Senior Project Manager or Program Manager, CSC

The Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH) is seeking a Senior Project Manager or Program Manager, Translational Science to manage a portfolio of cancer projects and the Cancer Steering Committee (CSC) under the FNIH Biomarkers Consortium.  The CSC engages diverse stakeholders, including biopharmaceutical companies, patient advocacy and nonprofit partners, government (scientific and regulatory), and academic organizations to address areas of unmet need in cancer research in support of both the patient and scientific communities. This position will provide overarching management of the steering committee activities that include working groups for project development, oversight of the cancer research portfolio, as well as development of new partnerships.

Critically, this role will require expertise in stakeholder management, strategic thinking and planning, and deep expertise in cancer biology. It is anticipated that this role will require oversight of one or more project managers. This position will provide overarching leadership for the cancer biomarkers portfolio, convene and lead multistakeholder partnerships, and demonstrate thought leadership relevant to the cancer portfolio and Biomarkers Consortium. This position will report to the Director for the Biomarkers Consortium and collaborate closely with the Director for Cancer at the FNIH offices located in North Bethesda, Maryland.

This is a non-research, administrative management position requiring excellent interpersonal and writing skills, a high level of organization, diplomacy, focus, ability to work under tight deadlines, and familiarity with biomedical research environments. A scientific background or years of on-the-job experience in cancer research is strongly preferred. An individual with vision and insight into the evolving needs for the future and global impact of cancer is also strongly preferred. Travel to key scientific conferences and forums is expected of this position. Final determination of position level upon hire will be based on experience and leadership capabilities.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Scientific & Program Leadership & Portfolio Management

• Lead the overall scientific and operational strategy for the Cancer Steering Committee (CSC) within the FNIH Biomarker Consortium
• Build and sustain a collaborative ecosystem aligned around shared scientific and translational goals
• Facilitate the ideation and prioritization of projects within the CSC
• Represent the CSC in scientific, clinical, and policy forums 
• Contribute to publications, presentations, and strategic communications 
• Assists in cross portfolio duties with other disease area organizational leaders.

Partnership Development & Partner Engagement

• Lead engagement with biopharmaceutical companies, academic investigators, technology partners, advocacy groups, and persons with lived experience 
• Partner with Strategic Alliances and Advancement to secure and align funding to support the CSC projects 
• Articulate the value proposition and impact of the Biomarker Consortium and the CSC to diverse funders 
• Ensure transparency, accountability, and effective decision-making across all partners and any relevant external organizations 

Program Governance & Execution

• Oversee timelines, milestones, budgets, and deliverables across the CSC portfolio 
• Manage internal CSC staff and review all deliverables.
• Initiate, develop and manage all aspects of multiple projects, applying knowledge of process, finance, and contracts to project activities to ensure goals are met on time and within budget
• Develop and manage grants/contracts, including evaluation and refinement of statements of work, project budgets, milestones, and deliverables

Required

• Degree in oncology, immunology or related biomedical field
• Master's degree with 10+ years of relevant project management experience, or PhD with 5+ years of relevant project management experience, and at least 3 years of staff management and stakeholder management experience at the Program Manager level
• Masters’ Degree and 6+ years relevant project management experience or PhD and 3+ years relevant project management experience at the Senior Project Manager level
• Scientific background or on-the-job experience in cancer research
• Able to diplomatically facilitate discussion involving diverse interests, leading groups to consensus and guide others to enhance this skill
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to tailor communications to relevant audiences and develop rapport with colleagues within the FNIH and with partners
• Strong analytical, critical-thinking abilities to proactively identify potential problems and work with teams to fill gaps identified
• Ability to learn quickly, and make decisions independently to meet tight deadlines
• High degree of flexibility, and ability to adapt to organizational priorities
• Readiness and judgment to supervise staff

Preferred

• Experience in regulatory science is a plus
• Prior role in consulting or client-based environment is a plus
• Business development and/or partner relationship experience
• Project management certification is a plus
• Local to the Bethesda, Maryland area*

This is a hybrid position and requires regular visits to FNIH headquarters in Bethesda, MD. This position may also require occasional travel for meetings, conferences and any other relevant engagements.  

At FNIH we are committed to living our core values every day. If you are excited about this role and the work of the Foundation, but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with all the qualifications in the job description, we encourage you to apply nonetheless. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles at FNIH.