Program Manager

University of California, San Francisco•San Francisco, CA

10d

About The Position

The ALBA Language Neurobiology Lab and the UCSF Dyslexia Center, housed within the Memory and Aging Center in the UCSF Department of Neurology, operate under shared leadership and advance research, education, innovation, and translational initiatives. The Program Manager provides strategic and operational leadership across this multidisciplinary portfolio and serves as a key partner to the Director. The role translates strategic priorities into coordinated plans and oversees initiatives from concept through development, implementation, evaluation, and dissemination. The Program Manager establishes priorities and timelines; coordinates interdependent projects, teams, partnerships, and funding streams; monitors progress and resources; resolves barriers; and develops systems and processes that keep work organized and aligned. Working with the Director, faculty, researchers, staff, educators, technology and product teams, community partners, funders, and other stakeholders, the position coordinates the programs’ work, supports follow-through on decisions and commitments, strengthens collaboration, facilitates strategic partnerships, and communicates program accomplishments and impact. The role operates at both strategic and execution levels in a complex academic and research environment, building operational infrastructure and scalable systems as priorities and processes evolve.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in a related area and at least six years of experience, including five years in a lead or supervisory role, or equivalent experience and training.
Demonstrated experience managing complex projects or programs in an academic, research, healthcare, education, nonprofit, technology, or similarly multidisciplinary environment.
Ability to translate strategic objectives into actionable project and implementation plans.
Strong project and program management skills, including developing work plans, managing timelines, coordinating deliverables, identifying risks, and resolving barriers.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including synthesizing complex information and developing actionable recommendations.
Excellent written, verbal, interpersonal, and presentation skills.
Ability to work effectively with multidisciplinary teams and diverse internal and external stakeholders.
Ability to manage multiple complex priorities and deadlines independently, using sound judgment and accountability.
Proficiency with common project-management, collaboration, data, and productivity tools.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree, PhD, or other advanced degree in a relevant field.
Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or comparable project/program management training.
Experience managing academic or research programs within a leading research university, healthcare institution, or comparable organization.
Experience supporting neuroscience, cognitive science, education, learning sciences, child development, health, or related research.
Experience with translational research and/or implementation science.
Experience managing grants, contracts, subcontracts, program budgets, and/or externally funded initiatives.

Responsibilities

Direct day-to-day management of complex initiatives involving UCSF teams and external partners; develop project plans, milestones, and deliverables; track progress; and identify and resolve implementation barriers.
Coordinate implementation across research, education, product and technology, operations, and external organizations.
Help establish clear roles, responsibilities, decision rights, and communication structures for multidisciplinary teams.
Facilitate project and program meetings, including agenda development, decision tracking, documentation, and follow-up.
Coordinate competing priorities and adjust schedules, resources, and implementation plans as program needs, research findings, or funding conditions change.
Conduct post-implementation reviews and analysis to identify opportunities for improvement, refinement, and scale; promote consistent project-management and implementation practices across the Lab.
Coordinate internal and external stakeholders and maintain productive relationships with UCSF faculty and staff, academic collaborators, schools and educators, community organizations, technology and industry partners, funders, government entities, and others.
Coordinate collaborations across organizational boundaries to align objectives, responsibilities, deliverables, and timelines.
Support the Director in developing strategic partnerships and funding opportunities; represent the Director in meetings, working groups, presentations, conferences, and other external engagements when requested.
Facilitate stakeholder communication when priorities or perspectives differ and help develop practical paths forward.
Translate the Lab’s scientific and programmatic vision into strategic priorities, implementation plans, milestones, and measurable outcomes in partnership with faculty and Lab leadership.
Plan and coordinate a portfolio of multidisciplinary research, education, technology, and other initiatives; maintain integrated program roadmaps, work plans, timelines, decision frameworks, and accountability structures.
Identify dependencies, risks, resource constraints, and opportunities across programs and recommend solutions to Lab leadership.
Support long-term program planning and develop operational policies, procedures, and systems; ensure projects align with Lab, departmental, institutional, and funding objectives.
Develop and oversee operational systems for the research program; coordinate budgets, forecasts, contracts, subcontracts, purchasing, staffing needs, and other resources with UCSF administrative teams.
Monitor expenditures and resource allocation against priorities and funding requirements; coordinate deliverables, reporting requirements, timelines, and partner obligations for grant-funded and externally funded initiatives.
Develop and maintain documentation, workflows, policies, standard operating procedures, and program-management systems; identify opportunities to improve efficiency, communication, quality, and accountability.
Support planning for staffing, vendors, consultants, space, technology, and other resources.
Develop reports, presentations, executive summaries, program updates, and other materials for internal and external audiences.
Track program milestones, outcomes, risks, and impact and communicate them to Lab leadership and stakeholders.
Support presentations, meetings, conferences, seminars, and dissemination activities; contribute to proposals, partnership materials, funding opportunities, and initiatives supporting long-term sustainability and growth.