Senior Scientist I- Program Manager

Harvard University • Boston, MA

19d • Hybrid

About The Position

This position is based at a Harvard campus location requiring on average 3 days per week on site with some remote work options available. The Wyss Institute’s mission is to transform healthcare and the environment by emulating the way nature builds. We harness the imagination of academia and the focus of industry to translate ground-breaking technologies into commercial products that solve big problems. We support research that universities, companies, and venture capital firms don’t fund because they view it as too risky. We prefer to use the word “challenging,” and we love challenges. You are a collaborative program manager with significant scientific acumen and experience in meeting program goals on a defined schedule. You have experience working with managing complex research and development grants or contracts, as well as supervising Contract Research Organizations, while ensuring that program reporting requirements, milestones and deliverables are met. You want to be a part of a dynamic team dedicated to tackling an ambitious program in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial-minded environment with resources and support from top-notch scientific, operations, and administrative professionals. You enjoy working with highly motivated, diverse teams and leveraging your expertise to create innovations that can change the world. Reporting to the Principal Engineer-Program Management and working under the scientific direction of the Principal Investigator on the program, you will serve as one of the main contacts with the government agency that funds this program. Working closely with the Principal Investigator and senior scientific staff, you will be responsible for the day-to-day oversight, integration, and coordination of all program activities, including technical operations, administrative infrastructure, and reporting requirements to ensure the efficient planning, initiation, implementation, direction, and completion of the program.

Requirements

• Advanced degree in a life science, medicine and/or engineering required.
• A minimum of six years’ experience performing project management or related work with multidisciplinary research and development teams in the biopharmaceutical, biotechnology, diagnostics and/or other industry. A PhD/MD may count towards years of experience.

Nice To Haves

• Prior program management of ARPA-H, BARDA, DARPA, or other large U.S. government-funded projects strongly preferred
• Demonstrated success in leading and working in cross-functional teams
• Excellent management, organizational, documentation, analytical, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Comfortable in a fast-paced translational environment and able to troubleshoot problems to ensure objectives are met on time and on budget

Responsibilities

• Provide high level organizational leadership and scientific support to the Principal Investigator and Senior Staff lead to ensure integrated and efficient execution of the award requirements across all contributing teams
• Serve as one of the primary points of contact with the funding agency for the program of work and all related award activities
• Develop proficiency for managing complex sponsored awards with comprehensive understanding of award mechanisms, engaging with government sponsors, and coordinating appropriate roles with Wyss Research Administration team.
• Oversee development of all award reporting requirements including regular program review presentations as well as monthly, annual, and final written reports per award requirements
• Develop and execute Gantt charts for management of program schedule and/or budget; work with Wyss Research administration to support and fulfill all program budget requirements
• Regularly review and manage budgets in coordination with Wyss Research Administration team
• Ensure good laboratory practices and data management across all teams, serve as a resource and contact for the Institute’s lab and data management teams
• Oversee and organize all relevant IACUC, IRB, COMS, and ESCRO protocols, in partnership with Clinical team
• Maintain a list of all MTA, NDAs, and points of contact with industrial, investor, foundation, and government collaborators relevant to the award; ensure all are up to date and in place when needed
• Ensure compliance of Wyss team and subcontractors with all relevant sponsor requirements as well as manage Quality Assurance and Data Management Plans
• Manage transfer of data files, development of technology transfer packages, and delivery of any other required materials to funding agency
• Assist research team in preparation of reports of invention, patent submissions, and technology translation working closely with the Wyss intellectual property and business development teams, as well as Harvard's Office of Technology Development
• Provide scientific support for teams and serve as a resource to consult, advise and troubleshoot scientific challenges and opportunities that arise
• Help to coordinate scientific insights and knowledge across teams to ensure that learnings are shared to promote an integrated and shared, scientific knowledge base.
• Recruit outside experts, consults, and engagements when needed to deepen scientific understanding, incorporate new scientific methods, execute critical work efforts, and/or identify new opportunities to improve experimental protocols
• Identify additional collaborators or funding opportunities to promote the translation of new fundamental insights and manage relationships with vendors, subcontractors , and contract research organizations
• Assist researchers in the experimental design, data analysis, writing, and preparation of figures for manuscripts, abstracts, posters, other publications of research findings, and additional related grant applications
• Maintain dynamic collaborations with open communications among all interacting technical teams to ensure Program success.
• Motivate and inspire team. Provide advice and mentorship to all team members.
• Work closely with senior technical staff members to ensure appropriate human resource allocation to ensure adequate staffing and expertise across teams to achieve grant objectives. Identify, recruit and nurture relationships with internal and external experts to advance the scientific agenda when needed.
• Cultivate a culture of open innovation to rapidly identify and troubleshoot any problems or barriers to the research agenda so that solutions may be identified and implemented in a timely manner.

Benefits

• Generous paid time off including parental leave
• Medical, dental, and vision health insurance coverage starting on day one
• Retirement plans with university contributions
• Wellbeing and mental health resources
• Support for families and caregivers
• Professional development opportunities including tuition assistance and reimbursement
• Commuter benefits, discounts and campus perks

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior