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The Department of Biochemistry - IPD has an outstanding opportunity for Manager of Program Operations.

The Institute for Protein Design (IPD) at the University of Washington in Seattle is creating a new world of synthetic proteins to address 21st-century challenges in medicine, energy, and technology. The IPD is a unique interdisciplinary environment where world-class researchers with expertise in computing and software, biochemistry, genome sciences, biological structure, pharmacology, immunology and other basic science disciplines, as well as clinical medicine, work together to both computationally design and experimentally characterize novel biomolecules. Current projects include the design of novel therapeutics for cancer, neurological diseases, and more, as well as new vaccines, nanomaterials, and enzymes. For more detailed information about the Institute for Protein Design please see www.ipd.uw.edu .

Institute for Protein Design (IPD) has an exciting opportunity for a Manager of Program Operations position. This is a senior management role responsible for overseeing the Institute’s administrative, logistical and financial operations, in close coordination with the management of UW Department of Biochemistry at the School of Medicine within which the IPD is organized.  The Institute for Protein Design (IPD) is a major research institute with a national and international reputation for conducting cutting-edge biomedical research, designing a whole new world of proteins to address 21st century challenges in medicine, materials, and technology. The IPD operates within a multi-million dollar funding portfolio comprising sponsored research projects, federal grants and gifts from private foundations and donors.

The Manager of Program Operations is a key member of the Institute for Protein Design (IPD), serving as head of its administrative team, and will be responsible for a wide range of complex, diversified and confidential leadership duties. Critical thinking, initiative, and sound judgment based on experience are required to manage operations, resolve problems, set up and implement policies and procedures and make recommendations to top management. The position will have a high level of autonomy and independence, with highly developed collaborative and team-building skills.

The Manager of Program Operations oversees a ~10-person administrative staff at the IPD, effectively managing all business-, fiscal-, and grant-related activities for the Institute, comprising over $21M in annual expenditures and ~200 people including 4 faculty members, staff scientists, postdoctoral scholars, graduate students, and undergraduate trainees. This position will report to the Executive Director of the IPD and will work in close cooperation and coordination with the Department of Biochemistry main administration and department management (Chair/Director/Administrator).

Major Duties and responsibilities include:

Grant and Program Management Activities (30%)
• Oversee the activities of the research/grant team headed by the IPD Research Manager, who manages all grant proposals, pre- and post-award funding, budgeting, contracts, and reporting.
• Liaise with UW Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Office of Sponsored Programs, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and CoMotion officials to ensure timely and effective processing of agreements.

Administrative Management Activities (40%)
• Oversee the activities of a four-person team headed by a Lab Manager managing all of the laboratory functions across four research sites encompassing ~30,000 assignable square feet of diverse laboratory spaces, including EH&S activities.
• Oversee the activities of an Academic HR Manager (Program Operations Specialist) who is responsible for management of all postdoctoral scholar appointments, graduate student coordination (in collaboration with the Department of Biochemistry Academic Programs Director), and visiting scientist interviews, on-boarding, visa processing, and off-boarding.
• Oversee the activities of one event coordinator who is responsible for supporting a variety of programmatic events at the IPD.
• Oversee the activities of one executive assistant (reporting to IPD Scientific Director) and one administrative assistant (reporting to IPD Deputy Director) who manage all calendaring, travel, paperwork, and desk assignments for the Baker and King labs.
• Manage the review, implementation, and maintenance of all IPD policy documents, ensuring compliance with UW, State, Departmental policies and executive orders. Oversee the organizational process improvement, play an active role in creating and implementing internal policies and procedures to ensure compliance.
• Coordinate the annual performance reviews (with Principal Investigators and other stakeholders) and salary change recommendations for ~10 research scientists. Work with the central Department of Biochemistry administration (Dept. HR Manager, Director) to obtain the necessary approvals and HR process for salary changes, promotions, recruitment, terminations, layoffs and other HR-related issues.

Fiscal Management Activities (30%)
• Oversee the activities of one fiscal analyst and one procurement specialist supporting the timely reporting of IPD financials to numerous stakeholders and funding agencies.
• Ensure that use of funding is appropriately matched to research activities and that accurate forecasting of financial models for 2+ years enables long-term decision-making about staffing and infrastructure improvements.
• Provide required fiscal, grant and management reports to the IPD Executive Director, Department of Biochemistry Chair and Director as needed.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
Bachelor’s Degree in Management, business or related field plus 6-8 years or more of experience in related field.

Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
• Highly skilled program management professional with direct experience in program administration roles, preferably within the UW system or comparable academic / research environment.
• Proven track- record in managing complex pre- and post- award grant processes (ideally within the UW system) and fiscal management of a sizable research or academic program, within a research, academic or private industry environment.
• Strong analytical, financial management and reporting skills and experience.
• Highly developed project and team management, collaborative and people skills and ability to build and motivate teams in a positive, collaborative environment are a must.
• Critical thinking, initiative, and sound judgment based on experience are required to manage tasks, resolve problems, and make recommendations.
• Advanced computer skills, project management experience, and advanced communication, organizational and collaborative skills required.

Desired qualification:
• Familiarity with University of Washington sponsored research and/or financial systems and policies, and UW institutional knowledge strongly preferred.
• Master’s Degree in Business Administration or a related field.
• 6-8 years of research program management-level experience in an institution of higher learning or in the biotechnology sector.
• Familiarity with intellectual property prosecution and maintenance.
• Experience with contracts, vendor and procurement agreements and processes within the UW.
• Familiarity with government funding agencies and their grant and contract processes.
• Familiarity with principles of managerial accounting.

Application Process:

The application process for UW positions may include completion of a variety of online assessments to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation process.  These assessments may include Work Authorization, Cover Letter and/or others.  Any assessments that you need to complete will appear on your screen as soon as you select “Apply to this position”. Once you begin an assessment, it must be completed at that time; if you do not complete the assessment you will be prompted to do so the next time you access your “My Jobs” page. If you select to take it later, it will appear on your "My Jobs" page to take when you are ready. Please note that your application will not be reviewed, and you will not be considered for this position until all required assessments have been completed.