Program Manager, Process & Policy

Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI); Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 100,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

PCORI in Washington, DC seeks a Program Manager, Process & Policy to lead project management and policy development across PCORI funding cycles. You will coordinate approvals, manage reviews, and collaborate with multiple teams and external stakeholders to ensure effective funding execution.

The role supports dashboards, reporting, and continuous process improvements, leveraging strong organizational and communication skills in a dynamic environment.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of project management and/or analytical experience.
• Experience in public health, research funding, or operations is a plus.
• Ability to manage multiple projects with strong time management.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate approvals of funding following solicitation and review.
• Oversee SSC reviews and ensure compliance with charters and reporting.
• Support funding approvals below threshold or outside SSC review.
• Provide PM support for process and policy docs across funding cycles.
• Manage applicant appeals with cross-unit collaboration.
• Be an active ALM member, supporting team projects and meetings.
• Contribute to best-practice processes, reporting, and data collection.
• Develop proficiency with Asana and PCORI AMS.
• Represent ALM on PCORI committees or workgroups.

Skills

Project management

Organizational skills

Attention to detail

Prioritization

Stakeholder collaboration

Interpersonal skills

Communication

MS Office proficiency

Dashboard tools

Independent thinking

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Master’s degree is a plus

Tools

MS Office Suite

Dashboard tools

Job description

About PCORI: The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) is an independent nonprofit organization authorized by Congress in 2010. Its mission is to fund research that will provide patients, their caregivers and clinicians with evidence‑based information needed to make better‑informed healthcare decisions. PCORI is committed to continually seeking input from a broad range of stakeholders to guide its work.

Position Summary

The Program Manager, Process & Policy role in ALM is responsible for providing project leadership, project management, and operational coordination, as well as policy development and maintenance, for one of three major activities within the PCORI funding cycle across stakeholders throughout the PCRP department: Funding Cycle Planning (e.g., developing funding opportunities), Funding Cycle Preparation (e.g., developing PCORI Funding Announcements), and Funding Cycle Execution (e.g., funding approval processes across opportunities, cross‑division award execution processes and policies). This job description focuses on responsibilities pertinent to Funding Cycle Execution.

Responsibilities include working with the Director, ALM, Associate Director, Process & Policy, and other ALM team members to execute all assigned responsibilities and lead coordination of activities across Program Operations and PCRP divisions, including external stakeholders. The role supports strategic collaboration, efficient ALM business processes, and business operations and monitoring and reporting efforts with visual dashboards.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Funding Approval Process and Policy

• Hold primary responsibility for leading and coordinating approvals of funding following application solicitation and completion of review for all typical, novel, and/or ad hoc PCORI funding opportunities.
• Execute Standing Selection Committee (SSC) review of funding recommendations, ensuring compliance with the SSC charter, internal and external collaboration, meeting management, material preparation, documentation, reporting, and process improvement.
• Support, steward, or advise on funding approvals that are below the threshold or otherwise conducted separately from SSC review.

Funding Cycle Execution Process and Policy Support

• In consultation with the Chief Officer, Program Operations and Director ALM/Associate Director, Process & Policy, provide project management and support for process and policy documentation across the funding cycle execution overarching workstream, including merit review, contract management, peer review, and award process management.
• Serve as project manager for receipt, review, decisions, and relevant communications for applicant appeals on PCORI review or funding decisions, with close collaboration across multiple Program Operations units and all PCORI funding programs.

Unit Engagement

• Act as an active member of the ALM unit, participating in team meetings, supporting fellow team members, identifying synergies, and collaborating on team projects.

Other Responsibilities

• Contribute to Program Operations and ALM best‑practice process implementation.
• Support cross‑division communications and reporting (newsletters, presentations, briefings, stakeholder outreach).
• Provide data collection and analysis as needed for evaluation.
• Develop proficiency with Asana project management tool as needed.
• Contribute to implementation planning, execution, and refinement of the PCORI AMS.
• Serve as ALM or Program Operations representative on PCORI committees or workgroups (e.g., Data Governance Council).
• Provide support to other ALM unit members as needed.

Incumbent(s) may be required to perform other duties and special assignments not specifically stated above. These statements are essential job functions under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

Required Skills

• Strong project management and superb organizational skills; keen attention to detail.
• Independent thinker, proactive, responsive, flexible, and able to juggle multiple competing priorities with minimal supervision.
• Adaptability to changing and competing priorities and complex tasks; tolerates ambiguity.
• Managing‑up proficiency and keep leadership on track regarding key timelines and deliverables.
• Collaborative team player with ability to develop and maintain cooperative relationships across PCORI and stakeholders.
• Excellent interpersonal and teamwork skills; collegial, energetic, able to build productive relationships.
• High level of maturity and professionalism; interacts effectively with staff at all levels.
• Strong work ethic, personal and professional integrity, accountability, and good judgment.
• Excellent editing, oral and written communication skills; conveys complex issues to internal and external teams.
• Personal motivation to support PCORI’s mission and goals; works independently and in teams, thinking imaginatively and creating innovative approaches.
• Advanced experience with MS Office Suite (Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint) and proficiency in project management and dashboard tools.

Required Experience

• Minimum of a bachelor’s degree or equivalent education and experience; master’s degree is a plus but not required. Minimum five years of project management and/or analytical experience.
• Knowledge or background in public health, research, research funding or operations/administration is a plus.
• Experience handling and managing multiple projects and priorities effectively; superior time management and organization.
• Experience communicating with diverse organizations and individuals, preferably with specific stakeholder groups or in research contexts.

Compensation and Benefits

Salary Range: $100,000–$115,000. Final offers depend on responsibilities, experience, education, location, travel, and market conditions.

Eligible employees may participate in PCORI‑sponsored medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance plans for employees and eligible dependents.

Conflict of Interest. PCORI requires employees to disclose upon commencement and annually any financial, business, or personal associations that could bias decisions. Disclosures are publicly available on PCORI’s website. For more information please visit PCORI‑Conflict‑of‑Interest‑Policies‑Outside‑Employment‑Policy.pdf.

PCORI conducts reference and background checks on all applicants.