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Scientific Program Manager Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

UC San Diego Health

Under direction, the Scientific Program Management Officer will provide scientific, strategic, and operational leadership for a portfolio of translational research programs focused on immunology ...

Astera

Project Manager - DiffUSE Project

Emeryville, CA · On-site

$170K - $225K/yr

You will work alongside the Scientific Program Manager and other leaders to ensure progress towards our key goals is sustained, and that communication across the project is organized and visible ...

Lorven Technologies

Program Manager

Foster City, CA · On-site

Program Manager Foster City, CA / Hybrid (3D onsite per week) Full-Time / Direct Hire Seeking a strong Program Manager with proven experience driving large, cross functional programs in Life Sciences.

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All JobsScientific Program JobsScientific Program Manager JobsScientific Program Manager Jobs in California

Scientific Program Manager information

See California salary details

$38K

$106.1K

$154.9K

How much do scientific program manager jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 26, 2026, the average yearly pay for scientific program manager in California is $106,053.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $78,500.00 and $130,800.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Scientific Program Manager, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Scientific Program Manager, you need a strong background in scientific research, project management, and often an advanced degree (such as a Ph.D. or master's) in a relevant field. Familiarity with project management tools (like Asana or MS Project), grant administration systems, and compliance regulations is typically required. Exceptional organizational, leadership, and communication skills help manage multidisciplinary teams and complex scientific initiatives. These abilities ensure that scientific programs are executed efficiently, on schedule, and in alignment with organizational goals.

How does a Scientific Program Manager typically collaborate with researchers and stakeholders during a project lifecycle?

A Scientific Program Manager works closely with researchers, principal investigators, and external stakeholders to ensure that project goals and timelines are met. They facilitate communication between teams, coordinate meetings, and help resolve any logistical or scientific challenges that arise. By providing organizational support and aligning project activities with strategic objectives, they enable researchers to focus on scientific innovation. Regular updates, progress tracking, and documentation are key parts of their collaborative efforts, ensuring transparency and alignment throughout the project lifecycle.

What is the difference between Scientific Program Manager vs Research Project Coordinator?

AspectScientific Program ManagerResearch Project Coordinator
CredentialsTypically requires advanced degrees (PhD, MSc) in science or related fieldsBachelor's or master's degree in science, research, or related areas
Work EnvironmentLeads multiple projects, manages teams, and interacts with stakeholders in research institutions or biotech companiesSupports specific research projects, coordinates activities, and assists research teams
Employer & Industry UsageCommon in biotech, pharma, and research organizations for overseeing scientific programsFound in academic labs, research institutes, and industry for project support

The Scientific Program Manager focuses on overseeing multiple scientific projects, managing teams, and strategic planning, often requiring advanced degrees. In contrast, the Research Project Coordinator supports individual research projects by coordinating activities and logistics. Both roles are essential in research environments but differ in scope and responsibilities.

What is a Scientific Program Manager?

A Scientific Program Manager is a professional who oversees the planning, coordination, and administration of scientific research programs or projects. They serve as a bridge between researchers, funding agencies, and other stakeholders to ensure that projects meet their goals, timelines, and budgets. Responsibilities often include managing grant applications, monitoring research progress, and facilitating communication within the research team. Scientific Program Managers typically have a background in science and strong organizational and leadership skills.
What are the most commonly searched types of Scientific Program jobs in California? The most popular types of Scientific Program jobs in California are:
What are popular job titles related to Scientific Program Manager jobs in California? For Scientific Program Manager jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Scientific Program Manager jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Scientific Program Manager jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Scientific Program Manager jobs? Cities in California with the most Scientific Program Manager job openings:
Scientific Program Manager jobs near you
Infographic showing various Scientific Program Manager job openings in California as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 84% Full Time, 13% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 86% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 13% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $106,053 per year, or $51 per hour.
Scientific Program Manager Lead

Scientific Program Manager Lead

Arc Institute

Palo Alto, CA • On-site

Full-time

Posted 26 days ago

Job description

About Arc Institute
Arc Institute is an independent nonprofit research organization at the interface of artificial intelligence and biology, working to accelerate scientific progress and understand the root causes of complex diseases. Founded in 2021 and based in Palo Alto, Arc partners with Stanford University, UC Berkeley, and UC San Francisco.
Unlike academia, our scientists have long-term funding and industry-like resources. Unlike industry, they're free to pursue high-risk, long-term research without commercial pressures. Arc's Technology Centers and Core Investigator labs work side by side, integrating experimental and computational biology under one roof to tackle problems neither could solve alone.
Our two Institute Initiatives reflect this model in action:
  • Virtual Cell Initiative: Building a full-stack virtual cell model to identify disease mechanisms and nominate drug targets, accelerating the path from biological insight to clinical trials.
  • Alzheimer's Disease Initiative: Mapping the genes, pathways, and environmental factors behind Alzheimer's disease to develop drug candidates that address root causes.

More than 300 Arconauts work together at our Palo Alto headquarters, backed by substantial long-term philanthropic funding.
About the position
We are seeking a Scientific Program Manager Lead to drive and coordinate strategic research initiatives across Arc Institute. This role will be instrumental in orchestrating complex, multi-disciplinary projects that span our Technology Centers encompassing cellular models, mammalian models, genome engineering, multi-omics, computational biology, and machine learning.
A defining dimension of this role is the facilitation of cross-functional and cross-institutional collaboration to keep Arc's most complex programs moving. You will lead regular working meetings across Technology Centers, Core Investigator groups, and institute leadership-surfacing and resolving blockers, ensuring effective resource allocation, and maintaining alignment across teams working toward shared scientific goals. As Arc's research programs grow in scope and ambition, this coordination function becomes increasingly critical to execution.
The ideal candidate combines deep technical knowledge of biological research with strong program management skills and a track record of driving progress across distributed, interdisciplinary teams. In this role, you will work closely with Technology Center leaders, Core Investigators, and institute leadership to advance Arc's Virtual Cell and Alzheimer's Disease initiatives through structured, proactive program oversight.
In this role, you will also shape the strategic direction of Arc's research programs, mentor junior team members, and establish program management frameworks that appropriately support the institute's scale.
About you
  • You're a strategic relationship builder. You understand that scientific progress at the institutional level depends on strong internal and external partnerships. You have deep experience cultivating and managing alliances with academic partners, industry collaborators, and peer institutions-and you know how to structure these relationships so they deliver value for all parties over the long term.
  • You love structuring problems and solutions. You take a strategic view and excel at breaking down complex research initiatives into clear workstreams and deliverables, identifying dependencies, and anticipating potential bottlenecks before anyone else. You have a track record of successfully managing programs from inception to completion across multiple scientific disciplines and institutional boundaries.
  • You're able to find the razor's edge between formality and chaos. You know that the path to the biggest discoveries are never linear. So you balance process formality with leaving space for innovation, always with an eye to delivering outstanding results. You've developed an intuition for when structure enables and when it constrains-especially in multi-institutional settings where flexibility and clarity must coexist.
  • You are persuasive but tactful. You have a presence that commands respect (including from people more senior/knowledgeable than you) yet bring tact, diplomacy, and fun to your interactions with team members. You've built trust and influence across organizational and institutional boundaries throughout your career.
  • You're energized by learning. You're a lifelong learner that loves to work at the intersection of biology and technology. You stay current with scientific developments and can connect emerging research trends to operational planning, partnership strategy, and program design.
  • You lead through influence, not authority. You have extensive experience building consensus across diverse scientific groups-both internal and external-managing up effectively, and driving alignment without formal authority. You know how to navigate the unique dynamics of academic-industry hybrid environments and multi-institutional collaborations.
  • You think institutionally. You don't just manage projects-you see the bigger picture. You proactively identify opportunities to strengthen Arc's collaborative network, and you champion scalable frameworks for partnership management that benefit research teams across the organization.

In this position you will
  • Lead and coordinate major research initiatives that span multiple Technology Centers and external collaborators, ensuring clear communication of objectives, timelines, and dependencies across institutional boundaries
  • Manage Arc's portfolio of internal and external scientific collaborations and strategic alliances
  • Structure and negotiate collaboration frameworks, ensuring that partnership agreements, governance models, and joint milestones are clearly defined and aligned with Arc's scientific mission
  • Serve as a primary relationship manager for key partners, building trust, resolving issues, and ensuring that collaborations remain productive and mutually beneficial over time
  • Facilitate regular cross-functional and cross-institutional meetings to drive progress, remove blockers, and ensure effective resource allocation
  • Design and implement institute-wide program management frameworks, project tracking systems, and collaboration processes that scale with organizational growth and an expanding external network
  • Identify opportunities for new strategic partnerships and collaborations that could accelerate Arc's research programs, and present well-structured recommendations to institute leadership
  • Track and communicate project and partnership progress to stakeholders at multiple levels, from technical teams to institute leadership and founders
  • Serve as a strategic thought partner to Technology Center leaders and Core Investigators on program design, risk mitigation, resource planning, and external collaboration strategy
  • Help foster a culture of innovation, excellence, collaboration, and continuous improvement
  • Mentor and develop junior program management staff, building institutional capacity for program management
  • Lead change management efforts as the institute scales, ensuring that evolving processes support rather than hinder scientific discovery and external engagement

Requirements
  • PhD degree in Life Sciences or a related field and 8-12 years of experience in program management in a research or translational setting
  • Demonstrated experience managing external scientific collaborations, strategic alliances, or academic-industry partnerships, with a proven ability to structure, navigate, and steward productive long-term relationships
  • Background in one or more relevant biology areas (genome engineering, multi-omics, cellular engineering, etc.)
  • Strong track record of successfully managing complex, multi-stakeholder projects in research environments, balancing competing priorities while maintaining focus on key long-term strategic objectives
  • Track record of building and scaling program management or alliance management functions in fast-growth research organizations
  • Experience with advanced project management tools and methodologies (e.g., Asana, Jira, Smartsheet)
  • Excellent communication skills and are comfortable regularly engaging with a broad range of research scientists, experimentalists, senior management, and external partners
  • Demonstrated experience leading cross-functional and cross-institutional initiatives and building influence without direct authority in matrixed or research-intensive organizations
  • Proven ability to manage and mentor team members, with a track record of developing talent in research operations

Preferred Qualifications
  • Experience with computational biology or machine learning projects
  • Background in multiple biology domains
  • Direct experience managing university-industry research partnerships or consortium-level scientific collaborations
  • Familiarity with intellectual property, material transfer agreements, or other legal frameworks common in academic-industry collaborations
  • Change management certification or experience leading organizational transformation initiatives
  • Public speaking and scientific communication experience

The base salary range for this position is $172,000-$212,000. These amounts reflect the range of base salary that the Institute reasonably would expect to pay a new hire or internal candidate for this position. The actual base compensation paid to any individual for this position may vary depending on factors such as experience, market conditions, education/training, skill level, and whether the compensation is internally equitable, and does not include bonuses, commissions, differential pay, other forms of compensation, or benefits. This position is also eligible to receive an annual discretionary bonus, with the amount dependent on individual and institute performance factors.

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