Overview

The relationship between the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI) and the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy (PICI) is one of our most important collaborations. Our organizations already have an incredible impact in cancer research and the work we will do together will accelerate the pace of discovery therefore is critical to the future of cancer immunotherapy. The individual we hire for this role will be core to the future success of this work. The ideal candidate will have the power to accelerate and expand the impact of the relationship.  We are looking for a PhD scientist who is motivated by building and fostering relationships to inspire and enable scientific research that will lead to innovations in cancer treatment and care. The primary function of this Program Manager role will be to support and enhance the existing relationship between DFCI and PICI. The successful candidate will build strong internal relationships with administrators, faculty, and staff at DFCI, as well as PICI. Working independently under the general direction of the co-leaders of the Parker Institute at Dana-Farber, the Program Manager will be the point of contact for Dana-Farber investigators engaged in these collaborations, work across administrative offices at Dana-Farber that support the relationship and help to ensure compliance and execution under the terms of the agreement between PICI and Dana-Farber.

Notes about the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy

The mission of the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy is to accelerate the development of breakthrough immune therapies to turn all cancers into curable diseases. The Institute works to breakdown entrenched infrastructure barriers that have slowed the development of potent immunotherapies thereby slowing progress in the fight against cancer. The result is a groundbreaking research and intellectual property model that builds collaboration between researchers, nonprofits and industry all working together to get treatments to patients faster.

Responsibilities

• Serves as the primary point-of-contact for Parker-Institute-related matters and consults with co-leaders of the Parker Institute and Dana-Farber and administrative offices, as needed.
• Develops and maintains partnerships with Dana-Farber and Parker Institute leaders and faculty. Understands the culture, roles, and decision-making processes at both institutions in order to facilitate productive discussions and decisions and remove barriers.
• Develops and promotes a culture of partnership, team-work and scientific excellence within the program.
• Oversees proactive engagement with program contact points and relevant research communities to gather feedback and to manage expectations.
• Works with the Parker Institute at Dana-Farber to establish short- and long-term goals.
• Connects overarching strategy of the partnership to effective implementation and execution of projects and deliverables.
• Manages and optimizes operational aspects of the program, including communication, tracking of metrics, and deliverables.
• Plans and executes communication strategies to ensure critical information is shared in a meaningful and timely manner.
• Develops operational processes for tracking and reporting research progress. Creates and monitors metrics and key performance indicators at the project level as well as the program level.
• Works closely with administrative offices at Dana-Farber to ensure compliance and regular communication with PICI regarding agreement terms and conditions, which may include Innovation, Office of General Counsel, Clinical Research Agreements Office and Grants and Contracts.
• Takes the lead in organizing events, both internal and external, to promote, publicize, and grow the program.
• Performs a variety of other tasks, as needed, to ensure the success of the collaborations.

Qualifications

• A PhD in a scientific discipline is required.
• Excellent communication (oral and written) and analytical skills are required. Must be able to communicate proactively and navigate challenging conversations.
• Excellent people skills—this role is highly relational.
• Exceptional negotiation, conflict-resolution, strategic thinking and influencing skills; openness to new ideas. Comfort with ambiguity.
• Strong organization skills.
• Knowledge of processes around basic scientific research to include grant submission and progress reports a plus.
• Knowledge of human subjects research, patient privacy, and data use considerations required; working knowledge of IRB submission and review process is a plus.
• Comfort with and ability to respect and navigate differing viewpoints and politics within complex organizations.
• Demonstrated record of successfully managing programs within complex organizations.
• Proven ability to build relationships with collaborators and influence without direct supervisory authority.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities with tight deadlines; versatility, flexibility, and a willingness to work with constantly changing priorities.
• Flexibility with changes in environment and role.
• Team player who can work independently and thrives in a fast-paced, demanding environment.