Job Description

JOB SUMMARY

The Planning Analyst possesses a general knowledge of drug development, resource management concepts, associated business processes, and project planning software. Technical skills are critical to ensure effectiveness in maintaining quality timelines and plan attributes and ability to run reports to perform quality checks and communicate with stakeholder (e.g. Project Manager, Clinical Study Team Lead, Project Planner, Project Planning Lead) project schedule status and adhoc reporting. 

The Planning Data Analyst is responsible for the maintenance of high quality project schedules associated with the drug development teams supporting the operational/strategic delivery. He/she may support several different types of schedules in support of a clinical development plan, which may include but are not limited to: Asset by Indication, Clinical Studies, Product Level, Rest of World Submissions, Data Generation Projects.

The Planning Data Analyst may contribute to sub-team initiatives and playes an essential role in supporting the Resource And Planning Insights for Decisions (RAPID) ecxosystem by maintainining quality in plans, trouble shooting system issues, performing routine quality checks, testing new plan templates, system environment or functionalities.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

Responsible for maintaining quality and proper logic in project schedules in support of team deliverables,

R&D and Data Generating Portfolio. To effectively execute the primary responsibilities, the Planning Data Analyst must possess a comprehensive knowledge of the principles, concepts, and theories of schedule management.

The colleague executes his/her role by parterning with, Asset Project Managers (PM) to ensure accurate, integrated project planning at the medicine level, Clinical Study Team Lead (CSTL) to ensure accuracy of the study timeline, Project Planner or Project Planning Lead to ensure standards are accurately applied in plans to enable integrated planning model. The colleague is expected to apply

technical scheduling knowledge to contribute to the achievement of work team deliverables

Planning/Controlling (Schedule Management)

• Responsible for maintaining and reporting project schedule, cost & resource forecasst information to enable alignment of GPD, partner line schedules and FTE/dollar resources. These schedules include:
  • The cross-functional schedules (Product Group and Candidate Plans at maintenance priority status) that integrate schedule information across all lines supporting GPD at all stages of the development continuum.
  • Clinical study plans (Protocol Development to Final Clinical Study Report)
  • Rest of World Submission plans
  • Data Generation projects
• Identifies and raises schedule conflicts appropriately for Team resolution
• Directly participates in cross-functional and functional teams to review and collect information to update plans or generate cost estimates
• Monitors progress of project activities towards next project milestone and highlights potential variances with the Asset PM, Clinical Study Team Lead, Project Planner

Reporting

• Provides timely reporting to stakeholders (e.g. Asset Project Manager, Clinical Study Team Lead, Project Planner, Project Planning Lead, Integrated Planning System Lead, Portfolio & Project Management Leadership) to ensure regular information updates to project plans
• Utilizes available reporting and visualization tools to support governance and team reporting needs (e.g. OnePager, Business Objects, Spotfire).

Process and Quality

• Reviews own work regarding quality of schedule and plan metadata through utilization of quality reports and monitoring/management of such data with the team/line members
• Ensure project plans and associated meta data are current and reporting out accurately
• Contributes to continuous improvement of project plans, plan generation, plan utilization, and/or report creation/development processes
• Participates in testing and implementing new tools, applications, system features, and/or reporting/visualization
• Collaborates with colleagues to ensure cross-team, site learnings, and best practices are shared

QUALIFICATIONS / SKILLS

Education

• Bachelors level degree
• B.S. with 3+ years of experience
• Relevant certifications may be beneficial

Experience

• At least 3 years of experience in project planning and project management
• At least 3 years of applicable pharmaceutical industry experience or similar industry experience such as Clinical Research Organisation (CRO)

Knowledge

• Principles and practices of planning and ability to apply to managing schedules for projects
• Technical elements of scheduling with logic and interdependencies
• Principles data generating projects
• Drug Development terminologies, activities, and phases

Relevant Capabilities

• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification is preferred but not required
• Experienced in end-game/regulatory submission planning and/or product launch planning
• Trained/experienced with planning and resource forecasting tools (e.g., Planisware, Microsoft Project, Planview) will be preferred
• Trained/experienced user of reporting and software applications (e.g., Microsoft Office, OnePager Business Objects, Spotfire, Internet applications, and database management)
• Written and oral communication and interpersonal skills to effectively interact with stakeholders, explain thought process and procedures clearly
• Ability to review plans and apply Planning standards
• Ability to work on several projects and use proper judgement or input from supervisor for workload prioritization
• Ability to work independently or in a team environment as needed
• Ability to attend to details
• Ability to contribute in in-person and virtual team interactions/activities

OTHER INFORMATION

• Reports directly to a Regional Lead. A colleague at this level is expected to work independently yet typically receives guidance on complex problems and scenarios
• Works primarily in a cross-functional or matrixed team environment and is expected to ensure his/her work meets expected standards, but work may require review by team members or leadership
• Partners primarily with, Asset Project Managers (PM) to ensure accurate, integrated project planning at the medicine level, Clinical Study Team Lead (CSTL) to ensure accuracy of the study timeline, Project Planner or Project Planning Lead to ensure standards are accurately applied in plans to enable integrated planning model
• Meetings and interfaces with stakeholders are driven by Portfolio demand and availability requirement
• This role does not have budgetary responsibility or direct reports

Pfizer is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable equal employment opportunity legislation in each jurisdiction in which it operates.