Program Manager

Date: 9 Sept 2026 Company: QualityAI Country/Region: IN Advanced AI Project Manager (Contractor)Location: Bengaluru, India / Hybrid Type: Contingent Worker / Contractor Level: Senior Contractor / Lead Project ManagerPosition OverviewEli Lilly is seeking an experienced Advanced AI Project Manager to lead strategic AI and Generative AI initiatives across business and technology functions. The contractor will be responsible for driving end-to-end delivery of AI products and platforms, managing cross-functional teams, aligning stakeholders, and ensuring successful execution of AI-enabled business transformation programs.The ideal candidate combines strong project management expertise with a solid understanding of AI, machine learning, Generative AI, cloud technologies, and Agile delivery practices.Key ResponsibilitiesLead planning, execution, and delivery of advanced AI and Generative AI projects.Manage project scope, schedule, budget, risks, dependencies, and stakeholder communications.Partner with business sponsors, product owners, architects, data scientists, and engineering teams to define project objectives and success metrics.Establish governance frameworks and reporting mechanisms for AI initiatives.Coordinate multiple workstreams across technology, business, compliance, security, and operations teams.Facilitate Agile ceremonies including sprint planning, backlog refinement, status reviews, and retrospectives.Track project milestones, KPIs, and value realization metrics.Identify and mitigate project risks, issues, and roadblocks.Ensure delivery aligns with Lilly technology standards, security requirements, and responsible AI governance principles.Drive vendor and partner coordination where external resources are involved.Support change management and user adoption activities for AI-powered solutions.Prepare executive-level status reports and presentations for leadership reviews.Required Skills & QualificationsBachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Technology, Business, or related discipline.8+ years of project or program management experience.3+ years managing AI, analytics, machine learning, data science, or Generative AI initiatives.Strong understanding of Agile, Scrum, and hybrid delivery methodologies.Experience managing cross-functional global teams.Demonstrated ability to manage complex technology programs with multiple stakeholders.Strong communication, facilitation, and executive presentation skills.Experience with Azure DevOps, Jira, Confluence, or equivalent project management tools.Excellent problem-solving and organizational capabilities.Preferred SkillsExperience delivering Large Language Model (LLM) or Generative AI solutions.Familiarity with Azure OpenAI, Copilot technologies, Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG), vector databases, and AI orchestration frameworks.Experience in pharmaceutical, healthcare, life sciences, or regulated industries.Understanding of AI governance, model risk management, and ethical AI frameworks.PMP, Agile, Scrum Master, or SAFe certifications.Experience managing globally distributed delivery teams.Exposure to cloud platforms including Microsoft Azure.Success Profile for this RoleWithin the first 6?12 months, the successful candidate will be expected to:Delivery ExcellenceSuccessfully lead multiple AI initiatives from planning through production deployment.Deliver committed milestones with strong predictability and stakeholder satisfaction.Improve project visibility through effective reporting and governance mechanisms.Stakeholder ManagementBuild trusted relationships with business leaders, technical teams, and external partners.Align diverse stakeholder groups around common objectives and priorities.Effectively manage executive communications and escalations.Operational ImpactAccelerate time-to-value for AI solutions supporting business outcomes.Improve delivery efficiency by implementing Agile best practices.Drive measurable adoption and business impact from deployed AI capabilities.Leadership BehaviorsDemonstrate proactive ownership and accountability.Foster collaboration across business and technology organizations.Champion innovation while ensuring compliance, quality, and risk management.Serve as a trusted advisor for AI program execution and governance.3 Must have Skills:Program Manager 4/5AI 4/5PMP / Agile 3/5