Job Information
University of Washington Senior Project Manager in Seattle, Washington
Job Description
Position Purpose:
As a Senior Project Manager (Research Manager) at the Institute for Protein Design (IPD), you will oversee the execution and coordination of complex, multi-stakeholder research programs, portfolios, and projects supported by federal grants, philanthropic funding, and corporate-sponsored research agreements. Alongside scientific leadership (i.e., the PIs on the grants) and the IPD leadership team, you will ensure alignment across projects, monitor budgets at both project and program levels, and reallocate resources as needed to achieve overall program and portfolio success. Working closely with research personnel, including faculty investigators, graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, and research staff, the Senior Project Manager ensures that programs and their constitutive projects are delivered on time, within scope, and in compliance with sponsor requirements.
Position Complexities:
The Senior Project Manager (Research Manager) role requires advanced leadership and strategic planning skills to manage interdependent projects within high-priority programs and/or portfolios. This includes balancing competing timelines, budgets, and resources across multiple projects, while ensuring compliance with sponsor requirements and institutional policies. At the project level, the Senior Project Manager is responsible for reviewing project plans with scientists, tracking milestones and budgets, managing timelines and risks, and facilitating communication among internal and external stakeholders, including industry sponsors and granting agencies. The Senior Project Manager must be able to drive momentum and build consensus, working at the interface of multi-disciplinary teams. The Senior Project Manager will build detailed knowledge of the programs and projects within their portfolio, while also maintaining an understanding of other IPD programs and projects so that they have a complete view of research programs within the Institute. The Senior Project Manager will work closely with the rest of the Project Management team and IPD leadership to prioritize project research needs when resources are constrained. Familiarity with computational protein design or a scientific curiosity and willingness to learn is essential, as is the ability to communicate effectively with scientific and operational stakeholders.
Position Dimensions and Impact to the University:
The Project Management Team at the Institute for Protein Design (IPD) works in close partnership with IPD scientists to advance cutting-edge research across multiple scientific verticals by proactively managing the operational and administrative aspects of complex projects. By managing portfolios that span multiple projects and sponsors, Senior Project Managers ensure that the IPD delivers on its most critical commitments. Senior Project Managers serve as trusted advisors to leadership, providing insights on program performance, risk, and resource needs. Senior Project Managers also serve as key liaisons between IPD scientists and external stakeholders, including federal agencies, philanthropic funders, and corporate sponsors. They support and mentor researchers in effective project communication, helping to translate scientific progress into clear, timely updates aligned with sponsor expectations, thereby sustaining strong sponsor relationships.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Oversee and manage high-priority programs and projects (60%)
Oversee the development and execution of a portfolio of projects or programs at the IPD, ensuring strategic alignment and successful delivery of all components.
Ensure alignment of projects across large programs and portfolios. This includes understanding sponsor goals and preferences so that projects and programs within one sponsor’s portfolio can be managed at the portfolio level and resourced appropriately.
Work closely with the IPD Finance Team to monitor budgets at both project and portfolio levels.
Work across the Project Management team, IPD member lab PIs, IPD Core R&D labs, and IP leadership to allocate resources to achieve overall program/portfolio success.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams including: IPD member lab scientists, IPD Core R&D labs (staff scientists), IPD translational teams, and IPD administrative and operations teams (e.g., Grants Team, Finance Team), to drive progress and success of each program and project.
Creatively solve cross-functional and often complex challenges by anticipating risks, synthesizing scientific and operational constraints, and developing pragmatic, innovative solutions that keep programs moving forward without compromising quality, timelines, or strategic objectives.
Monitor, track, and communicate project progress via clear timelines, deliverables, and milestones. Build in risk mitigation plans as needed.
Work closely with junior Project Managers who may oversee a project within your program or portfolio. Serve as an escalation point for complex issues arriving from those projects and implement risk mitigation strategies as needed.
Work with project teams to develop research execution strategies and troubleshoot issues as they arise.
Communicate project and portfolio requirements, including reporting requirements, to scientific teams and ensure they are prepared to meet sponsor expectations.
Communicate project and portfolio updates and progress, key scientific deliverables and milestones, and other relevant information to all key stakeholders, including external stakeholders. This may include working with sponsors and external stakeholders to establish communication practices and decision making procedures or frameworks that support the project, program, or portfolio goals.
Coordinate execution of required agreements and contracts with external stakeholders (e.g., sponsors, collaborators, CROs, vendors, etc.).
As needed, work closely with consultants and other external stakeholders involved in a project or program.
Be the main point of contact between internal research team and external collaborators for any non-scientific matters.
This role may assign action items to research team members or outside collaborators to move projects forward.
Strategic planning and Pre-award (20%)
Develop and guide the strategy for large programs and portfolios, including managing the scientific, operational, and financial interdependencies of constituent projects.
Support the preparation and refinement of statements of work, budgets, and timelines for feasibility and strategic fit.
Lead pre-award planning for major initiatives, including large grant renewals and high-value contracts. This will require working closely with the IPD Grants and Finance teams.
With a deep knowledge of the sponsor’s goals and preferences, drive programmatic and financial strategy for proposals and statements of work.
Partner with investigators and finance teams to ensure proposals align with program goals and resource capacity.
Reporting and communication (10%)
Prepare high-level reports for external sponsors as needed, and communicate program status and risks clearly.
Plan, schedule, and run relevant meetings integral to program/project progress, including Joint Steering Committee meetings. This includes building agendas, collating slide decks and meeting materials, and tracking important action items.
Maintain transparent internal dashboards for milestones, budgets, and risk tracking.
Leadership and mentorship (10%)
Mentor and onboard new Project Managers.
Provides direction and leadership to junior PMs.
Lead team meetings and drive accountability among team members.
Contribute to development of IPD Project Management standards, tools, and best practices.
Support team growth through training and knowledge sharing.
Make recommendations to the senior leadership team for process and other improvements.
Requirements:
Master's Degree in Biology, Immunology, Bioengineering or related field and 5 years of experience in related field.
A collaborative leader with strong communication skills; able to navigate challenging group dynamics with consensus-building skills, and to work effectively across scientific, technical and business interfaces.
Proven ability to coordinate cross‑functional scientific teams and external partners, synthesize technical information, and communicate clearly to diverse stakeholders.
Proven ability to manage complex portfolios and budgets across multiple projects.
Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, with an understanding that communication and transparency are critical to achieving success.
Ability to work on and track multiple tasks in parallel, maintaining progress and quality.
Proficient in the use of project management, collaboration management and efficiency software tools and best practices (e.g., SharePoint, Google Drive, Teams, Smartsheet).
Desired:
Experience with federal and philanthropic grant management, including large renewals and pre-award and post-award management.
Familiarity with IP and technology transfer, especially in the context of large academic research institutions.
Experience with technology commercialization and pre-clinical research, including development of target product profiles (TPPs) and alignment of research milestones with translational objectives.
Able to set expectations (vertically and horizontally) and hold individuals and teams accountable.
Experience supervising or mentoring project managers.
Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or equivalent.
Compensation, Benefits and Position Details
Pay Range Minimum:
$115,008.00 annual
Pay Range Maximum:
$127,008.00 annual
Other Compensation:
-
Benefits:
For information about benefits for this position, visit https://www.washington.edu/jobs/benefits-for-uw-staff/
Shift:
First Shift (United States of America)
Temporary or Regular?
This is a regular position
FTE (Full-Time Equivalent):
100.00%
Union/Bargaining Unit:
Not Applicable
About the UW
Working at the University of Washington provides a unique opportunity to change lives – on our campuses, in our state and around the world.
UW employees bring their boundless energy, creative problem-solving skills and dedication to building stronger minds and a healthier world. In return, they enjoy outstanding benefits, opportunities for professional growth and the chance to work in an environment known for its diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty.
Our Commitment
The University of Washington is committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful and welcoming community for all. As an equal opportunity employer, the University considers applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, citizenship, sex, pregnancy, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, disability, or veteran status consistent with UW Executive Order No. 81 (https://policy.uw.edu/directory/po/executive-orders/eo-81-prohibiting-discrimination-harassment-and-sexual-misconduct/) .
To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact the Disability Services Office at 206-543-6450 or dso@uw.edu .
Applicants considered for this position will be required to disclose if they are the subject of any substantiated findings or current investigations related to sexual misconduct at their current employment and past employment. Disclosure is required under Washington state law (https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=28B.112.080) .
University of Washington is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, among other things, race, religion, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, sex, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.