Scientific Project & Alliance Manager, SeaHub

The mission of the Allen Institute is to unlock the complexities of bioscience and advance our knowledge to improve human health. Using an open science, multi-scale, team-oriented approach, the Allen Institute focuses on accelerating foundational research, developing standards and models, and cultivating new ideas to make a broad, transformational impact on science.

The Seattle Hub for Synthetic Biology (SeaHub), a two-year-old initiative at the intersection of academic creativity and start-up style execution. Our mission is to reimagine living cells and genomes as devices for recording biology and diagnostic information over time, as well as for encoding real-time therapeutic decision-making. Take off with us as we imagine — and create — a kind of cellular flight recorder that can also seize the controls.

SeaHub is looking for a Scientific Project Manager with a scientific background in synthetic biology, genomics, a similar field, as well as demonstrated ability as a Project Manager. As a leader, collaborator and effective communicator, the Project Manager must be able to drive momentum and build consensus, working at the interface of multi-disciplinary teams. The successful candidate will join our Operations team. The Operations team supports the scientific teams focused on expanding our abilities to engineer cells and genomes to autonomously “Sense,” “Write,” “Read,” and “Act” at a molecular level. The Scientific Project Manager will be working with both the operations and scientific staff to track current research platform experiments, timelines and milestones and deliverables, and disseminate the data, knowledge and tools broadly with the community, to accelerate research within the field. The role may expand to support new internal or externally awarded projects.

At the Allen Institute, we believe that science is for everyone – and should be open to everyone. We are dedicated to combating biases and reducing barriers to STEM careers more broadly.

We also believe that science is better when it includes different perspectives and voices. We strive to make the Allen Institute a place where everyone feels like they belong and are empowered to do their best work in a supportive environment.

We are an equal-opportunity employer and strongly encourage people from all backgrounds to apply for our open positions.

Essential Functions

• In partnership with scientific team leads, serve as the Project Manager to ensure the successful execution of project deliverables
• Support cross-functional teams throughout the project life cycle (planning and execution)
• Plan and organize internal project meetings with clear agendas, expected outcomes, and follow-up on project-related actions
• Plan and organize face-to-face meetings with internal and external collaborators
• Create, maintain, and disseminate project deliverables and timelines, using project management best practices and tools, including database build and management
• Contribute to fiscal management of the project, including budget planning, resource forecasting, expenditure monitoring
• Implement communication plans to promote effective dialogue among all team members
• Ensure appropriate communication with all project stakeholders regarding timelines and status, deadlines, data requirements, and other project-related matters
• Keep project milestones/deliverables on track, monitoring and identifying at-risk deliverables
• Transparently communicate issues, and work with team members to identify options and implement mitigation strategies
• Facilitate and support preparation for internal and external program reviews
• May partner with scientific staff to develop competitive external funding applications (Federal and Private), including applications of significant complexity (multiple parties and administrative coordination). Ensure that Grants Management best practices are followed
• Support post-award execution of externally funded efforts in audit-compliant fashion including contracts, sub-awardees, budget tracking/variance reporting, prior approval requests, carry forward requests and agency reporting

Note: Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. This description reflects management’s assignment of essential functions; it does not proscribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned.

Required Education and Experience

• Ph.D. degree in biological sciences, with a strong preference towards genomics, synthetic biology or the molecular biology domain knowledge, + 1 year of experience as a professional Project Manager, beyond an academic research/post-doctoral setting for a Ph.D. degree holder; or Master’s Degree in biological sciences, with a strong preference towards genomics, synthetic biology or the molecular biology domain knowledge + 6 years’ experience as a professional Project Manager
• Proficient in the use of project management, collaboration management and efficiency software tools and best practices
• Experience with fiscal management of projects
• A collaborative leader with strong communication and collaboration skills; able to navigate challenging group dynamics with consensus-building skills, and to work effectively across scientific, technical and business interfaces

Preferred Education and Experience

• Prefer 5 years of experience post-PhD
• Formal Project Management training and PMP certification
• A strong understanding of synthetic biology and in vivo biology technologies (such as use of gene editing technologies, sequence analysis and transgenic mice)
• Experience with software tools such as MS Teams, SharePoint, Google Drive, Slack, JIRA, Confluence, Smartsheet, etc; and particularly an expert in MS Project, Smartsheet, GDrive and a PM tool such as JIRA or the like.
• Results-oriented with a passion for delivering successful projects, with a proven track record of increasing team’s velocity and effectiveness
• Detail-focused and organized, with an understanding that communication and transparency are critical to achieving success
• Able to set expectations (vertically and horizontally) and hold individuals and teams accountable
• Advanced ability to translate scientific and technical subject matter into concise, clear communications that are understood by technical and non-technical leaders and constituents

Work Environment

• Frequently required to sit, stand, walk, stoop, kneel or reach

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

• This role is currently working onsite and is expected to work onsite four days/week. The primary work location for this role is 700 Dexter Ave N., with the flexibility to work remotely on a limited basis.
• We are a Washington State employer, and any remote work must be performed in Washington State.

Additional Comments

• This position does not provide work visa sponsorship
• This position provides relocation assistance

Annualized Salary Range

• $117,900 - $147,350 *

* Final salary depends on the required education for the role, experience, level of skills relevant to the role, and work location, where applicable.

Benefits

• Employees (and their families) are eligible to enroll in benefits per eligibility rules outlined in the Allen Institute’s Benefits Guide. These benefits include medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance. Employees are also eligible to enroll in the Allen Institute’s 401k plan. Paid time off is also available as outlined in the Allen Institutes Benefits Guide. Details on the Allen Institute’s benefits offering are located at the following link to the Benefits Guide:?https://alleninstitute.org/careers/benefits.

It is the policy of the Allen Institute to provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. In addition, the Allen Institute will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities.