Launch Manager

Position Title: Launch Manager

Work Location: Princeton, NJ

Assignment Duration: 12 Months

Work Arrangement: 50% onsite at PPK, NJ

Position Summary:

The Launch Manager is a dedicated, contract-based role embedded within a single brand's Core and Full Matrix launch teams. Working in close partnership with the Brand Lead, the Launch Manager is responsible for the day-to-day operational management of the launch: driving the launch plan, facilitating cross-functional governance, maintaining the Lx Playbook, and ensuring the team stays on track against the enterprise-wide Launch Excellence (Lx) roadmap - from Launch Initiation through Launch Planning & Execution and into Post-Launch. This role does not set brand strategy; it operationalizes it, ensuring the full matrix team (Medical, Marketing, Market Access, Regulatory, and other functions) executes against a well-governed, transparent, and continuously updated launch plan.

Key Responsibilities:

Launch Governance & Team Enablement

• Support the Brand Lead in forming the Launch Core and Full Matrix Teams, ensuring appropriate 3M (Medical, Marketing, Market Access) representation.
• Ensure all launch team members have access to, and are onboarded onto, the Lx Playbook and related Lx Resources.
• Schedule and support facilitation of all launch project meetings and workshops, ensuring content is prepared in advance by the Full Matrix Team.
• Establish and maintain core meeting cadences (Core Team, Full Matrix Team, and governance reviews) in line with the Lx Operational Guidance.
• Provide reports and dashboards that support decision-making and cross-functional communication for the Brand Lead and Senior Leadership.
• Support tangential launch-related projects in case someone is asked to manage something additional to the direct launch project (i.e. launch meeting, unblinding process, etc.) as requested by the brand/ launch lead

Launch Plan & Lx Playbook Management

• Own active, day-to-day management of the launch plan within the Lx Playbook, ensuring cross-functional deliverables, milestones, dates, and owners are accurate and continuously updated.
• Track launch-critical, regulatory, and reimbursement milestone dates and validate them regularly with the Brand Lead and functional leads.
• Monitor the Lx Playbook dashboard on a weekly basis, flagging at-risk items, interdependencies, and gaps proactively.
• Lead launch scenario and mitigation planning in collaboration with the Core Team.
• Provide ongoing navigation and utilization support to active team members

Prioritization Grid & Promotional Materials Coordination

• Collaborate with all MLR (Marketing, Legal, Regulatory) stakeholders to build and maintain the Prioritization Grid as the single source of truth for cross-functional promotional materials.
• Track status and progress of all launch materials, analyze the grid for gaps, and support the Promotional Materials Manager in day-to-day MLR review management, as needed.
• Partner with Marketing Ops Manager to support prioritization and force-ranking of materials ahead of Reconciliation reviews to enable on-time 'In Market'/'Go-Live' execution.

Key Meeting & Milestone Facilitation

• Schedule and co-facilitate (with the Brand Lead) the Full Matrix Team Kick-off Meeting, Walk the Walls Review, and Go-Live Readiness Review.
• Drive team preparation and follow-up for each milestone review, including agenda-setting, pre-read materials, and action-item tracking.
• Lead post-launch Reconciliation and 'In Market'/'Go-Live' tactic tracking, capturing actual go-live timing and reporting to the Full Matrix Team.
• Lead logistics for Post-Launch Command Center meetings, facilitating agenda development and pre-work status reporting across functions.
• Administer the post-launch Launch Review & Survey process, including survey distribution, results consolidation, and reporting to the Full Matrix Team.

Communication & Stakeholder Management

• Execute the launch communication plan, ensuring timely, accurate updates to Core and Matrix Teams at each stage of the launch (kickoff, tactics updates, milestone reviews, regulatory approval, go-live status).
• Act as a key liaison between the Brand Lead, Full Matrix Team, and the enterprise Lx Team for support, training, and best-practice guidance.

Qualification & Experience:

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field (Life Sciences, Business, Marketing, or related); advanced degree a plus.
• 5+ years of experience in pharmaceutical/biotech commercial operations, brand marketing, project management, or launch management.
• Demonstrated experience supporting or managing at least one product launch in a matrixed pharma/biotech environment.
• Strong project management skills, including experience with cross-functional milestone tracking tools/platforms (e.g., launch playbooks, Smartsheet, MS Project, or equivalent).
• Working knowledge of the pharmaceutical promotional review process (MLR/PRC) and standard launch governance practices.
• Excellent meeting facilitation, stakeholder management, and written/verbal communication skills.
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and comfortable driving accountability across functions without direct authority.

Preferred Qualifications

• PMP certification or formal project management training.
• Prior experience with BMS or a comparable enterprise Launch Excellence / launch playbook capability.
• Experience supporting launches across multiple markets/geographies.
• Familiarity with regulatory and reimbursement milestone tracking (e.g., FDA approval processes, HTA submissions).

Key Competencies

• Cross-functional collaboration and matrix influence
• Structured project and risk management
• Proactive communication and executive-ready reporting
• Attention to detail balanced with big-picture launch awareness
• Adaptability in a fast-paced, ambiguous, pre-commercial environment

Success Metrics

• Launch plan and Lx Playbook maintained at a high level of accuracy and currency (weekly updates, no missed critical dates).
• On-time execution of key governance meetings (Kick-off, Walk the Walls, Go-Live Readiness) per the recommended timeline.
• Minimal gaps or delays identified during Reconciliation and 'In Market'/'Go-Live' tracking.
• Positive feedback from Full Matrix Team via the post-launch Launch Review & Survey.

Additional Information:

Engagement Notes

This is a contracted, brand-dedicated engagement intended to provide focused operational bandwidth to a single launch team through the critical pre- and post-launch window. The Launch Manager will work under the direction of the Brand Lead and be in coordination with the Brand & Launch Excellence team, leveraging standard Lx tools, templates, and best practices. Scope, cadence, and specific deliverables should be tailored to the size, complexity, and resourcing of the assigned launch.