Academic Program Manager

Job Description

Job Function Summary

Involves managing a significant, independent academic or research program. Formulates program strategies and goals. Plans, directs and controls program budget and other related resources.

Generic Scope

Spends the majority of time (50% or more) achieving organizational objectives through the coordinated achievements of subordinate staff. Establishes departmental goals and objectives, functions with autonomy. Manages the accountability and stewardship of human, financial, and often physical resources in compliance with departmental and organizational goals and objectives. Ensures subordinate supervisors and professionals adhere to defined internal controls. Manages systems and procedures to protect departmental assets.

Custom Scope

Independently manages and provides technical direction in conjunction with faculty director for a complex academic or research program of high visibility. Develops the long-term vision and goals, policies and procedures, as well as managing ongoing operations of program(s) and oversees a fairly large operational budget to achieve objectives. Responsible for recruiting and retaining industry leaders to partner with research program in achievement of center goals. Develops and manages a membership program for industry partners. Oversees, through subordinate Academic Program Management Officers, all strategic elements of program administration including establishing program partners. Uses highly specialized expertise in research or academic specific concepts and objectives.

Under general direction of the QBI Director, the Director, QBI-Oncology and Development Strategy establishes, directs, and sustains QBI's oncology research and partnership enterprise. Receives assignments in the form of broad institutional objectives and determines the strategy, methods, and resources required to achieve them. Formulates program policy, priorities, and operating standards for the oncology portfolio.

Holds primary accountability for the program's strategic direction, financial sustainability, personnel, and external partnerships. Secures multi-year funding from philanthropic, federal, and industry sources. Originates and negotiates industry-sponsored research agreements and multi-year research collaborations and advances them through applicable University approval and execution processes. Recruits, supervises, and develops scientific and program staff. Manages program budget and allocates resources across a multi-project portfolio.

The Oncology and Devt. Strategy Director serves as QBI's principal representative and senior relationship leader with pharmaceutical and biotechnology executives, foundation and philanthropic leaders, governmental organizations, and prospective commercial partners in oncology. The Director independently evaluates opportunities, establishes partnership priorities, and makes recommendations regarding portfolio direction and resource allocation, exercising substantial judgment in matters involving scientific strategy, financial investment, institutional priorities, and external relationships. The Director advises QBI executive leadership on oncology portfolio strategy, investment, and growth and serves as QBI's principal program representative in strategic partnership discussions involving significant financial, scientific, and reputational considerations for the University.

The Director is responsible for building a durable, high-impact oncology enterprise that advances QBI's scientific mission, expands its external partnerships and funding base, and creates opportunities for translational research and development.

Department Overview

Who We Are

Established in 2016 the Quantitative Biosciences Institute (QBI) is a world class institution focused on breakthrough scientific discoveries and medical treatments based upon highly innovative science and on diverse global cross-sector partnerships, conducted at an unprecedented scale. The institute is comprised of 139 affiliated laboratories. QBI also boasts a robust media, outreach and events presence as the glue that brings all the programs and people together.

What We Do

We are transforming the way science is done by creating and supporting collaborative cross-functional groups who work towards solving some of today's biggest scientific challenges. QBI has a successful track record in high impact scientific accomplishment and in securing multi-million dollar grants. QBI and UCSF are pioneering a new model of translating science into medicines that fully leverages complementary knowledge and expertise between academia and industry.

How We Work

We work to transform the way science is done. The institute also passionately believes in building a more equitable scientific environment across the globe and toward this goal has built partnerships around the world including in the US, Europe, Africa, China and the Caribbean. We are a very competitive team, and the phrase "not my job", is not in our philosophy nor in our vocabulary. We believe in working together in-person at the office to foster a culture of creativity and collaboration. As we expand, we continue to look for people who have the ability to think outside the box.

About the existing QBI Team

The QBI team responsibilities range from running the operations of the institute to managing specific science projects and programs. We have people who focus on advocacy, industry relations, international collaborations and the coordination of matching different labs with financial opportunities to work together.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications - Expertise in proteomics, network biology, or related quantitative approaches to therapeutic discovery. - Demonstrated experience directing research programs and establishing scientific and strategic direction independently. - Demonstrated experience in commercial or investment assessment of biomedical assets, including scientific diligence, competitive landscape analysis, and evaluation of therapeutic programs for partnership or investment potential. - Demonstrated experience managing relationships with pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or investment organizations at the executive level. - Demonstrated success securing research funding from competitive philanthropic, federal, or industry sources. - Experience supervising staff and managing program budgets. - Advanced knowledge of oncology therapeutic development, including target discovery, translational research, and the drug development pathway. - Advanced negotiation, consensus-building, and executive communication skills, including ability to represent complex science to commercial and philanthropic audiences. - Minimum of six years related experience. - Minimum of five years project lead, supervisory, or management experience. Preferred Qualifications - Experience negotiating industry research agreements or licensing transactions; familiarity with technology transfer and company formation. - Demonstrated success establishing a research program, function, or organization from inception. Required Education - Terminal degree in a related area (PhD, JD, MD, etc.) and / or equivalent experience / training required.