Sr Research Project Manager Neuro-Oncology

The primary purpose of the position is to provide scientific oversight and management of the organizational, operational and fiscal aspects of the scientific programs in the Department of Neuro-Oncology and to help execute the research vision of the Chair of the department. This person will work closely with the chair to:

(a) organize scientific activities within the various sections of the department and identify, create, and submit research and grant proposals, including functioning as the liaison between collaborators involved in such efforts. This leader will be involved with the identification and initiation of new collaborations and will collaborate with and interact closely with existing research initiatives, including the Glioblastoma Moon Shot, Brain Cancer SPORE, Breakthrough Cancer and CCSG program

(b) create, maintain, innovate and improve operational workflows related to scientific programs by periodically assessing operational efficiency and generating appropriate solutions for existing and new scientific initiatives with the department. This will include working closely with the chair, the department laboratory research leaders and the clinical research operations as well as institutional and external entities to ensure smooth operation of the research enterprise of the department.

(c) This individual will be responsible for the fiscal aspects of the research activities including budget and expense tracking and in organizing scientific aspects of grants for the Chair and for multi-PI projects and for creation of grant progress reports, as well as renewal applications working with the department grants manager. This individual will also be responsible for the identification and acquisition of new philanthropic opportunities, as well as scientific progress under existing funding agencies.

(d) This person will also play a key role in collaborations and the development of the multi-PI and multicenter research programs including the Neurohealth initiative, the MD Anderson-UT Austin collaboration and other future collaborative projects. This will also include scientific planning and maintain professional and cooperative relationships with administrators, research scientists/investigators, platform members, Core Laboratory Directors, and other executive level healthcare and academic professionals to ensure that efficient communication, follow-through, and coordination of scientific short/long range goals are met.

Key Functions

Scientific and Technical Oversight (30%)

1. Assist in the development of scientific planning, financial and regulatory oversight for research programs under the direction of the Chair
2. Plans and manages the budget and space planning under the direction of the Chair
3. Works closely with Research Administrators within the Department of Neuro-Oncology on Brain Tumor Center initiatives, including the annual Brain Tumor Center Scientific Retreat
4. Obtains and tracks scientific project progress, past and future, in the laboratory and has familiarity with where data is stored
5. Ensures that work is published in peer-reviewed scientific journals, where appropriate, and ensures that data is presented with integrity
6. Ensure scientific excellence, quality and completeness of projects. Provides solutions to scientific challenges by making recommendations to establish consensus among key project members. Plans, executes, and facilitates laboratory retreats, as necessary, to ensure that short and long-range goals are met.
7. Generate internal and external collaborations as necessary to further program goals. Stay abreast of the latest cutting-edge technologies and maintain collaborations with known experts at the national and/or international level.
8. Represents research externally through presentations at key National/International meetings, interactions with MD Anderson PIs, outside investigators and Industry collaborators.
9. Helps create PowerPoint presentations, speeches, correspondences, letters of recommendation, etc. as needed for Department Chair

Laboratory Operations Management (30%)

1. Manages staffing including planning, hiring, salary administration, counseling, and development of staff
2. Acts as a designate of the Department Chair at both departmental and institutional levels
3. Manages prioritization of projects based on funding and urgency, assurance of compliance of institutional regulations and quality management. Provides recommendations to the Department Chair regarding prioritization of research activities, including research initiatives for multi-investigator grants
4. Provides leadership and support for all laboratory initiatives and collaborations with MD Anderson faculty and industry
5. Provides Chair with status updates outlining high-level accomplishments, barriers, and issues
6. Works closely with many cross functional teams including the Moon Shot Initiatives, Brain Tumor Center, MD Anderson core labs, and collaborators across the TMC to develop new MDA Alliances
7. Hires and interviews new potential laboratory research personnel, and helps identify their projects/places them with current lab personnel
8. Ensures that policies/procedures of the institution and department are communicated to direct reports formally and informally by written and/or verbal means.
9. Leads writing, editing, reviewing, and implementation of laboratory assay protocols
10. Coaches, counsels and writes performance evaluations for assigned employees
11. Creates scientific content for research studies involving human and animal models tissue specimens, and responds to contingencies, revisions, etc. as needed.
12. Oversees data analysis and figure creation/editing for preparation of manuscripts and grant applications.
13. Assists Chair and lab personnel in presentation preparation, including slide design, creation, and consistency

Financial and Grant Management (40%)

1. Identifies internal and external grant opportunities, informs faculty in the department of funding opportunities. Contact funding agencies to discuss eligibility/applicability of projects
2. Serves as an institutional subject matter expert on all NIH, CPRIT and institutional policies and guidelines for preparation and submission of multi-investigator grants.
3. Teams with Project Managers and Scientific Managers to provide administrative leadership on all multi-investigator grants submissions.
4. Provides the Department Chair with grant preparation timeline and complete administrative procedure manual for proposal pre-award set-up as required by the MD Anderson Office of Sponsored Programs or Office of Research Administration.
5. Provides the Department Chair administrative counsel and guidance in all areas required to prepare a multi-investigator research proposal including faculty effort certification, animal, IBC or IRB protocols, budget construction, sub-contracts, budget justification, biosketch and publication format.
6. Writes first draft of scientific portion of grant applications, including research summary, abstract, lay summary, specific aims, significance, and innovation, and develop figures and figure legends
7. Coordinates with Department Chair collaborators for timely submission of grant components
8. Provides counsel on the establishment and purpose of an External Advisory Board and Internal Advisory Board, advocacy consultant/collaborator letters of support, and institutional program description and support as required by the RFA.
9. Serves as administrator for grants and re-competing proposals, including progress reports, activities performed, publication requests, IRB documentation.
10. Monitors and facilitates progress on each grant project
11. Responsible for the oversight of all fiscal and budgetary issues related to research grants in collaboration with finance office
12. Coordinates preparation for continuations and competitive renewals of the grants
13. Participates in departmental and institutional related committees/meetings as necessary
14. Works with finance to ensure financial/budget review and cost tracking. Oversees financial management and budget related to laboratory projects.
15. Assist in the submission of MTAs, PTAs, and CDAs for external collaborations
16. Authorize grant accounts for laboratory purchases
17. Assist with developing strategies for securing philanthropic funding
18. Serves as liaison between current donors and department; presents updates in research at donor meetings
19. Develop and lead the business development activities in identifying, managing and implementing new collaborative opportunities with potential partners (e.g. pharmaceutical companies)

Key Skills:

• • Scientific background (PhD)
  • Project/Program Management
  • High Emotional Intelligence
  • Multi-tasking
  • Attention to detail and exceptional organization
  • "Can-do" spirit and attitude - Positivity, Energy, Enthusiasm, Passion,
  • Strong dedication to department, BTC, and MD Anderson as a whole

EDUCATION:
Required: Bachelor's degree in one of the natural sciences or related field.

Preferred: Master's degree or PhD in one of the natural sciences or related field or Medical degree.

EXPERIENCE:

Required: Eight of years experience in scientific or experimental research to include two years as a project manager. With preferred master's degree, four years scientific or experimental research experience to include one year as a project manager. With preferred PhD or Medical degree, two years scientific, experimental or related clinical specialty experience.

It is the policy of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center to provide equal employment opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other basis protected by institutional policy or by federal, state or local laws unless such distinction is required by law. http://www.mdanderson.org/about-us/legal-and-policy/legal-statements/eeo-affirmative-action.html