Job Title Senior Program & Strategy Manager, Consumer Eyecare
Location Birmingham, UK
Division Consumer Markets
Reports to Head of Global Business & Operations, Consumer Eyecare
Contract Permanent, Full-time (Hybrid - 3 days per week in office)
The Senior Program & Strategy Manager, Consumer Eyecare
* Owns end-to-end program governance and the integrated timeline and critical path to deliver Consumer Eyecare launch readiness across regions (Global/US/China) and workstreams, ensuring disciplined execution on the critical path
* Enables timely decision-making through stage-gate readiness, clear escalation, and reporting
* Aligns internal functions and external partners to deliver on time, within budget, and in full compliance with regulatory and quality requirements
Responsibilities
* Own the integrated timeline: Build and maintain the timeline and critical path; ensure consistency/quality of workstream plans; manage dependencies and the critical path
* Run program governance end-to-end: SteerCos, weekly/bi-weekly cadences, workstream reviews, risk reviews; standardized agendas, pre-reads, minutes, action tracking, and follow-ups
* Drive cross-functional and cross-regional alignment: Align functions and teams, proactively resolve blockers, accelerate decisions
* Institutionalize RAID management and mitigation tracking: ensure risks/issues are surfaced early, owned, and actively closed
* Drive stage-gate readiness: Orchestrate gate deliverables, coordinate cross-functional inputs, and ensure timely delivery & decisions
* Manage external partners and timelines (e.g., contract manufacturers): Together with Procurement, manage and track delivery, cost, and timing of external partners
* Support financial steering: Track cost center spends vs. plan, support forecasting, and quantify execution impacts (delay cost, scope changes)
* Lead quarterly OKR planning and review cycles across functions and regions: Ensure measurable outcomes, accountability, and transparent progress reporting
* Institutionalize ways of working: Templates, standards, routines, playbooks, and lessons learned to scale the Consumer Eyecare PMO
Required Knowledge & Experience
* Proven experience in program/project management experience in complex, cross-functional environments; Consumer Healthcare/OTC/Pharma strongly preferred (MedTech or related industries)
* Proven track record delivering multi-country product launches and/or large-scale programs with measurable outcomes (time, cost, quality)
* Strong governance and execution experience: integrated planning, RAID discipline, action management, escalation judgment, and executive-ready reporting
* Experience with stage-gate governance and driving gate readiness, decision materials, and go/no-go recommendations
* Ability to drive accountability; excellent stakeholder management across functions, regions, and seniority levels
* Strong dependency management and structured problem-solving; comfortable translating ambiguity into executable plans
* External vendor/partner management experience (multi-party delivery, SOW governance, performance tracking)Advanced proficiency with project management and reporting tools (e.g., Smartsheet/MS Project), plus advanced skills in MS PowerPoint/ Excel
* High-quality written and verbal communication; able to synthesize complex inputs into clear management narratives
* Comfortable operating across time zones and cultures; high reliability, ownership mindset, and resilience under pressure
Diversity is a part of ZEISS. We look forward to receiving your application regardless of gender, nationality, ethnic and social origin, religion, philosophy of life, disability, age, sexual orientation or identity.