complex projects or major workstreams with functional-management stakeholders and limited day-to-day supervision
Working knowledge of drug development and commercialization
Experience in Regulatory Affairs, Pharmacovigilance/Patient Safety, Quality, Regulatory Operations, or adjacent functions strongly preferred
Command of project and program management practices, including scope, schedule, resources, budget, dependencies, risks, issues, change, governance, and benefits management
Experience preparing executive-ready dashboards, status reports, decision materials, and presentations using Microsoft 365 and relevant project-management or reporting tools
Project-management certification such as PMP, PRINCE2, or equivalent preferred
Agile or change-management training is an advantage
Enterprise mindset and patient focus
Advanced stakeholder-management and influencing skills, including alignment and accountability without formal authority
Structured, analytical, and detail-oriented approach
Ability to simplify complexity, frame options, recommend a path forward, and communicate decisions clearly
Comfort operating in ambiguity, managing competing priorities, and adapting plans
Collaborative, inclusive, culturally aware, and effective in a global matrix environment
High integrity, discretion, ownership, transparent communication, and follow-through
Ability to travel domestically and internationally up to approximately 10%

Benefits

Comp & perks

401(k) plan with company match
Medical, dental, and vision plans
Company-offered Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) insurance
Company-provided short and long-term disability benefits
Unique offerings of Pet Insurance and Legal Insurance
Employee Assistance Program
Employee Discounts
Professional Development
Health Saving Account (HSA)
Flexible Spending Accounts
Various incentive compensation plans
Accident, Critical Illness, and Hospital Indemnity Insurance
Mental Health resources
Paid leave benefits for new parents
Discretionary annual bonus or incentive compensation plan eligibility
Discretionary stock-based long-term incentives
Paid time off
Comprehensive benefits package
Remote or hybrid work arrangement in the US or EU
Travel domestically and internationally up to approximately 10%