Program Manager (Preclinical)

About the role

We are seeking a highly motivated and organized Program Manager to join the preclinical Program Management Office supporting various preclinical teams.

Responsibilities

• Work with CHDI Science Directors to understand project goals and deliverables in order to enable the execution of legal contracts with collaborators, including fee-for-service companies, academic institutions, pharmaceutical companies and biotechnology companies.
• Work with CHDI’s finance and legal officers to execute contracts in compliance with Foundation policies.
• Work with scientists and the financial officer to evaluate and optimize proposed budgets for new projects.
• Use existing tracking tools to monitor the progress of executed contracts in accordance with the terms specified in each contract.
• Identify and communicate potential issues and delays to scientists, the legal department and the financial officer in a timely manner and propose solutions to remedy the issues in an expedited fashion.
• Liaise with collaborative counterparts to ensure: a) that studies are conducted in accordance with corresponding contracts; and b) that deliverables are delivered on time and per allocated funds to each such study.
• Work with materials/data repository managers to ensure: a) that materials/data are available and can be provided for a given study prior to the execution of contracts; and b) that materials/data generated by collaborators are properly registered in CHDI’s databases, consequently tracked and deposited.
• Participate and host internal and external meetings as needed, prepare meeting minutes, follow up on action items and act in an ‘advisory’ role on matters related to operations, finances and legal issues.
• Ensure all post-execution contract management requirements are performed including invoicing, audit reports, material shipments, amendments, and contract close-outs.
• Review periodic invoices, ensuring they align with financial terms of corresponding contracts and CHDI policy, flag discrepancies and resolve issues with collaborators and/or the CHDI financial officer in an expedited fashion to meet the monthly timeline.
• Review academic financial audit reports and reconcile any discrepancies. Work with principal investigators and grant analysts at academic institutions to understand and resolve budgetary discrepancies.
• File scientific reports and project management documents in CHDI’s document management system and distribute internally to relevant individuals.
• Prepare and summarize contract budgetary information to support annual fiscal year forecasting.
• As required, work with scientific team leads to track team Goals, Strategies, and Objectives in existing tracking tools, ensuring updates to project status and resources.
• Participate in monthly Program Managers’ team meetings and host selected meetings in accordance with the pre-established schedule.
• Propose tools and strategies to streamline and optimize tracking of studies and expenditures whenever possible.

Requirements

• Bachelors or Masters Degree in life sciences or chemical sciences.
• Contract management experience and hands-on experience coordinating studies with collaborating sites.
• Experience in the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry.
• Experience in licensing, technology transfer and alliance management in industry or academia a plus.
• Self-motivator and resourceful.
• Strong organizational and multitasking skills.
• Superior written and oral communication skills.
• Highly proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook.