Research Program Manager

The Opportunity

Cancer is, and will continue to be, a major burden on societies worldwide. This problem is not unique to any single country but instead is a global challenge that does not recognize borders.

Through many decades of research, a deep understanding of many aspects of how cancer is initiated, develops and spreads is being gained. This understanding is now being translated into novel prevention strategies and a compendium of increasingly advanced treatments.

However, despite these breakthroughs many tough, stubborn challenges continue to impede progress. Solving these challenges holds the key to a decidedly different outcome for the many millions diagnosed with cancer each year. To make radical progress against these challenges requires an elite, global community of cancer researchers to collaborate across borders, with a relentless focus on solving them. To make the radical progress against these challenges Cancer Grand Challenges was established.

Cancer Grand Challenges is now seeking to hire a Research Program Manager. The Research Program Manager will oversee and coordinate a portfolio of global research projects, assuring alignment with the mission of Cancer Grand Challenges. Reporting to the Head of Research, Cancer Grand Challenges, the Research Program Manager will be responsible for ensuring the smooth execution and successful completion of research projects, staying in constant communication with the teams and helping with planning and resource allocation to assure projects are completed within scope and on time.

Cancer Grand Challenges

Cancer Grand Challenges supports an elite community of international research teams to come together, think differently, and solve some of cancer’s toughest challenges. With a series of $25 million awards, Cancer Grand Challenges teams are empowered to rise above the traditional boundaries of geography and scientific discipline, in order to accelerate scientific progress, and to ultimately change outcomes for people with cancer.

Founded by the two largest funders of cancer research in the world - Cancer Research UK and the National Cancer Institute in the United States - and uniting an international community of partners, Cancer Grand Challenges aims to make the radical progress against cancer that is urgently needed.

American Friends of Cancer Research

American Friends of Cancer Research is an independent 501(c)3 not-for-profit. Its purpose is to support unique, large-scale, global research collaborations in partnership with other scientific funders to catalyse transformational breakthroughs in our understanding of cancer, that could lead to new ways to prevent, diagnose, and treat cancers.

The principal focus of American Friends of Cancer Research is to support Cancer Grand Challenges - a flagship global initiatives developed and led out of Cancer Research UK in partnership with the U.S. National Cancer Institute (NCI). The incumbent professional will be employed by American Friends of Cancer Research to support the Cancer Grand Challenges initiative.

SUMMARY OF THE ROLE’S MAIN PURPOSE

As an integral member of the Research team, the Research Program Manager will oversee and coordinate a portfolio of research projects, ensuring they align with Cancer Grand Challenges organizational objectives and are completed efficiently. This role involves strategic planning, resource allocation, team leadership, and maintaining high standards of data integrity and compliance. The manager communicates progress and outcomes to stakeholders and prepares detailed reports. Strong organizational, leadership, and communication skills are essential, along with a solid background in cancer research. This position is suited for proactive, detail-oriented individuals who can manage multiple projects and foster collaborative research environments.

The role will partner effectively with colleagues at AFCR and CRUK, as well as with funded research institutions. They will work independently with minimal supervision in a fast-paced environment with multiple and conflicting priorities. This individual excels at multi-tasking, has strong attention to detail, anticipates and proactively resolves problems, is a team player, and handles confidential information with discretion.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

- Act as a key scientific and strategic interface with the external research community – cultivating excellent and effective relationships with the CGC community, leading scientists, academics, clinicians, patient advocates and/or industry or other relevant organizations.

- Work with the Head of Research and Director to develop, shape and implement CGC’s research strategy.

- Work with the research program management team at the National Cancer Institute, our CGC founding partner.

- Develop and demonstrate deep scientific and portfolio knowledge and management, including inputting as appropriate to any challenge setting, funding and review processes.

- Work with the CGC Operations team to plan and deliver CCG funding calls including application management, selecting applications to fund and award management.

- Help shape the scientific development of key CGC events, including the CGC Annual Summit, which brings together the CGC scientific community to present scientific updates, explore opportunities for collaboration and networking, the CGC Future Scientific Leaders’ Summit and other strategic events.

- Work with Cancer Research Horizons and other relevant teams to inform and develop opportunities for translation and commercialization of CGC research, where appropriate.

- Identify scientific, collaborative and communications opportunities and work across functions to develop ways to better progress and promote CGC-funded work.

KEY TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & EXPERIENCE

- Strong science background, PhD in a biomedical science, with expertise in the area of cancer biology and with a knowledge of current trends in cancer research.

- Proven ability to form strong, positive collaborative relationships at all levels of seniority.

- Demonstrable understanding of the research landscape, its challenges and opportunities.

- Excellent communications skills, with strong attention to detail, and the ability to interpret and present complex information in written form or verbally, that recognises the needs of the audience and enables effective decision making.

- Numerate and analytically minded, with an aptitude to resolving problems by developing innovative, robust and pragmatic solutions, implemented with attention to detail.

- Experience of planning, managing and delivering strategic projects; ability to prioritise and manage multiple tasks and to support others to do so, showing adaptability to meet challenging targets and deadlines.

- Willingness to travel within the US, and internationally, as required.

TEAM BEHAVIORS

- “Can-do” attitude and demonstrated collegiality.

- Willingness to go above and beyond the position description to ensure success.

- Excellent self-awareness and ability to professionally interact with a wide range of people.

- Integrate into and work well as part of a dynamic and evolving team based across different geographic locations, cultures, and legal frameworks.

- Respond well to and embrace change and ambiguity.

- Provide and receive constructive feedback to enable individual and team development.

- Commitment to promoting and supporting an environment of diversity and inclusion

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $80,000.00 - $110,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Boston, MA 02210

Salary : $80,000 - $110,000