Manager Research Project C

Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania•Philadelphia, PA

5d•$80,891 - $113,000

About The Position

The Opportunity for Health Lab in the University of Pennsylvania’s Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy studies economic opportunity as a driver of health. Using rigorous experimental and quasi-experimental designs, the lab evaluates policies, programs, and partnerships intended to expand economic opportunity and improve health and well-being, including large-scale community-based studies with external partners. The Manager Research Project C serves as the lab’s operational lead, partnering with the Principal Investigator to plan, launch, and manage the research portfolio. The position provides operational oversight for a large, multi-year community health study conducted with an industry partner and is the partner’s primary operational contact. The manager oversees study implementation, budgets, staffing, regulatory compliance, and timelines; supervises research staff; leads grant planning and the launch of newly funded studies; and develops systems, procedures, and infrastructure to support efficient, high-quality work across multiple studies. The position also oversees the WORKS study, conducted with the Skills Initiative. This position is contingent upon grant funding.

Requirements

Master’s degree in public health, epidemiology, health policy, social sciences, or a related field and 5 to 7 years of related experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Demonstrated experience managing complex, multi-year research studies, including budgets, timelines, staffing, and regulatory (IRB) compliance.
Experience supervising, training, and mentoring research staff.
Experience with pre- and post-award grant management, including budget development and proposal preparation.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills and ability to work effectively with investigators, sponsors, and community partners.
Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities independently.

Nice To Haves

Experience with participant recruitment, engagement, and compensation in research settings.
Familiarity with Penn research administration systems and policies.
Experience managing several research budgets and accounts simultaneously, including sponsored, start-up, and discretionary funds, with multi-year projections.
Proficiency with REDCap, Qualtrics, or similar research platforms, and with data visualization or project tracking tools.

Responsibilities

Provide operational oversight of studies in the lab’s portfolio.
Oversee day-to-day research operations, timelines, and resources across the portfolio; build tracking systems, dashboards, and standard operating procedures.
Manage pre- and post-award budgets and ensure compliance with sponsor, University, school, and IRB policies.
Supervise, train, and mentor research staff; lead hiring, onboarding, and staffing plans.
Lead grant planning and submissions and the launch of newly funded studies.
Lead regulatory planning, including IRB submissions and ongoing compliance.
Support strategic planning, partnership development, reporting, and lab communications.
Serve as the primary operational point of contact for the industry partner.

Benefits

Comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits.
Flexible spending accounts for eligible health care and dependent care expenses.
Tuition assistance for employees, spouses, and dependent children at Penn; dependent children may also receive assistance at other institutions.
Basic, matching, and supplemental retirement plans, with pre-tax or Roth savings options.
Substantial time away from work.
Long-term care insurance.
Wellness and work-life programs and resources.
Professional and personal development resources.
Access to University resources, including libraries, athletic facilities, cultural activities, and recreational activities.
Discounts and special services, including arts, entertainment, transportation, and other goods and services.
Flexible work options and hours.
Forgivable home-ownership loan for eligible employees buying a home or residing in West Philadelphia.
Adoption assistance for qualified expenses, for up to two adoptions in the household.