Project Manager (Neurology AI Center)

Stanford University; Palo Alto (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Stanford University, located in Palo Alto, CA, seeks a Project Manager to lead and administer programs under minimal supervision. The role demands advanced degrees and extensive experience in managing research budgets, IRB processes, and federal grants, with a track record in negotiating contracts and navigating technology transfer and IP issues.

The role calls for strong communication skills and the ability to collaborate with faculty, industry partners, and university leadership to advance

Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability to manage budgets and financial reporting.
• Experience with IRB processes preferred.
• Five or more years of relevant experience managing federal research grants.
• Experience negotiating research contracts (data use agreements, MTAs, sponsored agreements).
• Familiarity with technology transfer and IP licensing.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning and operations for programs with significant business, regulatory and/or technical challenges.
• Evaluate programs, identify issues, and develop solutions.
• Review trends and provide recommendations to meet goals.
• Represent the program to internal and external stakeholders and commit resources.
• Develop outreach and compliance strategies for the program.
• Oversee budgets: forecasting, monitoring, and reporting.
• Oversee staff and training needs.

Skills

Communication

Stakeholder management

Budget forecasting

Strategic planning

Education

PhD preferred in related field

Bachelor’s degree required

MBA/MPH/MS/JD considered with experience

Job description

Stanford University is seeking a Project Manager, tolead and administer programs or functions under minimal supervision.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• PhD preferred, in a scientific, engineering, or health-related field. An advanced degree in a related area (MBA, MPH, MS, JD) will be considered with relevant experience.
• Demonstrated experience managing research budgets strongly preferred — building and monitoring multi-award budgets, tracking effort allocation and subawards, forecasting spending, and preparing sponsor financial reports.
• Experience with IRB processes strongly preferred — protocol preparation and submission, amendments, continuing review, and maintaining compliance across multiple active protocols.
• Five or more years of relevant experience, including direct management of federal research grants (NIH strongly preferred).
• Experience negotiating and administering research contracts — data use agreements, material transfer agreements, and sponsored research agreements — in an academic medical center, research institute, or industry setting.
• Familiarity with technology transfer, intellectual property, and licensing processes.
• Experience standing up new programs, centers, or major initiatives from the ground up.
• Working knowledge of research compliance requirements beyond IRB: HIPAA, conflict of interest, export control, and data privacy.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, and the ability to work credibly with faculty, industry executives, and university administrators.
• Comfort operating in a technical AI and data science research environment, with the ability to learn the science well enough to represent the program externally.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS*:

• Constantly perform desk-based computer tasks.
• Frequently stand/walk, sitting, grasp lightly/fine manipulation.
• Occasionally use a telephone.
• Rarely lift/carry/push/pull objects that weigh 11-20 pounds.

* - Consistent with its obligations under the law, the University will provide reasonable accommodation to any employee with a disability who requires accommodation to perform the essential functions of his or her job.

WORK STANDARDS:

• Interpersonal Skills: Demonstrates the ability to work well with Stanford colleagues and clients and with external organizations.
• Promote Culture of Safety: Demonstrates commitment to personal responsibility and value for safety; communicates safety concerns; uses and promotes safe behaviors based on training and lessons learned.
• Subject to and expected to comply with all applicable University policies and procedures, including but not limited to the personnel policies and other policies found in the University's Administrative Guide, http://adminguide.stanford.edu.
  

Responsibilities

Core Duties:

• Lead the planning and operations for programs or functions that have significant business, regulatory and/or technical challenges requiring subject matter expertise.
• Evaluate programs or functions, policies and procedures. Identify issues, and develop alternative solutions which may include changes to programs, policies and procedures.
• Review and analyze trends to advise and develop recommendations to achieve or modify the goals of the program or function.
• Represent the program or function within the department, unit or school. Commit resources and provide information and/or training. Represent the program or function at the university level and/or to external/internal stakeholders and constituencies.
• Manage and contribute to the development of outreach strategy that may include relationship development, communications and compliance.
• May develop and/or oversee budgets; manage finances including monitoring, analyzing, forecasting, and reporting.
• Assess training needs and may develop associated training.
• May direct and/or supervise staff.
  

Minimum Education and Experience

Bachelor’s degree and five years of relevant experience, or combination of education and relevant experience.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Demonstrated ability to establish priorities, manage shifting priorities, and handle numerous time-sensitive projects with multiple deadlines.
• Ability to accomplish goals working through formal and informal channels, with diplomacy and tactfulness.
• Demonstrated creativity, problem solving, critical analysis, initiative, judgment and, decision-making skills.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and meet budget goals.
• Demonstrated solid planning and organizational skills.
• Demonstrated experience working independently and as part of a team.
• Excellent interpersonal, written and oral communication skills.
• Strong relevant subject matter knowledge.
• Ability to direct the work of others, for jobs requiring supervision.