Graduate Program Manager Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

The Program Manager is responsible for the overall administration and related activities to support the high quality research and research translations programs for Tippi MacKenzie, MD, including the Center for Maternal-Fetal Precision Medicine (CMFPM), the Center for Genome Surgery (CGS), and the MacKenzie Lab. This position, under the direction Tippi MacKenzie, MD, (reporting to Emma Canepa) is responsible for: programmatic planning; communications; financial activities; strategic planning; organizational infrastructure; community building; information management; coordination of grants and related financial activities; human resources support (staff, fellows, visitors).

This role will need to work independently to identify and address challenges as they arise, often for the first time. This position requires a self-starter; keen learner; and an experienced, resourceful problem solver with skills in organization, project-management and implementation, interpersonal relations, and team management. The Program Manager works cooperatively with Campus and Medical Center personnel, including faculty, staff, graduate students, research and medical fellows. 

To effectively manage the ongoing operations of the Center and to facilitate the growth of new programs, the Program Manager requires some facility with the subject matter, which an applicant is unlikely to have but must be able to learn at a sophisticated, lay level. This role is responsible for internal and external communications, including communication with internal and outside collaborators, overseeing the communications strategy and outreach, writing and editing documents such as newsletters, donor reports, websites, announcements, and social media posts. They will lead the planning of events such as symposia, workshops, and retreats, and will assist with coordinating multicenter research projects.

Department Overview 

This role will support Dr. Tippi MacKenzie's programmatic needs for the Center for Maternal-Fetal Precision Medicine (CMFPM), the Center for Genome Surgery (CGS), and the MacKenzie Lab (Lab). 

The UCSF Center for Maternal-Fetal Precision Medicine is an interdisciplinary research collaboration that is administratively housed in the Department of Surgery, a major academic clinical department in the UCSF School of Medicine. Faculty, staff, and trainees from many research and clinical specialties, across many departments and clinical services, contribute to the CMFPM's goals to improve prenatal diagnosis of genetic diseases and to develop genomic and other molecular therapies to treat genetic diseases before birth. The research activities are highly-collaborative and span the full range of basic, clinical, and translational research, including clinical trials. Key staff members on the CMFPM team include a prenatal genetic counselor, a clinical trials manager, a prenatal sequencing program manager, an embedded ethicist, research fellows, clinical research staff, and this program manager role, all working in close cooperation. Close collaborators at UCSF include the Center for Genome Surgery, Fetal Treatment Center, Prenatal Diagnostic Center, Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, and the Innovative Genomics Institute at UC Berkeley. The CMFPM is co-directed by Dr. Mary Norton, a leader in precision prenatal diagnosis, and Dr. Tippi MacKenzie, a leader in prenatal molecular therapies. The CMFPM is poised to develop personalized, life-saving genomic therapies for our youngest patients with serious genetic diseases. It is an exciting time to join the Center. 

The Center for Genome Surgery is an interdisciplinary research collaboration that is administratively housed in the Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, a major academic research unit at UCSF. Faculty, staff, and trainees from many research and clinical specialties, across many departments and clinical services, contribute to the CGS's goals to improve genomic therapies to treat rare genetic diseases. The research activities are highly-collaborative and span the full range of basic, clinical, and translational research, including clinical trials. Key staff members on the CGS include a program manager, a prenatal genetic counselor, a clinical research coordinator, research fellows, clinical research staff, and this program manager role, all working in close cooperation. Close collaborators at UCSF include the CMFPM, Pediatric Genetics, and the Innovative Genomics Institute at UC Berkely. The Center is directed by Dr. Tippi MacKenzie.

The MacKenzie Lab is a basic science and translational research lab that is housed in the Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research. Key staff members include graduate students, postdocs, surgery residents, and staff research associates working towards the shared goal of understanding the fundamental mechanisms of maternal-fetal biology in order to develop innovative fetal and pediatric therapies for genetic diseases and pregnancy complications. The MacKenzie Lab is lead by Dr. Tippi MacKenzie. 

Required Qualifications:

Advanced degree in related area and/or equivalent experience/training
Three years of related experience 
Strong/Advanced analytical, critical thinking, project management, and problem recognition, avoidance, and resolution skills
Strong/Advanced ability to work and think independently and creatively on concepts requiring advanced analytical skills
Excellent judgement and tact
Strong/Advanced writing and editing skills
Technical knowledge of social media platforms and website content managers
Strong/Advanced interpersonal skills and ability to work collaboratively with diverse internal and external stakeholders
Strong/Advanced event planning knowledge and experience
Thorough knowledge of administrative, budgetary, human resources, and financial principles and practices

Preferred Qualifications:

Academic background or experience in a related area of research
Thorough knowledge of UCSF, including its mission, vision, goals, policies, and infrastructure; knowledge of relevant current affairs and issues in health sciences
UCSF experience and familiarity with UCSF business applications
Solid fundraising experience
Experience with program building within an academic institution
Knowledge of the biomedical research enterprise
Terminal degree in a related area (PhD, JD, MD, etc.) and/or equivalent experience/training

% 

of time

Essential Function (Yes/No)

Key Responsibilities

(To be completed by Supervisor)

Manage with significant autonomy a small to mid-sized program with primary responsibility for administrative, programmatic, and communication activities, which include but are not limited to the following:

20%

Communications

Manage or produce written, visual, digital, and electronic communications for Dr. MacKenzie aimed at diverse audiences that include scientists, clinicians, donors, staff, leadership, sponsors, patients.

Maintain communication assets including contact lists, artwork, video.

Ensure effective messaging and compliance with UCSF standards.

Maintain websites. 

Prepare social media posts. 

Draft and edit reports to donors and funding agencies. 

Write and disseminate announcements and newsletters. 

Liaise with stakeholder departments (ObGynRS, Surgery, IGI,GML, FTC, PCD) and represent MacKenzie group interests in FTC marketing activities.

Assess impact of communications efforts.

40%

Programmatic Activities

Organize activities including meetings and events that are weekly, quarterly, annual, and ad hoc; local, national, and international; administrative, scientific, and social; virtual and in-person. Collaborate with team leads and Dr. MacKenzie to clarify objectives and develop agenda for these meetings and events.

Organize weekly business meetings (agenda, follow-up) and weekly research meetings (speaker schedule, recordings, follow-up).   

Organize quarterly social, annual symposium, quarterly virtual seminar, ad hoc workshops and conferences, including program development, logistics, registration, budgeting, procurement.

Assess program's effectiveness, and recommends changes to content, policies, and procedures.

Work with program leadership to identify and pursue funding opportunities and revenue streams.

Facilitate internal and external collaboration.

Community building.

20%

Financial oversight

Participate in the program budgeting and accounting processes to support financial infrastructure of program. 

Prepare annual budget, quarterly expenditure report, and cumulative report on sources and uses of funds. 

Review expenses for accuracy and compliance with UCSF and sponsor requirements and move expenses as appropriate.

Plan event budgets, review contracts.

20%

Human Resources

Prepare ad hoc stipend requests.

Organize outreach and application review for fellowship positions. 

Facilitate appointments for visiting scholars and volunteers

100%