Scientific Program Manager Lead

Arc Institute•Palo Alto, CA

About The Position

We are seeking a Scientific Program Manager Lead to drive and coordinate strategic research initiatives across Arc Institute. This role will be instrumental in orchestrating complex, multi-disciplinary projects that span our Technology Centers encompassing cellular models, mammalian models, genome engineering, multi-omics, computational biology, and machine learning. A defining dimension of this role is the facilitation of cross-functional and cross-institutional collaboration to keep Arc's most complex programs moving. You will lead regular working meetings across Technology Centers, Core Investigator groups, and institute leadership—surfacing and resolving blockers, ensuring effective resource allocation, and maintaining alignment across teams working toward shared scientific goals. As Arc's research programs grow in scope and ambition, this coordination function becomes increasingly critical to execution. The ideal candidate combines deep technical knowledge of biological research with strong program management skills and a track record of driving progress across distributed, interdisciplinary teams. In this role, you will work closely with Technology Center leaders, Core Investigators, and institute leadership to advance Arc's Virtual Cell and Alzheimer's Disease initiatives through structured, proactive program oversight. In this role, you will also shape the strategic direction of Arc's research programs, mentor junior team members, and establish program management frameworks that appropriately support the institute's scale.

Requirements

PhD degree in Life Sciences or a related field and 8–12 years of experience in program management in a research or translational setting
Demonstrated experience managing external scientific collaborations, strategic alliances, or academic-industry partnerships, with a proven ability to structure, navigate, and steward productive long-term relationships
Background in one or more relevant biology areas (genome engineering, multi-omics, cellular engineering, etc.)
Strong track record of successfully managing complex, multi-stakeholder projects in research environments, balancing competing priorities while maintaining focus on key long-term strategic objectives
Track record of building and scaling program management or alliance management functions in fast-growth research organizations
Experience with advanced project management tools and methodologies (e.g., Asana, Jira, Smartsheet)
Excellent communication skills and are comfortable regularly engaging with a broad range of research scientists, experimentalists, senior management, and external partners
Demonstrated experience leading cross-functional and cross-institutional initiatives and building influence without direct authority in matrixed or research-intensive organizations
Proven ability to manage and mentor team members, with a track record of developing talent in research operations

Nice To Haves

Experience with computational biology or machine learning projects
Background in multiple biology domains
Direct experience managing university-industry research partnerships or consortium-level scientific collaborations
Familiarity with intellectual property, material transfer agreements, or other legal frameworks common in academic-industry collaborations
Change management certification or experience leading organizational transformation initiatives
Public speaking and scientific communication experience

Responsibilities

Lead and coordinate major research initiatives that span multiple Technology Centers and external collaborators, ensuring clear communication of objectives, timelines, and dependencies across institutional boundaries
Manage Arc’s portfolio of internal and external scientific collaborations and strategic alliances
Structure and negotiate collaboration frameworks, ensuring that partnership agreements, governance models, and joint milestones are clearly defined and aligned with Arc’s scientific mission
Serve as a primary relationship manager for key partners, building trust, resolving issues, and ensuring that collaborations remain productive and mutually beneficial over time
Facilitate regular cross-functional and cross-institutional meetings to drive progress, remove blockers, and ensure effective resource allocation
Design and implement institute-wide program management frameworks, project tracking systems, and collaboration processes that scale with organizational growth and an expanding external network
Identify opportunities for new strategic partnerships and collaborations that could accelerate Arc’s research programs, and present well-structured recommendations to institute leadership
Track and communicate project and partnership progress to stakeholders at multiple levels, from technical teams to institute leadership and founders
Serve as a strategic thought partner to Technology Center leaders and Core Investigators on program design, risk mitigation, resource planning, and external collaboration strategy
Help foster a culture of innovation, excellence, collaboration, and continuous improvement
Mentor and develop junior program management staff, building institutional capacity for program management
Lead change management efforts as the institute scales, ensuring that evolving processes support rather than hinder scientific discovery and external engagement