Location: Anderlecht(Hybrid)
Languages: English
Employment Type: Freelance
Start Date: ASAP
Context of the mission/objective(s) of the job
We are seeking an experienced Delivery Lead / Program Manager to oversee large-scale Pharma R&D Digital Platform programs, specifically managing global CMS solutions (Drupal-based platforms) and their transformation to MaCH architecture (Contentful,, Vercel). The role requires a seasoned leader with strong delivery governance, stakeholder management, risk mitigation, and budget management capabilities.
The Delivery Lead will be responsible for end-to-end program execution across 150+ global websites, ensuring compliance with pharma regulations (privacy, accessibility, SEO) while managing teams.
Responsibilities
Program & project management
Manage the delivery of 150+ Drupal-based websites and oversee their migration to MaCH-based architecture.
Define, plan, and execute project roadmaps including intake, scoping, estimation, delivery, and hypercare.
Oversee development, QA, UAT, deployment, and support phases ensuring high-quality delivery.
Implement risk-adjusted timelines to account for delays while maintaining delivery predictability.
Lead project intake and pipeline management, ensuring prioritization aligns with client's global roadmap.
Stakeholder management
Act as the primary interface with stakeholders (IT owners, Brand, Medical, Compliance, Affiliate teams).
Manage governance meetings with bi-monthly demand reviews, ensuring alignment of resource and project planning.
Communicate effectively with executive leadership, providing project status, risks, and mitigation strategies.
Collaborate with agency partners, QA leads, and functional owners to align deliverables.
Budget & resource management
Manage program budgets including quarterly forecasts, allocation, and variance reporting.
Track budget consumption and provide clear justifications for overages (e.g., additional clean-up, scope changes).
Optimize resource planning across internal teams, vendors, and flex resources to avoid idle time and bottlenecks.
Drive cost-efficiency while ensuring delivery excellence.
Risk & Compliance Management
Identify risks early and establish risk mitigation strategies.
Ensure websites comply with WCAG accessibility standards, GDPR/privacy, SEO, and security best practices.
Coordinate with Security teams to address vulnerabilities and ensure compliance with SLAs.
Provide Level 2 & Level 3 support governance and ensure 24/7 incident management for P1/P2 issues.
Leadership & team management
Lead cross-functional delivery teams across Development, QA, DevOps, and Hypercare.
Mentor and guide technical leads and developers, ensuring blockers are addressed timely.
Drive collaboration between offshore, nearshore, and onsite teams.
Requirements
Qualifications & experience
Education: Bachelor's in Engineering / Computer Science / IT or equivalent
Experience: 10+ years in IT Program & Delivery Management with at least 5 years in Pharma R&D digital platforms
Proven experience with CMS platforms (Drupal, WordPress) and large-scale CMS migrations to MaCH architecture
Strong understanding of ITIL, ITSM processes (Incident, Change, Release, Problem Management)
Demonstrated experience in budget management (multi-million EUR programs)
Skilled in managing multi-vendor programs and global stakeholder governance
Key competencies
Project & Program Management: Governance, planning, delivery tracking
Budget Management: Forecasting, cost optimization, reporting
Risk Mitigation: Proactive identification, dependency management, issue resolution
Stakeholder Management: Executive communication, affiliate alignment, partner management
Business Analysis: Translating requirements into delivery roadmaps
Pharma R&D Knowledge: Exposure to clinical, medical, and regulatory requirements
Resource Management: Capacity planning, team leadership, vendor coordination
Technical skills
Project & Delivery Tools: Jira, Azure DevOps, ServiceNow, HPSM, Office 365
CMS & Digital: Drupal, WordPress, Contentful,, Vercel
Database & Reporting: Oracle, MySQL, Power BI
Monitoring & Automation: Splunk, Dynatrace
Frameworks & Standards: ITIL, ITSM, Agile (Scrum, Kanban), WCAG, GDPR compliance
Soft skills
Strong communication and presentation skills with executive presence
Ability to balance business priorities, technical feasibility, and budget constraints
Collaborative leadership style with focus on mentorship and team empowerment
Problem-solving mindset with focus on delivery excellence