Project Manager

We are rebuilding biotech for the AI era.
When a breakthrough is delayed, the world waits. Getting a molecule from discovery to patients, or a crop from lab to field, involves thousands of slow, manual, disconnected steps. AI has the potential to change this, compressing decades of R&D work into years. But that only happens when clean, structured scientific data and AI are built into how science gets done.
Benchling is the AI platform for biotech R&D. Scientists use Benchling to design experiments, capture structured data, and run AI agents and models directly in their workflows. Over 200,000 scientists around the world trust Benchling to power their most important work, from academic labs to Sanofi, Moderna, and more than half of the world's top 50 biopharma.
We’re building an AI scientist for our customers. We can’t do that if we haven’t built the muscle ourselves. AI fluency is the foundation we build on; it's core to how we work, and we're committed to helping every new hire integrate it into their day-to-day. As part of our interview process, you'll complete a brief AI-focused exercise or discussion so we can understand how you think about and use AI to drive impact in your role. Feel free to reference any tools, platforms, or workflows you use today.

Benchling is looking for an experienced Project Manager to join our Enterprise Professional Services team. In this key role, you will work with our Global Program Managers and internal partners in Customer Experience and Sales to execute the successful implementation of the Benchling platform for our enterprise clients.

These implementations are technically and organizationally complex, often spanning multiple geographic regions over a 1-2 year period. In this position, you will have a key operational role in our implementation projects, responsible for core PM activities (e.g., resource management, staffing, timeline and budget, status reporting, etc.). You will serve as a critical point of contact for our enterprise clients and will often be working with and even managing external partners.

With our rapid growth trajectory, this is an excellent opportunity to have a foundational impact on operational efficiency and success of our team in delivering value to our customers. This will be a key role in the ongoing growth of Benchling!

You are an experienced software project manager who has worked on multiple medium to large-scale software implementations (often at the same time). You partner well cross-functionally, are able to communicate clearly and help drive projects to completion. You enjoy constantly being challenged, solving problems and establishing processes that make both your and other’s lives easier. You are a consummate teammate, outstandingly organized, and strive to make valuable contributions to projects and our broader company.

• Apply Benchling Implementation Methodology (BIM) to drive project operations and optimize team members’ time and efficiency in delivering project goals.

• Work with enterprise and strategic account teams to ensure projects are delivered on time or early, as well as at or below budget.

• Liaise with customer PMOs to ensure best practices across the partnership and provide guidance to ensure Benchling project success.

• Enable Global Program Managers and Account Executives on enterprise programs to be focused on strategic delivery and expansion while you drive project day to day operations.

• Lead the activities of the Benchling project team and drive execution of the project plan.

• Set clear expectations with internal and external team members, and hold them accountable for schedules and project results.

• Lead customer escalations, diagnose project issues and risks, develop contingency plans, and implement changes to drive risk mitigation.

• Actively handle project financials, including team utilization, budget vs actual hours, project margin, travel and other expenses. Serve as an internal partner to the Benchling financial organization.

Familiarity with the systems development life cycle (SDLC) and standard software implementation methodologies (i.e. agile/scrum methodology, waterfall, and hybrids)

• Demonstrated successful software project management experience and training with >2 years experience (PM) in the life sciences R&D industry

• At least 3 years of software implementation experience, preferably with a SaaS software company

• BA or BS in Biology, Molecular Biology, Genetics, Biotechnology, Bioengineering or similar life science field preferred, or equivalent professional experience working with Life Sciences R&D processes and/or healthcare technology

• Experience using advanced collaboration and task-centric tools (e.g. Smartsheet, Slack, Salesforce, MS Project, etc.)

• Experience building out new processes, tools and communicating these out to an organization

• Experience leveraging AI tools to optimize or automate project management tasks

• Exceptional communication and organizational skills; comfortable presenting in high pressure settings

• Strong work ethic, multi-tasking and time management

• Proven skills at contingency planning

• Experience in managing customer expectations

• Working knowledge of software delivery risk management

• Ability to work at customer sites, or in the Zurich office based on customer and project needs. Expected travel 25%.

We offer a flexible hybrid work arrangement that prioritizes in-office collaboration. Employees are expected to be on-site 3 days per week (Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday).

Full-time employees outside the U.S. enjoy a comprehensive benefits program tailored to their region of residence.

Benchling takes a market-based approach to pay. The candidate's starting pay will be determined based on job-related skills, experience, qualifications, interview performance, and work location.

#LI-Hybrid #BI-Hybrid #LI-TD1

Benchling welcomes everyone.

We believe diversity enriches our team so we hire people with a wide range of identities, backgrounds, and experiences.
We are an equal opportunity employer. That means we don’t discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We also consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records, consistent with applicable federal, state and local law, including but not limited to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance.