Position Description

The Department of Systems Biology is seeking a Program Manager to support two new multi- million-dollar programs that aim to address a number of key challenges in the identification and treatment of bacterial pathogens. This is a complex and exciting position that involves taking responsibility for coordinating scientific interactions across Harvard and between Harvard and over 30 other academic institutions and companies. If the project is successful, you will be part of a major effort to reduce suffering and death from infectious disease.

The Program Manager will assist the Faculty Director and Research Director in nearly all aspects of the Program. In particular, they will help integrate the work of multiple scientific groups, ensuring that all parties communicate, collaborate and report results appropriately. Deadlines for these projects are extremely time sensitive. The Program Manager will proactively identify groups that are in danger of falling behind their milestones, identify barriers, and work with the Research Director and Faculty Director to address the barriers and bring the project back on track. This position will take a major role in identifying and recruiting staff and researchers and ensuring compliance with the federal regulations that govern these awards. The Program Manager will also help to collect, organize and communicate information for reports and scientific papers, including designing and producing figures using complex software. They will take primary responsibility for public communications about the project, including website updates and coordinating with the HMS Office of Communications for press releases about major publications. A high level of organizational ability, familiarity with scientific terminology, and expertise in varied software packages will all be key for this position.

Responsibilities include:

• Act as operational manager for the program.
• Manage program details and operations for relevant efforts within the Paulsson lab, including specifying requirements, establishing timelines, and tracking progress against project plans.
• Facilitate and plan content of multi-PI project meetings, logging changes to program content and objectives and progress towards driving project milestones, and capturing key issues for communication and follow-up.
• Develop working relationships with partners at multiple institutions to ensure follow-up is effective.
• Proactively identify barriers that endanger specific milestones, and work with Research Director and Faculty Director to resolve them.
• Coordinate, illustrate and deliver complex reports. Work with Directors to develop publications.
• Support all aspects of the Faculty Director’s mission in research, teaching, and public outreach regarding these projects. Advise the Directors on policies and procedures and help respond to internal/external inquiries.
• Take the lead on staff recruitments, including recruitments of staff engineers, lead onboarding and offboarding for lab members and guests.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience; 5+ years of progressively more responsible communication and project management experience.

Additional Qualifications and Skills

• Proactive self-starter who identifies problems and sets out to solve them.
• Outstanding organizational skills, judgment under pressure, and ability to multitask.
• Excellent computer skills, including knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite, Slack, Dropbox, as well as website management and graphics software experience.
• Must exhibit strong oral and written communication skills and have a collaborative working style with excellent consultative and problem-solving skills.
• Broad familiarity with scientific terms and ability to write and check scientific text.
• Discretion and a proven ability to handle confidential information.
• Outstanding attention to detail.
• Deadline-driven with proven ability to follow through on complex time-sensitive tasks.

Additional Information

This is a two-year term position from the date of hire, with the possibility of extension, contingent upon work performance and continued funding to support the position. 

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.

Please note that we are currently conducting a majority of interviews and onboarding remotely and virtually. We appreciate your understanding.

The Harvard Medical School is not able to provide visa sponsorship for this position.

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Commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging

We are committed to cultivating an inclusive workplace culture of faculty, staff, and students with diverse backgrounds, styles, abilities, and motivations. We appreciate and leverage the capabilities, insights, and ideas of all individuals. Harvard Medical School Mission and Community Values

https://hms.harvard.edu/about-hms/campus-culture/mission-community-values-diversity-statement

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.