Project Manager, Proteostasis Project

Position SummaryThe Project Manager, Proteostasis Project, supports the Buck Institute's leadership of a multi-participant project focused on proteostasis. Reporting into Technology Transfer & Business Development, this role works closely with the Buck lead Principal Investigator and scientists to manage Buck's internal and external obligations under the agreements.The Project Manager is responsible for coordinating project reporting, identifying and reporting inventions, coordinating compliance, preparing meetings and presentations, and serving as the day-to-day liaison between Buck and Project Team Members. The role is scientist-facing and team oriented. It does not process payments or execute agreements; those functions remain with Finance, Grants and the Institute's authorized signatories, whom this position supports with documentation and tracking.Key ResponsibilitiesProject Coordination and ReportingServe as the day-to-day administrative point of contact with the funding representative and the broader project team in coordination with the Buck PI and Business DevelopmentCoordinate, consolidate and submit monthly technical and financial status reports, milestone and deliverable packages, the Project Plan and other documentation required under the agreement, in the format and by the deadlines the funder requiresIssue reporting and deliverable templates communicate deadlines and any changing requirements, and enforce internal deadlinesProactively identify late, incomplete, or at-risk contributions and work with the responsible team member, collaborating institution, and project leadership to resolve issuesMaintain a comprehensive compliance calendar of every obligation, deliverable, milestone and reporting deadline under all the agreements supporting the project from kickoff through close-outMaintain the consolidated project file on behalf of the Buck and make it available to co-lead university collaboratorMeetings, Agendas and PresentationsArrange agendas, briefing materials and presentations for team and funder encounters, including the program kickoff, monthly progress meetings, milestone reviews, annual PI review meetings and funder site visitsWork with the co-lead PIs and team member scientists to assemble clear, accurate slides and summaries of progress against program metrics and milestonesOrganize internal team meetings, including co-lead PI governance meetings, Technical Advisory Board meetings and Translation Advisory Board meetings; record decisions and track action items to completionAttend monthly funder meetings with the PI, and track the program's 90% annual meeting attendance requirementCoordinate logistics for site visits and in-person reviews at Buck and, as needed, at co-lead’s location and other team member locationsInvention Identification and ReportingWork with Buck scientists to recognize potentially patentable results early and route them to the Business Development teamCollect invention disclosures and other intellectual property information and prepare their disclosure to the funderTrack each team member’s election of title, and report as appropriateTrack joint inventions and assist with the negotiation, execution and maintenance of inter-institutional agreementsCoordinate periodic training for team scientists on prompt invention disclosure, as the OTA requiresLiaison with Team MembersServe as Buck's counterpart to co-lead's program and contracts staff, and support governance, decision logs and escalations under the associate agreementsServe as the working contact for PIs, grants officers and technology transfer offices for all team member institutionsManage the funder direction protocol: when any team member receives direction affecting scope, schedule, budget or milestones, flag it so the team coordinates a response before actingCoordinate preparation and track the status of all related agreement amendments and modifications, including option exercises, and route them to the Buck’s authorized signatories; confirm team member approval is in hand before any modification affecting them is signedCompliance and Program RequirementsCollect annual certifications as requiredTrack IRB, IACUC, Federalwide Assurance and Animal Welfare Assurance status across team members, and coordinate the team's response to any suspension or adverse findingMaintain the team's channel for reporting results of concern under the program's dangerous gain of function prohibitions, and ensure such results reach the funder promptlyCollect draft publications across the team and process as required by agreementsFlag export control and foreign participation issues, including proposed transfers of IP, data or materials to foreign entities, for review before they occurSupport the Translation Advisory Board and the revised commercialization plan with a named commercial partnerProvide milestone acceptance documentation and tracking to Finance and Sponsored Research to support their management of paymentsReportingProvide regular status reports on Project deliverables, inventions, compliance and risks to the EVP, Partnering & Administration and Business Development team, including the discussion and delegation of the above tasks as relevant and agreed upon by supporting staffCollaborate closely with Finance, Business Development, Compliance and Buck scientistsQUALIFICATIONSEducationPhD in biochemistry, biophysics, structural or molecular biology, chemistry or a related field; an MS with substantial additional relevant experience will be consideredSignificant demonstrated experience successfully managing complex scientific or research programs may be considered in lieu of an advanced degreeExperience5+ years' experience managing research programs, contracts, grants or collaborations at a research institute, university or biotechnology companyWorking experience with large agreements, such as corporate sponsored research or Other Transaction AgreementsExperience coordinating multiple institutions or teams toward shared deliverables and deadlinesExperience with invention disclosure, Bayh-Dole Act and federal invention reporting (iEdison) preferredLicense or CertificationProject Management Professional (PMP) or Certified Research Administrator (CRA) an add but not requiredSpecialized Skills (in place or to be learned)Highly self-directed and proactive, with the initiative and leadership required to move complex projects forwardScientific fluency sufficient to read milestone reports, recognize potential inventions and engage credibly with PIs; familiarity with protein biophysics, intrinsically disordered proteins, or computational and AI-driven biology a plusWorking knowledge of federal research agreement terms, including invention reporting, data rights, publication notice and research security requirementsStrong skill in building agendas, presentations and briefing materials for scientific and funding audiencesAbility to work diplomatically and effectively with senior scientists, partner institutions, funding representatives, and administrative stakeholders while maintaining accountability for deadlines and deliverablesOutstanding written and verbal communication skills, with exceptional attention to detail and accuracyExtremely well organized, with the ability to manage a compliance calendar spanning many parties and deadlinesExercises judgment and tact, and maintains a strict degree of confidentialityInteracts effectively with people from diverse backgrounds and viewpointsHighly proficient with Microsoft Office, including PowerPoint, and with project tracking toolsCompensation & BenefitsThe anticipated salary range for this position is $120,000 to $165,000 annually. Actual compensation will be based on relevant experience, qualifications, internal equity, and other job-related factors. The Buck Institute offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance.TO APPLYInterested candidates should apply online and upload a resume and a cover letter explaining your interest and experience for this role.