Program Manager - Digestive Diseases Research Center

Vanderbilt University Medical Center; Nashville (TN); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Vanderbilt University Medical Center seeks a Program Manager to oversee the Vanderbilt Digestive Disease Research Center (VDDRC) and provide executive administrative support to the Division Director. Responsibilities include coordinating NIH center grant activities, training programs, and communications to advance digestive disease research.

The role engages faculty, trainees, and institutional stakeholders, requiring strong organizational and project management skills to support research and

Qualifications

• Experience coordinating NIH center grants and research programs.
• Strong organizational and communication skills.
• Ability to work with faculty, trainees and institutional stakeholders.
• Experience in administrative leadership within an academic medical center.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate NIH center grant administration, pilot program activities, training and center communications.
• Maintain grant documentation, records, reporting timelines and renewals.
• Provide executive-level support to Division Director and act as administrative liaison.
• Coordinate faculty recruitment activities and onboarding with department leadership.

Skills

Program Management

Financial Processes

Process Improvement

Peer Leadership

Networking

Quality Management

Job description

Discover Vanderbilt Health : With eight hospitals and over 180 clinics, we are the region’s largest comprehensive academic health system. Vanderbilt Health has a long tradition of providing world-class care to the people of the Mid‑South, living out our mission of moving medicine forward through preeminent programs in patient care, education and research. Here you'll find a spirit of collaboration and a supportive community where your expertise is valued, your knowledge expanded and your uniqueness celebrated. We are committed to fostering an environment where talented, compassionate people are united in bringing the most advanced care to our neighbors throughout the region.

Organization

GI Medicine Admin

Job Summary

The Program Manager is responsible for managing the Vanderbilt Digestive Disease Research Center (VDDRC), an NIH‑funded center dedicated to advancing digestive disease research through multidisciplinary collaboration, investigator development, and shared research resources. This position provides executive-level administrative support to Dr. Richard Peek, Division Director, and plans, develops, and executes programs and initiatives that support the VDDRC's research, training, and operational objectives. The Program Manager works independently under occasional guidance to coordinate complex activities involving faculty, trainees, researchers, and institutional stakeholders.

DEPARTMENT SUMMARY

The Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition at Vanderbilt University Medical Center is a nationally recognized leader in digestive disease research, education, and patient care. The division brings together clinicians, scientists, and trainees to advance understanding and treatment of gastrointestinal, liver, and nutritional disorders through innovative, multidisciplinary collaboration.

A major focus of the division is the Vanderbilt Digestive Disease Research Center (VDDRC), an NIH‑funded center that supports and accelerates digestive disease research across VUMC. As one of only a select group of Digestive Disease Research Centers in the nation, the VDDRC fosters collaborative, translational research; provides advanced research core services and pilot funding opportunities; and develops programs to attract, train and retain the next generation of digestive disease investigators. Through its research infrastructure, scientific programs, and educational initiatives, the VDDRC helps translate basic science discoveries into improvements in prevention, diagnosis, and patient care.

The Program Manager will be embedded within the Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition and will play a key role in supporting the VDDRC's research, training and administrative initiatives, contributing to the division's mission of advancing digestive health through scientific discovery and innovation

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

The Program Manager administers and coordinates activities for the Vanderbilt Digestive Disease Research Center (VDDRC), including support for NIH center grant administration, pilot project programs, training and enrichment activities, advisory board meetings, retreats, and center communications.

Responsibilities include coordinating required grant documentation, maintaining membership and program records, monitoring reporting requirements and deadlines, preparing materials for progress reports and renewals, and ensuring compliance with sponsor and institutional guidelines.

The Program Manager also provides executive-level support to the Division Director and serves as a key administrative liaison across the division.

In partnership with physician recruitment and departmental leadership, the position coordinates faculty recruitment activities, appointments, onboarding, orientation, and FMLA-related administrative processes. The role requires strong organizational, communication, and project management skills to support multiple priorities and stakeholders across research and administrative operations.

TECHNICAL CAPABILITIES

• Program Management (Intermediate): Planning, organizing, and managing resources to bring about the successful completion of specific program goals and objectives.


• Financial Processes (Intermediate): Ability to monitor costs, expenses and revenue as well as the ability to manage those costs and expenses in relation to budgeted amounts.


• Process Improvement (Intermediate): Identifies, analyzes and improves upon existing business processes for optimization and to meet standards of quality.


• Peer Leadership (Intermediate): The ability to show leadership and influence people of equal rank in an effort to accomplish team goals.


• Networking (Intermediate): Build relationships through industry contacts, professional organizations and individuals.


• Quality Management (Intermediate): Developing a systematic process of checking to see whether a process or service is meeting specific requirements.

Our professional administrative functions include critical s