Contract Science Project Management Jobs in Portland, ME

The Senior Project Manager, Data Science Initiatives will play a leadership role within JAX Research, overseeing the planning, facilitating, executing, and delivering high-priority data science projects within established timelines, resource constraints, and defined objectives. This role is an essential point of leadership for the onboarding and setup of new initiatives. This role is responsible for building and standardizing the project management systems, frameworks, and tools that underpin Data Science Initiatives, establishing consistent processes and KPIs that scale across a growing and complex research portfolio. In this research-driven environment, the Senior Project Manager ensures the effective and efficient use of personnel, equipment, funding, and other resources to advance project goals. This role monitors project progress, identifies risks or deviations from expected outcomes, and implements corrective actions as needed. This position operates across cross-functional teams to ensure project objectives are met, stakeholder needs are addressed, and high-quality deliverables are produced. The Senior Project Manager provides clear communication, strategic context, and data-informed recommendations to internal and external stakeholders while driving alignment, accountability, and efficient execution across the project lifecycle.

Remote (with travel to JAX sites as needed) Salary Range: $74,772 - $125,184 based on years of related experience

Key Responsibilities (What you contribute):

• Build and standardize project management systems, frameworks, tools, and KPIs that reflect best practices and enable consistent, scalable support across complex initiatives.

• Maintain visibility across the full project portfolio, including intake and setup of new projects, establishing charters, resource plans, and clear frameworks before execution begins.

• Document and track all active projects at an appropriate level of detail, capturing objectives, milestones, task priorities, team members and roles, commitment levels, decision points, and resource availability (staff, funding, equipment).

• Partner with leads to map tasks and timelines, identify interdependencies, and ensure alignment across concurrent initiatives.

• Develop a sufficient understanding of the aims of the sponsors and collaborators to effectively coordinate project teams and serve as a bridge between technical and operational workstreams.

• Keep projects on track by proactively identifying and resolving blocking issues, unclear priorities, insufficient resources, risks, and deviations from expected outcomes, implementing corrective actions as needed.

• Coordinate handoffs and ensure continuity as projects transition between phases or team members, including periodic and final review of sponsor satisfaction.

• Contribute directly to hands-on technical or experimental work, documentation, reports, or publications as project needs require.

• Mentor and coach a team of project and/or program managers across both technical and emotional intelligence domains.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (What you're good at):

• Bachelor's degree required/Master's preferred

• 7 years required/10 years preferred of career project or program manager with experience in driving complex, long-term, strategic projects

• Proven track record of managing large, complex research programs and cross-functional teams

• Demonstrated experience being an agent of change with proven track record of influence and driving required operational change.

• Demonstrated ability to successfully design & implement a project management framework that drives consistency and operational excellence

• High fluency in risk management, decision making, and problem solving

• Exceptional communication skills and stakeholder management experience

• Experience managing budgets and driving measurable business impact

• Experience building or scaling a project management function within a research organization

• Familiarity with data science workflows, machine learning project lifecycles, or research operations

• Experience contributing to documentation and reports

• Ability to navigate matrixed or cross-functional environments and lead through influence

Why JAX

At JAX, you'll join a missiondriven organization dedicated to advancing human health through cuttingedge science, data innovation, and collaborative discovery. You'll shape partnerships and programs that accelerate breakthroughs in genetics, disease modeling, and translational research.

If you're a strategic thinker, a relationship builder, and a leader who thrives at the intersection of science and technology, we'd love to meet you.

About JAX:

The Jackson Laboratory is an independent, nonprofit biomedical research institution with a National Cancer Institute-designated Cancer Center and nearly 3,000 employees in locations across the United States (Maine, Connecticut, California),Japan andChina. Its mission is to discover precise genomic solutions for disease and empower the global biomedical community in the shared quest to improve human health.

Founded in 1929, JAX applies over nine decades of expertise in genetics to increase understanding of human disease, advancing treatments and cures for cancer, neurological and immune disorders, diabetes, aging and heart disease. It models and interprets genomic complexity, integrates basic research with clinical application, educates current and future scientists, and provides critical data, tools and services to the global biomedical community. For more information, please visitwww.jax.org.

EEO Statement:

The Jackson Laboratory provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment in all job classifications without regard to race, color, religion, age, mental disability, physical disability, medical condition, gender, sexual orientation, genetic information, ancestry, marital status, national origin, veteran status, and other classifications protected by applicable state and local non-discrimination laws.