Senior Scientist II- Program Manager

25-Jan-2024

Wyss Institute at Harvard University

64875BR

Job Summary

We are looking for a dynamic program management leader to build and lead a team that will provide project management at the Wyss Institute including developing, maintaining, and expanding collaborations with external government funding agencies. This role also involves identifying additional funding sources aligned with our in-house technology expertise for impactful, near-term outcomes. 

About Us: 

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. 

About You: 

You are an experienced program management leader with a proven track record working with government entities, such as BARDA, DARPA, and DTRA, which provide complex grants and contracts to support activities at academic institutions that require extensive program management activities. 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, interdisciplinary teams and leveraging your expertise to create innovations that can change the world. 

About the Role: 

Reporting to the Senior Principal Scientist and working closely with the Institute’s Founding Director and Director of Sponsored Research, you will serve as the subject matter expert on all government funding opportunities and help us build a program management team and function that can extend across multiple programs at the Institute. You will provide assistance, mentorship, and training to more junior Program Managers, members of our Advanced Technology team and Faculty on highly complex government grants and help us identify new government funding opportunities that are aligned with our in-house technical expertise and development programs. 

Position Description

What you'll do:

• Program Management Leadership: 
  • Provide high level program management leadership and expertise across all technology platforms and Focus areas at the Institute. 
  • Establish and lead a Program Management Team including other program managers that will provide management functions and advice to support our Faculty, Advanced Technology and Sponsored Teams. 
  • Implement best practices in program management methodologies, including state-of-the-art program management software packages, to streamline processes and enhance overall efficiency. 
  • Serve as lead project manager on one or more projects or high impact program ensuring milestones are met on time and maintain excellent ongoing relations with funding sponsors. 
  • Assist faculty and staff in the preparation of research funding proposals and lead development of program management plans, milestones, deliverables, Gantt charts, etc. 
  • Identify and assess potential risks associated with program objectives and implement mitigation strategies to ensure successful outcomes. 
  • Identify challenges with regards to finances, regulatory, human investigation, animal studies, and safety issues as well as manage these challenges throughout the course of project funding 
  • Mentor team members on the efficient execution of grant objectives from diverse sponsors, and manage their activities to ensure all milestones are met in a timely way 
  • Demonstrate a commitment to diversity, inclusion and cultural awareness through actions, interactions and communications with others.
• Business Development 
  • Identify and assess government funding opportunities that correlate with ongoing research and technology development activities at the Institute. 
  • Conduct proactive outreach to government entities, forging key partnerships to collaborate on solving significant challenges. 
  • Collaborate closely with Faculty and other team members to strategize on the optimal approach to secure large government funding. 
  • Work with Institute Director to assist and mentor faculty in the development, preparation, and submission of large multi-investigator grants.

Basic Qualifications

What you'll need:

• Advanced Degree in a life science, medicine, and/or engineering required. 
• A minimum of 9 years’ experience performing project management or related work with multidisciplinary research and development teams in the biopharmaceutical, biotechnology, government, diagnostics and/or other industry. A PhD/MD may count towards years of experience. 

Additional Qualifications and Skills

Desirable Skills:

• PhD strongly preferred in a life science, medicine and/or engineering. 
• Prior scientific or professional experience serving as a program manager responsible for the successful performance of large government research programs funded by non-NIH agencies, such as DTRA, DARPA, or BARDA, is required. • Demonstrated success in leading and working in cross-functional, interdisciplinary teams • Excellent management, organizational, documentation, analytical, communication, and interpersonal skills. 
• Experience using program management software and in training others in its use. 
• Comfortable in a fast-paced translational environment and able to troubleshoot problems to ensure objectives are met on time and on budget.

Working Conditions

The health of our workforce is a priority for Harvard University. With that in mind, we strongly encourage all employees to be up-to-date on CDC-recommended vaccines. 

Additional Information

Harvard is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position.

Why you’ll like working with us: 

At the Wyss Institute, you’re a member of a supportive, dynamic community that is united by its shared goal of changing the world through groundbreaking technology development and commercialization. We encourage your professional growth and development through mentorship and tuition reimbursement to support continued learning, and more. We also support your physical, financial, and mental well-being through generous time off benefits, gym reimbursements, and other programs offered through Harvard. Our community will be relocating to a new, state of the art life sciences building in the lively Fenway neighborhood in late summer 2023, where you will have access to multiple amenities including a roof terrace with stunning views of Boston and proximity to numerous restaurants and cultural attractions. We value an inclusive and diverse workforce, and believe that our differences enrich the work environment for all.

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Work Format Details

This is a hybrid position that is based in Massachusetts. Additional details will be discussed during the interview process. All remote work must be performed within one of the Harvard Registered Payroll States, which currently includes Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Virginia, Washington, and California (CA for exempt positions only). Certain visa types and funding sources may limit work location. Individuals must meet work location sponsorship requirements prior to employment.

Benefits

We invite you to visit Harvard's Total Rewards website (https://hr.harvard.edu/totalrewards ) to learn more about our outstanding benefits package, which may include:

• Paid Time Off: 3-4 weeks of accrued vacation time per year (3 weeks for support staff and 4 weeks for administrative/professional staff), 12 accrued sick days per year, 12.5 holidays plus a Winter Recess in December/January, 3 personal days per year (prorated based on date of hire), and up to 12 weeks of paid leave for new parents who are primary care givers.
• Health and Welfare: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits, disability and life insurance programs, along with voluntary benefits. Most coverage begins as of your start date.
• Work/Life and Wellness: Child and elder/adult care resources including on campus childcare centers, Employee Assistance Program, and wellness programs related to stress management, nutrition, meditation, and more.
• Retirement: University-funded retirement plan with contributions from 5% to 15% of eligible compensation, based on age and earnings with full vesting after 3 years of service.
• Tuition Assistance Program: Competitive program including $40 per class at the Harvard Extension School and reduced tuition through other participating Harvard graduate schools.
• Tuition Reimbursement: Program that provides 75% to 90% reimbursement up to $5,250 per calendar year for eligible courses taken at other accredited institutions.
• Professional Development: Programs and classes at little or no cost, including through the Harvard Center for Workplace Development and LinkedIn Learning.
• Commuting and Transportation: Various commuter options handled through the Parking Office, including discounted parking, half-priced public transportation passes and pre-tax transit passes, biking benefits, and more.
• Harvard Facilities Access, Discounts and Perks: Access to Harvard athletic and fitness facilities, libraries, campus events, credit union, and more, as well as discounts to various types of services (legal, financial, etc.) and cultural and leisure activities throughout metro-Boston.

Department Office Location

USA - MA - Boston

Job Code

RS0159 Scientist II

Work Format

Hybrid (partially on-site, partially remote)

Union

00 - Non Union, Exempt or Temporary

Pre-Employment Screening

Education, Identity

Schedule

Monday - Friday, 9am to 5pm

Commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging

As a collaborative organization, we at the Wyss Institute know that great innovation happens when diverse perspectives come together to solve problems. As a result, we are committed to cultivating and preserving a culture of inclusion and connectedness both in and out of the lab. When recruiting for our team, we welcome the unique contributions that you will bring in terms of education, culture, ethnicity, race, sex, gender identity and expression, nation of origin, age, languages spoken, veteran’s status, religion, disability, and sexual orientation. We believe these differences in background, experience, and perspective enrich our work environment and are essential to our mission of solving complex problems through technology development and translation.

EEO Statement

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions, or any other characteristic protected by law.

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