Research Coordinator 3

University of Washington•Seattle, WA

20h•Onsite

About The Position

As a Project Manager at the Institute for Protein Design (IPD), this role oversees the execution and coordination of complex, multi-stakeholder research projects funded by federal grants, philanthropic funding, and corporate-sponsored research agreements. The Project Manager works closely with research personnel, including faculty investigators, graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, and research staff, to ensure projects are delivered on time, within scope, and in compliance with sponsor requirements. The Project Management team at the IPD enables investigators to focus on scientific progress while ensuring accountability, transparency, and effective stewardship of sponsored research. This position primarily focuses on the execution, coordination, and reporting of active programs (post-award), while also supporting select pre-award activities such as preparing and reviewing statements of work (SOWs), budgets, and timelines for projects prior to award finalization. The Project Manager collaborates with the IPD Grants Team and Finance Team to ensure projects are delivered within budget and in compliance with sponsor requirements, and contributes to building new project management tools and methodologies. The Institute for Protein Design (IPD) drives innovation in protein science to address critical challenges in medicine, technology, and sustainability. Located in the Department of Biochemistry at the UW School of Medicine, the Institute was founded in 2012 by Nobel Prize laureate David Baker. Today, the IPD comprises over 260 members, including four faculty labs, specialized core research teams, an experienced operations team, and a translational research program that has produced 11 spinout companies. As the world's leading protein design center, IPD researchers pioneer artificial intelligence (AI) tools for biomolecular design to create new medicines, vaccines, nanomaterials, and enzymes. The Institute is supported by diverse funding sources including grants from private foundations, federal and industry sponsored research grants, philanthropic gifts, and the State of Washington. The Project Manager is responsible for reviewing project plans with scientists, tracking milestones and budgets, managing timelines and risks, and facilitating communication among internal and external stakeholders, including industry sponsors and granting agencies. While familiarity with computational protein design is a plus, scientific curiosity and a willingness to learn the primary aspects of IPD's work are highly valued. Strong organizational skills and effective communication with scientists are essential to keep work on track and aligned with sponsor requirements. Project Managers at the IPD work in close partnership with IPD scientists to advance cutting-edge research across multiple scientific verticals by proactively managing the operational and administrative aspects of complex projects. By taking ownership of planning and coordination activities, Project Managers enable investigators to focus on scientific discovery while ensuring that project commitments, milestones, and sponsor requirements are met. They also serve as key liaisons between IPD scientists and external stakeholders, supporting and mentoring investigators in effective project communication, translating scientific progress into clear, timely updates aligned with sponsor expectations and relationship goals. This role is essential in sustaining strong sponsor relationships and accelerating IPD’s research mission.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Biology, Immunology, Bioengineering and 4 years of relevant experience
Equivalent education and/or experience may substitute for minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license, certification, and/or registration.
A collaborative leader with strong communication skills; able to navigate challenging group dynamics with consensus-building skills, and to work effectively across scientific, technical and business interfaces.
Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, with an understanding that communication and transparency are critical to achieving success.
Ability to work on and track multiple tasks in parallel, maintaining progress and quality.
Proficient in the use of, or ability to quickly learn, project management, collaboration management and efficiency software tools and best practices (e.g., SharePoint, Google Drive, Teams, Smartsheet).

Nice To Haves

Master's or PhD degree preferred.
Individuals with a Masters or PhD in a relevant field looking to grow into project management are encouraged to apply.
Proven ability to coordinate cross‑functional scientific teams and external partners, synthesize technical information, and communicate clearly to diverse stakeholders.
Demonstrated experience with post‑award management: integrated planning, sponsor reporting, milestone delivery, budget tracking, and risk management.
Able to set expectations (vertically and horizontally) and hold individuals and teams accountable.
Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or equivalent.
4+ years of project/program management in research, biotech/pharma, academic research/medical centers, or related environments.

Responsibilities

Oversee the development and execution of research projects at the IPD.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams including: IPD member lab scientists, IPD Core R&D labs (staff scientists), IPD translational teams, and IPD administrative and operations teams (e.g., Grants Team, Finance Team), to drive progress and success of each program and project.
Monitor, track, and communicate project progress via clear timelines, deliverables, and milestones.
Build in risk mitigation plans as needed.
Alongside the IPD Finance team, set and monitor project budgets and personnel.
Work with project teams to develop research execution strategies and troubleshoot issues as they arise.
Communicate project requirements, including reporting requirements, to scientific teams and ensure they are prepared to meet sponsor expectations.
Communicate project updates and progress (often through timelines and Gantt charts), key scientific deliverables and milestones, and other relevant information to all key stakeholders, including external stakeholders.
Coordinate execution of required agreements and contracts with external stakeholders (e.g., sponsors, collaborators, CROs, vendors, etc.).
Be the main point of contact between internal research team and external collaborators for any non-scientific matters.
Assign action items to research team members or outside collaborators to move projects forward.
Schedule and run relevant meetings integral to program/project progress, building agendas, drafting minutes, and tracking important action items.
In collaboration with research teams, build written materials such as statements of work, data slides, and more.
In collaboration with the IPD Finance team prepare fiscal reports.
Prepare written technical and fiscal reports for sponsors as needed.