Academic Program Management Officer III - 138478

UCSD Health Sciences is a $1 billion dollar plus organization encompassing 17 academic departments (15 clinical, 2 basic sciences), 2 preacademic/hospital departments, 2 professional schools (School of Medicine and Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences), 2 hospitals, and various other programs and units all dedicated towards fulfilling the Health Sciences missions. The UCSD Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine (CMM) is one of two basic science units in the School of Medicine where world-class researchers study fundamental cellular processes and pathways using a variety of techniques from classical genetics and fluorescence microscopy to high throughput genomics, systems biology, and crystallography. Our 37 faculty and over 200 postdoctoral scholars, graduate students, and research staff work on the cutting edge of biology, cutting across fields from basic biochemistry and genetics to genomics, systems biology and stem cell biology. The faculty also play a major role in medical and graduate student training, providing educational and programmatic offerings that span several disciplines and provide diversity to meet the interests of a broad spectrum of students and scholars. The diverse mix of ages, backgrounds, and talents creates a robust work environment with challenging career opportunities and a commitment to continued growth potential. We constantly seek to recruit highly motivated, technologically advanced, and deeply interested individuals who are ready to become a part of our dynamic research and educational environment.

The Alexandrov Lab at the University of California, San Diego, led by Ludmil Alexandrov, was established in 2018 and focuses on large-scale genomics alongside computational and experimental biology. A central emphasis of the lab's research is the discovery, characterization, and interpretation of mutational signatures, which provide insights into the biological, environmental, and endogenous processes that initiate and drive cancer. The lab leads and participates in extensive global collaborations and consortia spanning more than 40 countries, analyzing tens of thousands of cancer genomes and related molecular datasets from distinct populations worldwide. In addition to large international cohort analyses, the lab molecularly profiles many hundreds of samples per year from both experimental model systems and human tissues, generating high-resolution genomic data to study mutagenesis in controlled and real-world contexts. Through these efforts, the Alexandrov Lab aims to uncover fundamental principles of mutagenesis and translate them into improved cancer prevention, early detection, and precision oncology strategies.

Administers all finance, human resources and facilities and other operational activities for small to mid-sized academic or research program. Administers major program components, and some or all of the program's operational requirements. Develops and organizes conferences and other public forums. Works under direction of Principal Investigator or more senior Academic Program Officer to establish center agenda, funding, objectives.

Under the general supervision of the Principal Investigator, the Program Manager directs administrative and programmatic activities for the lab. The Program Manager is responsible for facilities and other operational activities. This position independently administers major program components and performs many operational and research requirements.

The Program Manager is responsible for managing and coordinating regulatory and compliance activities, including Material Transfer Agreements (MTAs), Data Use Agreements (DUAs), and Institutional Review Board (IRB) protocols. The role involves extensive communication and coordination with domestic and international collaborators, as well as administration of large, multi-institutional research grants and programs. The Program Manager interacts closely with funding agencies, philanthropic partners, and other external stakeholders associated with large-scale research initiatives, and assists the Principal Investigator and research team with the preparation, coordination, and submission of grant applications.

The Program Manager works in conjunction with the Principal Investigator to support the lab's agenda, funding, and objectives, facilitates collaboration with internal and external collaborators and program users, and may assist with coordinating and submitting manuscripts and other scholarly outputs as needed. The position may develop and organize conferences and other public forums as required. Performs other duties as assigned.

• Advanced degree in related area and / or equivalent experience / training.

• Three (3) or more years of relevant experience.

• Academic background and experience in selected area of research preferred.

• Thorough knowledge of administrative, budgetary, human resources and financial principles and practices.

• Strong oral and written communication skills.

• Strong ability to think creatively and independently on concepts requiring advanced analytical skills.

• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work with diverse groups to achieve results.

• Strong ability to work collaboratively with internal and external peers and managers.

• Solid fundraising experience.

• Demonstrated experience supporting the preparation, coordination, and submission of grant applications, renewals, and progress reports for large, multi-year research programs.

• Proven ability to manage complex, multi-institutional or multinational research projects, including coordination of timelines, deliverables, and stakeholder communication.

• Working knowledge of research compliance and regulatory processes, including coordination of IRB protocols, MTAs, DUAs, and related approvals.

• Strong project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple concurrent priorities in a fast-paced research environment.

• Demonstrated ability to provide work direction, participate in hiring and onboarding, and contribute to performance review processes.

• Proficiency with standard office, collaboration, and project management software and tools.

• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and sound judgment when managing competing priorities and deadlines.

• Terminal degree in a related field preferred (PhD, JD, MD, etc.)

• Experience working in large-scale genomics, computational biology, biomedical research, or similarly data-intensive research environments.

• Familiarity with controlled-access human genomics datasets and data access approval workflows (e.g., dbGaP or similar repositories).

• Experience supporting large research consortia, centers, or collaborative networks involving academic, clinical, industry, or philanthropic partners.

• Prior experience interacting with federal funding agencies and philanthropic organizations supporting academic research.

• Employment is subject to a criminal background check.