Academic Program Management Officer IV

University of California, San Francisco•San Francisco, CA

About The Position

The Quantitative Biosciences Institute (QBI) at UCSF seeks a Scientific Project Manager to manage and coordinate collaborative research initiatives across multiple investigators and scientific programs. Working with QBI leadership, Principal Investigators, and internal and external partners, this role independently oversees the planning, implementation, and ongoing management of multi-PI biomedical research programs and projects. The position manages timelines, milestones, deliverables, budgets, meetings, communications, and operational activities, and works to keep projects aligned with established goals and moving through completion. It identifies and resolves project dependencies and operational issues, supports program strategy and major initiatives, and represents QBI programs in interactions with collaborators and partners. The role also supports grant proposals and progress reporting, scientific meetings and conferences, program documentation, scientific writing, and funding-related activities. It requires independence, sound judgment, strong organizational and communication skills, and the ability to manage complex priorities and stakeholders in a collaborative research environment. QBI employees are expected to uphold accuracy, confidentiality, professionalism, research integrity, and respect for intellectual property and information sources. QBI advances collaborative, interdisciplinary research in biology and biomedicine, bringing together researchers across biomedical and physical sciences to apply quantitative approaches to biological questions and challenges related to human disease. The position directs and administers an independent program with responsibility for its administrative and programmatic activities. It partners with Principal Investigators, research teams, and QBI leadership to plan and deliver multi-investigator research programs; maintains program plans and project-management systems; coordinates funding proposals, budgets, meetings, reporting, and operational requirements; evaluates program effectiveness and resources; and supports strategic planning, interdisciplinary collaboration, compliance, scientific writing, and program-related events. The role works under the direction of a Principal Investigator to establish the center agenda, funding, and objectives.

Requirements

At least 5 years of progressively responsible project or program management experience; academic, research, biomedical, or similarly complex experience is preferred.
Demonstrated experience managing complex projects or programs with multiple stakeholders, workstreams, and competing deadlines.
Ability to develop and manage project plans, timelines, milestones, deliverables, dependencies, and priorities.
Experience coordinating collaborative projects involving faculty, researchers, leadership, and internal or external partners.
Advanced organizational and project-management skills, including managing concurrent priorities and driving projects to completion.
Advanced written and verbal communication skills, including preparing and editing reports, presentations, proposals, and complex program materials.
Advanced interpersonal skills and ability to build effective working relationships across diverse teams and organizational levels.
Ability to exercise independent judgment, identify complex programmatic or operational issues, and develop appropriate solutions or recommendations.
Ability to analyze and synthesize information from multiple sources and communicate key findings, risks, and recommendations.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, and project-management or collaboration tools.
Terminal degree in a related area (PhD, JD, MD, etc.) and/or equivalent experience or training.

Nice To Haves

Experience managing or coordinating multi-investigator or multi-institutional research programs.
Experience with federally funded research programs, including grant proposals, progress reporting, or sponsor deliverables.
Experience working with NIH or other federal research sponsors.
Experience supporting program budgets, resource planning, or financial tracking with finance teams.
Experience with scientific or technical writing, editing, or communication.
Experience organizing scientific meetings, conferences, workshops, or other collaborative forums.
Familiarity with biomedical research environments and research-related administrative or compliance processes.
Experience developing project-management tools, processes, templates, dashboards, or reporting systems.
Project-management certification, such as PMP, CAPM, or equivalent.

Responsibilities

Direct and administer an independent program, with responsibility for administrative and programmatic activities.
Partner with Principal Investigators, research teams, and QBI leadership to plan and drive multi-investigator research programs through completion.
Develop and maintain program plans, timelines, milestones, deliverables, and dependencies across scientific projects and cores.
Identify risks, delays, and cross-project dependencies and work with program leadership on mitigation strategies.
Implement program-management processes and tools supporting QBI operational and strategic objectives.
Identify and pursue public, private, philanthropic, and collaborative funding opportunities and revenue streams.
Coordinate complex multi-investigator proposal development, including timelines, required materials, and investigator contributions; support renewal and continuation-funding planning.
Participate in advanced program budgeting and accounting processes and coordinate project deadlines, proposals, reports, manuscripts, meetings, and other deliverables.
Plan and facilitate project, leadership, and center-wide meetings, including agendas, materials, documentation, decisions, and follow-up.
Maintain project-management systems and documentation that provide visibility into program status, priorities, responsibilities, and deadlines.
Coordinate operational needs across participating laboratories and collaborating organizations.
Assess program effectiveness and recommend changes to program content, policies, and procedures.
Monitor project scope, milestones, resource commitments, and program outcomes; use tools and reporting to identify bottlenecks, risks, dependencies, and coordination opportunities.
Work with QBI finance and program leadership to monitor resources and identify potential budget or resource adjustments.
Prepare program summaries, reports, and presentations for Program Directors, collaborators, sponsors, and other stakeholders.
Participate in committees, leadership meetings, and planning activities; support program priorities, renewal strategies, and future initiatives.
Represent QBI programs in interactions with internal and external collaborators as appropriate.
Manage financial and HR resources and work with QBI finance, HR, research administration, legal, communications, and other UCSF offices to address program needs.
Develop and maintain project-management processes, templates, tools, and documentation, and coordinate administrative and operational requirements across research teams.
Facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration and coordinate communications and deliverables among scientific teams, administrative functions, and outside constituencies.
Coordinate with institutional offices to support sponsor, institutional, and research compliance, and ensure documentation and deliverables meet applicable requirements and deadlines.
Provide scientific writing, editing, and coordination support for proposals, progress reports, presentations, manuscripts, and other program materials.
Support scientific conferences, workshops, and other program-related events and communications; participate in professional conferences and provide public relations support.