Project Lead

We are looking for an experienced Project Lead, to manage internal projects with a global impact.

Uppsala Monitoring Centre (UMC) is a non-profit foundation established in 1978 through an agreement between the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Government of Sweden to oversee the technical and scientific operations of the WHO Programme for International Drug Monitoring. Our trusted pharmacovigilance products and services assist national regulatory authorities, the global pharmaceutical industry and other stakeholders to develop new medicines and vaccines and to actively monitor the use of medicines and vaccines already on the market. One of these products, WHODrug Global, is a drug dictionary used for drug coding of adverse event reports by several thousand pharmaceutical companies and Contract Research Organisations (CROs), among others, as well as leading regulatory authorities.

You will be a member of the External Engagement department at UMC, which focuses on providing our products and services to our several thousand external stakeholders. Together, the three sections within the department manage the entire customer journey, from generating awareness to setting up appropriate licences and renewals. Project management skills, as well as internal coordination, are essential in order to efficiently cater to our external stakeholders’ needs.

As Project Lead, you will significantly contribute to the quality and efficiency of the department's work. You will lead cross-functional projects aligned with the department's various responsibilities and goals. The projects you will lead may relate to, but are not restricted to, systems implementation, market research and improvements to the customer journey. You will also coordinate department-wide activities, such as forums, meetings, and workshops. Furthermore, you will actively collaborate with the managers within the department on our internal processes, aiming to continually enhance the quality and efficiency of our work.

What you will do

- Plan and lead projects within the External Engagement department, from start to finish, including developing project plans, milestone plans, communication plans, budgets, and schedules, while also organising project teams and meetings.
- Coordinate projects and activities with other departments at UMC.
- Develop, update, visualise, and communicate project plans in various internal forums at UMC.
- Support department projects by applying both analytical and clerical skills
- Lead and coordinate a department-wide forum for regular discussions about focus areas, as well as planned and ongoing projects.
- Coordinate department related activities, tasks, and workshops.
- Develop and drive internal processes to enhance overall efficiency, in collaboration with section managers.
- Support any other work topics that fall within the department’s responsibilities.

Who you are

- You have a bachelor's degree in a relevant field; a master's degree is a plus.
- You have at least five years documented and successful project management experience.
- You possess excellent written and verbal communication skills in English (minimum B2 level); proficiency in additional languages is an advantage.
- You have experience leading cross-functional groups.
- It is a plus if you have proven experience from the life sciences sector or other complex industries.
- You possess strong organisational and project management skills, demonstrating a systematic work approach, meticulous attention to detail, and a commitment to quality.
- You are a self-starter with a proactive and collaborative work style.
- You are an effective multitasker with adaptability to changing schedules and have a results-oriented mindset.
- You recognize the importance of building and maintaining positive relationships.
- You are open to stepping out of your comfort zone, undertaking new tasks, and expanding skill sets.


Uppsala Monitoring Centre (UMC) is a centre for international service and scientific research in the field of pharmacovigilance. We are the WHO Collaborating Centre for International Drug Monitoring, and manage the technical and operational aspects of the WHO Programme for International Drug Monitoring since 1978.

As an independent, non-profit foundation, we support the World Health Organization, regulatory authorities, and other stakeholders who share our vision of advancing medicines safety. Through research and development of new scientific methods, we explore the benefits and harms of medicines for patients, and offer products and services used by health authorities and the pharmaceutical industry worldwide

UMC’s working language is English. We normally apply a probationary period to new appointments.

UMC follows the collective agreements between the Swedish Agency for Government Employers and Saco-S and ST. Union representatives are Malin Zaar (Saco-S) and Jessica Avasol (ST), +46 (0)18-65 60 60.