Preparing for an interview at UCB requires a strategic approach that balances your technical project management expertise with your interpersonal and communication skills. You should be ready to demonstrate how your past experiences translate directly to the challenges of the biopharmaceutical sector.

Role-Related Knowledge – You must demonstrate a strong command of project management methodologies (such as Agile, Waterfall, or hybrid frameworks). While deep scientific expertise is not always mandatory for every PM role, having a solid understanding of the drug development lifecycle, clinical trials, or GxP regulatory frameworks will significantly set you apart.

Stakeholder Management & Influence – UCB operates in a matrixed organizational structure where project managers must influence without formal authority. Be prepared to share concrete examples of how you have successfully aligned diverse, cross-functional teams, navigated corporate hierarchies, and built trust with senior leaders and external partners.

Problem-Solving & Risk Mitigation – Interviewers will closely evaluate how you anticipate, identify, and manage project risks. You should structure your examples using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result), with a strong emphasis on your proactive risk-mitigation strategies and how you handle unexpected project bottlenecks.

Active Listening & Communication – Candidates who have interviewed at UCB's European offices emphasize that active listening is a highly scrutinized skill during the process. You must show that you can listen attentively to stakeholder needs, ask clarifying questions, and adapt your communication style to suit both technical and non-technical audiences.

The interview process for a Project Manager at UCB typically spans several weeks and is structured to evaluate your technical competency, cultural fit, and behavioral alignment. While the exact flow can vary slightly by location—such as Brussels, Slough, or Boston—the overall structure remains consistent and thorough.

The journey begins with an initial screening call, which is often conducted by an in-house talent acquisition specialist or an external recruiting partner (such as Randstad in European markets). This conversation is designed to verify your qualifications, discuss your salary expectations, and assess your high-level interest in UCB. Following a successful screen, you will progress to a series of one-on-one or small panel interviews. These rounds typically consist of three to four separate interviews, each lasting approximately 30 to 45 minutes, conducted by the hiring manager, human resources, and key cross-functional peers.

The overall difficulty of the process is generally rated as average, with a strong focus on classic project management scenarios and behavioral questions rather than highly technical or abstract case studies. However, candidates should be prepared for potential communication delays post-interview, as feedback timelines can sometimes stretch to two weeks or more depending on the regional office and the number of active candidates.

The visual timeline above outlines the typical progression of the UCB hiring process from application to offer. Candidates should use this timeline to pace their preparation, ensuring they are fully ready for the behavioral and peer-level rounds immediately after passing the initial recruiter screen. Keep in mind that while some regions move quickly, others may require proactive follow-up to navigate delays between stages.

To excel in your UCB interviews, you must understand the specific competencies that the hiring team evaluates at each stage. Your interviewers will look for evidence of your capability in three core areas.

Project Execution & Lifecycle Management

This area evaluates your ability to initiate, plan, execute, monitor, and close projects systematically. Interviewers want to see that you do not just react to events, but that you establish robust structures to keep projects on course.

Be ready to go over:

• Scope and Schedule Management – How you define project boundaries, manage work breakdown structures, and maintain realistic timelines.
• Resource and Budget Tracking – Your experience forecasting project resource needs and managing financial allocations.
• Project Governance – How you establish clear roles and responsibilities (such as RACI matrices) to ensure accountability across the team.

Example scenarios:

• "Explain how you would get a critical project back on track if it fell two weeks behind schedule due to resource constraints."
• "Describe your process for managing a project budget when unexpected vendor costs arise mid-way through the execution phase."

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Influence

Because UCB relies heavily on matrixed teams, your ability to collaborate across organizational boundaries is critical. You must prove that you can unite scientists, regulatory experts, and commercial teams under a shared project goal.

Be ready to go over:

• Influencing Without Authority – Strategies for motivating team members who do not report directly to you.
• Cross-Cultural Communication – Experience working with global teams and managing cultural nuances in communication.
• Conflict Resolution – Your approach to resolving disagreements regarding project priorities or resource allocation.

Example scenarios:

• "Tell me about a time you had to lead a project team composed of members from different departments who had conflicting priorities."
• "How do you ensure that quieter team members or remote stakeholders are actively engaged and heard during project meetings?"

Risk Management & Regulatory Awareness

Managing projects in the biopharmaceutical space requires a high tolerance for ambiguity and a strict adherence to regulatory standards. You must show that you can navigate compliance requirements without sacrificing operational efficiency.

Be ready to go over:

• Proactive Risk Identification – How you perform risk assessments and build contingency plans early in the project lifecycle.
• Change Control Processes – Your methodology for evaluating, approving, and implementing changes to project baselines.
• Compliance and Quality Standards – Understanding how to execute projects within highly regulated environments (such as GxP, HIPAA, or local healthcare compliance laws).

Example scenarios:

• "Describe a time when a change in local regulations threatened to delay your project. How did you adapt your plan?"
• "What is your approach to building a comprehensive risk register for a high-stakes, multi-million dollar project?"

As a Project Manager at UCB, your day-to-day responsibilities will center on driving execution and maintaining alignment across complex, multi-layered initiatives. You will act as the central point of contact for your projects, ensuring that all stakeholders are informed, aligned, and empowered to deliver.

Your primary responsibilities will include:

• Developing detailed project charters, scope statements, and comprehensive project plans that align with UCB's strategic goals and patient-value focus.
• Facilitating regular project meetings, steering committee reviews, and workshops to drive decision-making and maintain momentum.
• Monitoring project progress against milestones, proactively identifying bottlenecks, and implementing corrective actions to keep deliverables on schedule.
• Managing project risks by maintaining dynamic risk registers, developing mitigation strategies, and escalating critical issues to leadership when necessary.
• Collaborating closely with finance and resource planning teams to track project spend, manage budgets, and optimize resource allocation.
• Serving as a key communicator, translating complex technical or scientific updates into clear, actionable progress reports for executive leadership and external partners.

To be competitive for a Project Manager position at UCB, you must demonstrate a strong foundation of professional project management experience, coupled with the soft skills necessary to thrive in a collaborative biotech environment.

• Must-have skills and qualifications:

  • A Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Life Sciences, Engineering, or a related field.
  • Proven experience managing complex, cross-functional projects, ideally within a matrixed corporate environment.
  • Exceptional communication, presentation, and active listening skills, with the ability to engage stakeholders at all levels of the organization.
  • Strong proficiency with project management software (such as MS Project, Jira, Asana, or Planisware) and collaboration tools.
  • A demonstrated ability to manage project budgets, resources, and risk mitigation strategies effectively.

• Nice-to-have skills and qualifications:

  • Professional project management certifications, such as PMP (Project Management Professional) or PRINCE2.
  • Prior experience working in the biopharmaceutical, biotechnology, or healthcare industries, with an understanding of GxP compliance or clinical trial processes.
  • Experience working within global, multicultural teams across multiple time zones.

Q: How difficult is the Project Manager interview process at UCB? A: The interview process is generally rated as average in difficulty. The questions are classic and straightforward, focusing primarily on your past project management experiences, behavioral scenarios, and communication style rather than highly technical or abstract tests.

Q: Do I absolutely need prior biotech or pharmaceutical experience to apply? A: While prior biotech or pharmaceutical experience is highly valued and preferred by some regional recruiters, candidates with strong, transferable project management skills from other complex or regulated industries (such as aerospace, healthcare, or technology) have successfully navigated the process. Focus on highlighting your ability to manage strict compliance standards, cross-functional teams, and complex risk environments.

Q: What is the typical timeline from the initial application to an offer? A: The timeline can vary significantly by location and department. Some candidates report a rapid process with prompt communication, while others have experienced delays of two weeks or more for final feedback. On average, you can expect the process to take between four to eight weeks from your initial screen to a final decision.

Q: Are the interviews conducted virtually or in person? A: Most initial screens and subsequent interview rounds are conducted virtually via phone or video conferencing platforms. Depending on the location and the seniority of the role, a final round may be conducted on-site to allow you to meet the team and tour the local office.

To maximize your chances of success during the UCB interview process, keep these practical, insider tips in mind:

• Emphasize Active Listening: During your interviews, focus heavily on active listening. Take a moment to fully digest the interviewer's questions before responding, and demonstrate empathy and collaborative thinking in your answers. UCB values leaders who listen as much as they direct.

• Prepare for the Biotech Context: If you do not have a background in biotechnology, proactively research UCB's core therapeutic areas (immunology and neurology) and familiarize yourself with basic industry terminology. This shows initiative and helps bridge any potential industry knowledge gaps.

• Structure Your Answers with STAR: Use the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) framework to keep your behavioral answers concise and structured. Focus heavily on the "Action" and "Result" phases, highlighting your specific contributions and the quantifiable business outcomes of your projects.

• Be Ready to Discuss Salary Early: Candidates in locations like Brussels have noted that salary expectations and contract negotiations are discussed relatively early in the process. Research market rates for project management roles in your target location beforehand so you can negotiate confidently.

Securing a Project Manager role at UCB is an exciting opportunity to drive meaningful projects that directly improve the lives of patients facing severe diseases. The role offers a dynamic mix of strategic planning, cross-functional leadership, and operational execution within a highly respected global biopharmaceutical company.

To succeed in this process, focus your preparation on mastering behavioral questions that highlight your stakeholder management, conflict resolution, and risk mitigation capabilities. Ensure you can articulate a clear, structured approach to project execution while demonstrating the empathy, adaptability, and active listening skills that are core to UCB's collaborative culture.

With focused preparation, clear communication, and a strong alignment with UCB's patient-centric mission, you can position yourself as an exceptional candidate. You can explore additional interview insights, community feedback, and preparation resources on Dataford to help you ace your upcoming interviews.

The salary data above provides insight into the typical compensation ranges for project management professionals at this level. When interpreting this data, consider how your specific geographic location, years of experience, and specialized certifications (such as a PMP) position you within this range, and use this information to guide your compensation discussions during the interview process.