Project Manager, UVA Manning SPARK Program

UVA Health•Charlottesville, VA

10d•$115,000 - $125,000•Onsite

About The Position

The University of Virginia is seeking a Project Manager for the UVA Manning SPARK Program within the Paul and Diane Manning Institute of Biotechnology. A member of the Stanford SPARK GLOBAL network, UVA Manning SPARK advances promising academic discoveries toward new medicines. The Project Manager drives execution of a growing portfolio of early-stage drug discovery and development programs, advancing projects from academic discovery toward licensing, company formation, or clinical development. The role brings industry drug development discipline and execution rigor to academic science. The Project Manager works hands-on with SPARK investigators, industry advisors and mentors, contract research and development partners, and student teams, while partnering closely with the Institute’s Chief Operating Officer and Senior Project Manager of Operations. The position reports to the Chief Business and Strategy Officer and Director of the UVA Manning SPARK Program. It is fully onsite at the Manning Institute in Charlottesville, Virginia. The successful candidate pairs scientific credibility with operational rigor, earns the trust of investigators and advisors, and applies project management discipline pragmatically and thoughtfully without creating unnecessary bureaucracy. The incumbent is expected to model the Institute’s PIPES values: People First, Integrity, Patient Impact, Entrepreneurship, Scientific Excellence, and Stewardship. This is an exempt-level, benefited position. The anticipated hiring range is $115,000–$125,000, commensurate with education and experience.

Requirements

Master’s degree required.
At least 4 years of relevant experience required.
PMP certification is required within one year of hire if not already held; none is required at the time of hire unless otherwise specified by the position.
Excellent written, verbal, and executive communication skills.
Ability to manage multiple complex programs simultaneously, create accountability across teams without direct authority, and build productive relationships with academic investigators, industry experts, and institutional partners.

Nice To Haves

Ph.D. in a biomedical or related scientific discipline.
Proficiency with project management tools such as MS Project or Smartsheet.
Experience with technology commercialization, licensing, company formation, or building translational programs in an entrepreneurial environment.
At least four years of progressively responsible project or program management experience in biotechnology, pharmaceutical development, or an equivalent translational drug development environment.
Demonstrated experience directly managing one or more therapeutic development programs through major development milestones, including IND-enabling studies, IND submission, or entry into clinical development.
Working knowledge of Target Product Profiles, stage-gate portfolio governance, drug development planning, and IND-enabling strategy.
Experience selecting and managing CROs, CDMOs, consultants, and other external development partners, including scopes of work, budgets, timelines, deliverables, and performance.

Responsibilities

Partner with each SPARK investigator and relevant advisors to develop and maintain a Target Product Profile and an integrated project plan, budget, timeline, milestones, and risk register, using the SPARK Drug Discovery & Development Handbook and Project Plan Template.
Track program progress against milestones and SPARK Program Scorecards; organize stage-gate and advisor reviews; synthesize scientific, development, financial, and operational considerations into recommendations for Manning Institute leadership; and follow through on decisions and action items.
Plan and manage lead optimization and IND-enabling studies, including DMPK, safety/toxicology, and CMC/formulation, and support regulatory strategy, including pre-IND preparation, with external experts.
Identify, evaluate, engage, and manage CROs, CDMOs, consultants, and other external partners, including scopes of work, proposals, contracting, timelines, deliverables, performance, and data quality.
Steward program budgets in partnership with the COO’s office and University financial and contracting partners.
Build effective working relationships with SPARK investigators and maintain a regular operating cadence to identify issues, drive decisions, and advance program milestones.
Coordinate engagement with internal and external scientific and industry advisors, UVA Licensing & Ventures Group, and other partners to support intellectual property strategy, licensing, company formation, and follow-on funding opportunities.
Coordinate student- and faculty-supported project teams across UVA contributing commercial, market, payer, intellectual property, regulatory, and other analysis to SPARK Programs.
Develop and continuously improve the UVA Manning SPARK portfolio management and governance framework, including program intake and selection, stage-gate criteria, decision processes, reporting cadence, metrics, and standard tools.
Track portfolio performance and outcomes, including INDs, licenses, company formation, and follow-on funding, and prepare decision-oriented portfolio dashboards and recommendations for Institute leadership.
Manage the annual SPARK Tank competition cycle and serve as a key operational liaison with Stanford SPARK GLOBAL, leveraging the network for education, best-practice sharing, expertise, and cross-institution programs.
Perform other duties as assigned in support of the Manning Institute’s mission.